Podcasts about Citibank

"The most important thing for a leader, in my view, is integrity." "You need to be hands-on, but then you need to delegate." "If this fails, ultimately, the accountability sits with me." "Culture is something that all of us jointly develop and nurture." "At the end of the day, you have to own your decisions, so you cannot just let AI make   Noriko Sasaki is Country Head of Checkout.com Japan, leading the UK-based payment service provider's expansion in the Japanese market. Checkout.com helps online merchants, gaming companies and digital platforms process payments, improve acceptance rates, receive settlement funds and use payments as a driver of growth and profitability. Sasaki was born in Saitama and spent part of her childhood in Los Angeles when her father was assigned to American Honda. Returning to Japan as a teenager, she rebuilt her Japanese literacy, entered a leading Tokyo high school through a returnee pathway and later studied political science at Waseda University. She began her career in international consulting, working on business-process reengineering and SAP implementation, before earning an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. After returning to Japan, she worked at Walt Disney and then spent close to twenty years at Citibank, where she led major sales operations and participated in the historic transfer of Citi's Japanese retail-banking business into SMBC Trust Bank. She later held roles at Accenture, PwC and a Japanese consulting start-up before joining Checkout.com in November 2024. Her career combines consulting discipline, financial-services leadership, operational transformation, bicultural communication and a long-standing commitment to advancing women in leadership.   Noriko Sasaki's leadership journey has been shaped by repeated transitions across cultures, industries and organisational models. Born in Japan and raised partly in Los Angeles, she returned at fifteen with strong spoken Japanese but limited reading ability. Re-entering the Japanese education system required intensive study, adaptability and resilience. That bicultural experience later became a professional advantage, allowing her to move between Japanese context and international corporate expectations. After studying political science at Waseda University, Sasaki entered international consulting, where she worked on business-process reengineering, operational standardisation and SAP implementation. She eventually questioned whether advice based mainly on frameworks was enough without experience inside a company. An MBA at Carnegie Mellon gave her a broader business foundation, after which she returned to Japan, joined Walt Disney and then moved into banking through a major Citi integration project. Her first substantive people-management role came at Citi. The team was small and entirely female, and one early challenge was managing someone older, more experienced and more knowledgeable about banking. Sasaki responded with humility and respect rather than relying on title. She clarified that both people had different responsibilities, maintained a continuous dialogue and focused the team on a shared goal. That approach became a recurring leadership principle: alignment requires over-communication, clear accountability and respect for expertise at every level. Sasaki later led Citi's branch sales organisation and became closely involved in the transfer of the Japanese retail bank into SMBC Trust Bank. The experience taught her how to translate vision into strategy, strategy into action and action into clearly assigned responsibility. She also learned that senior leaders cannot remain distant from operations. At times, she worked directly on front-line tasks and took customer calls to understand the real issues. The challenge is to remain sufficiently hands-on to retain credibility while delegating enough to expand the organisation's capacity. Her delegation model is structured rather than passive. Before assigning work, she checks the timeline, capacity, assumptions and direction. She asks for interim updates well before completion so that course corrections do not arrive at the final moment and destroy motivation. The employee retains room to execute, but Sasaki remains accountable for the outcome. That air cover matters in a Japanese environment where fear of mistakes can discourage initiative. Innovation similarly depends on lowering the barrier to contribution. Sasaki uses brainstorming rules that give everyone an equal opportunity to speak and explicitly reject the idea of a stupid suggestion. She reminds teams that improvement does not always require a dramatic zero-to-one breakthrough. A small change from 1.0 to 1.1 can still create meaningful value. This framing is especially useful in Japan, where perfectionism, hierarchy, seniority and concern about losing face can suppress ideas before they are voiced. Trust, in Sasaki's view, is built through the smallest commitments. If she casually promises dinner, she records it and follows through. Technology helps her remember birthdays, promises and relationship milestones, but the principle is behavioural consistency. Blaming someone when something goes wrong can destroy trust immediately. Leaders therefore need to own consequences, support people through difficulties and demonstrate that accountability flows upward as well as downward. At Checkout.com, Sasaki works within global operating principles while adapting them to Japan. A principle such as 'talk straight' cannot simply be imported as blunt communication. Honesty must remain, but the method should fit the individual and the high-context Japanese environment. She rejects the notion of building a personal empire around the country head. Culture should survive the leader and be jointly developed by everyone, because engagement is a shared responsibility. Her advice to expatriate leaders is to be patient, recognise the depth of context behind Japanese communication and keep searching for channels through which people can contribute. She also urges them to enjoy Japan beyond the office. For women seeking leadership, she stresses sponsors, internal and external networks, authentic behaviour and the willingness to accept promotion as a means of influencing change for others, not merely pursuing personal ambition. Sasaki's leadership definition rests on four pillars: integrity, vision, communication and accountability. AI can strengthen decision intelligence by processing more information and highlighting options, but leaders must still judge relevance and own the final decision. AI also creates a human-capital challenge: when routine work collapses from 100 hours to ten, leaders need a vision for the capacity released. People should be treated as capital and sources of ideas, not simply as costs to eliminate. Q&A Summary What makes leadership in Japan unique? Leadership in Japan operates inside a high-context culture where a spoken sentence rarely contains the entire message. Sasaki advises leaders to consider background relationships, informal communication and the time people need to digest information before responding. Silence does not necessarily indicate disengagement, and an immediate answer may not be realistic when employees are trying to avoid mistakes. Hierarchy, age, tenure and gender can also influence who feels entitled to speak. Effective leaders create equal opportunities for contribution, clarify expectations and adapt the communication method to the individual without compromising honesty. Why do global executives struggle? Global executives often struggle because they import behavioural principles without local adaptation. A global instruction to 'talk straight', for example, can be interpreted as permission for bluntness, even though direct confrontation may shut down dialogue in Japan. Leaders also underestimate how much patience, explanation and relationship-building are required. Sasaki recommends resisting the urge to judge delayed responses as resistance. Foreign executives should search for different communication channels and recognise that Japanese colleagues often have valuable ideas but may lack confidence in English or fear offering unverified information. Is Japan truly risk-averse? Japan's reluctance to take risk is closely connected to perfectionism, accountability and fear of public error. Sasaki lowers this barrier by making delegation explicit, requesting early updates and accepting ultimate accountability when an initiative fails. She also reframes innovation as incremental improvement rather than demanding a revolutionary breakthrough. An idea that improves a process from 1.0 to 1.1 is still worthwhile. When leaders demonstrate that there are no stupid ideas and that people will be supported rather than blamed, employees become more willing to test improvements and leave the safety of established routines. What leadership style actually works? Sasaki's style balances humility, structure and hands-on credibility. When managing people with greater age or technical experience, she respects what they know while remaining clear about her own role. She aligns people around mission, breaks vision into strategy and action, and specifies responsibility, including her own. She will enter the operation to understand reality, but she does not remain there permanently. Delegation succeeds when people know the direction, assumptions, deadline and escalation points. The leader provides support, receives interim updates and owns the consequence without micromanaging every step. How can technology help? Technology supports both Checkout.com's payment business and Sasaki's leadership practices. Payments data can help merchants improve profitability and growth, while productivity tools help leaders keep promises and maintain relationships through reminders and accurate follow-up. AI extends this further by processing a much larger volume of information and supporting decision intelligence, scenario development and contingency planning. Sasaki nevertheless draws a clear boundary: AI can provide evidence and insights, but leaders must determine what is relevant and own the decision. Technology should strengthen judgement rather than replace responsibility. Does language proficiency matter? Language proficiency matters because Japanese is a high-context language and much meaning sits in nuance, implication and relationship history. At the same time, Sasaki believes communication is possible even when English proficiency is limited, provided there is patience and genuine will on both sides. Leaders should use multiple channels, allow preparation and avoid assuming that difficulty expressing an idea means the person has nothing to contribute. Her own bicultural background demonstrates the value of moving between languages and contexts, but the deeper skill is creating enough psychological safety for people to keep trying. What's the ultimate leadership lesson? The ultimate leadership lesson is to act with integrity and accept accountability. Sasaki believes leaders must consistently do what is right for the company, customers, society and other people. Vision gives direction; communication enables others to understand it; accountability assures employees that the leader has their back. Culture should not become a personality cult or depend on one country head. It should be jointly developed, durable and grounded in shared behavioural principles. Leadership is therefore not personal dominance, but consistent stewardship that allows others to act, learn and contribute. Author Credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have also been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). In addition to his books, Greg publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, offering practical insights on leadership, communication, and Japanese business culture. He is also the host of six weekly podcasts, including The Leadership Japan Series, The Sales Japan Series, The Presentations Japan Series, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews. On YouTube, he produces three weekly shows — The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews — which have become leading resources for executives seeking strategies for success in Japan.

As I have been working on my book “The UN-WOW,” I've been talking to a lot of people in experience design and experience management about whether or not my idea for the book makes sense. Two things have emerged from these conversations. First, people generally are very supportive of the principles behind The UN-WOW. It seems that people see a lot of opportunity in exploring more mundane aspects of everyday life for design opportunities. It has been great to hear that vote of confidence as I work on the project, and people being excited to hear more about it as it is coming together. The second thing to emerge is that on a certain level, none of this experience design work should be that hard because our goals are pretty simple. At its foundation, we ideally are trying to make life better for our design audiences. Whether it is user, customer, patient, employee, student, client, or any other experience design space, we want to improve the experiences that people have (regardless of whether these experiences are mundane or metamorphic).  How we create these experiences, and the scale that it is done, becomes the work of the designers. What should be easy becomes more challenging when other organizational priorities take over. Organizations can become fixated on outcomes that run counter to the goals of experience designers. Caring about customers, employees, users, and others can be seen as a luxury when the only focus is profitability. Thus, many experience designers feel frustrated when trying to do their work, running into barriers that either minimize the scope of their work, or completely block it from happening. Leaders may want to talk about being human-centered, but don't necessarily see the need to treat people like human beings. To talk about the challenges and opportunities, I welcome Tamar Cohen to the Experience by Design studios. Like many people in experience design, Tamar had a very non-linear path to her work. Starting out as an Art History major, she worked in galleries and auction houses. She found herself at Citibank for 16 years, applying the skills she acquired from art history to her work in customer experience. She also shares her work leading other companies like Zoetis as the Head of Global Customer Experience Strategy and at Travelers as VP of Employee Experience. We talk about the importance of connecting employee experience and customer experience, making your employees your first customers. We also talk about the importance of ethnographic research to understand the full employee and customer journeys.   We also discuss her new project with Michael Lowenstein as well as work with James Killian (both former guests on ExD). She describes what she calls the Halo Effect, which includes conducting qualitative research based on the Four E's Framework: educate, empower, engage, and energize. Her company HaloEffect works by diagnosing the human system first, working with organizations and leadership to put people first. Again, a simple idea that companies struggle executing, which Tamar tries to help them accomplish. It was a great conversation about the importance of employee experience (especially in relation to customer experience), how to lead with a people-first strategy, and how even a degree in Art History can lay the foundation for better experience designs.  Tamar Cohen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamarcohen HaloEffect: https://www.myhaloeffect.com/

Today, I am pleased to welcome Edward Marshall, Founder and CEO of Presage Global, an intelligence-powered risk and business advisory firm serving C-suites and boards, family offices, and investors. Eddy is a family office insider and a leading family office researcher, advisor, and author. He is also a risk and threat management specialist, working with families to reduce their cyber, physical, financial, operational, and reputational risk profiles. Eddy is a member of the Advisory Board and co-heads the Family Office Initiative at the UHNW Institute. He co-authored the book, The Family Office: A Comprehensive Guide for Advisers, Practitioners, and Students. Prior to founding Presage Global, Eddy held leading family office roles at Dentons, Credit Suisse, Citibank, and Boston Private. Eddy has been in the family office industry for a while now and recently released a joint study with Nines on the state of the family office estate security. He shares his view on what's happening in the family office security space and what's changed in the past decade or so. Eddy provides a synthesis of the overall risk situation facing most family offices, explaining why family offices at risk and what are the major risks they face. He offers his thoughts on whether most family offices are being proactive or are reacting to risks only after a major threat or failure. Eddy talks about risk management as a cross-domain field and one practical tool he and his firm have put forth is the Ten Domains of Risk framework, which includes elaborate checklists for family offices across multiple risk areas. He describes the framework and shares how family office leaders can apply it in their everyday work. Eddy works with many family offices and as he looks across all these different cases he has assessed in the past few years, he summarizes the top three things he believes family offices can change to improve their risk management posture and capabilities. Enjoy this highly relevant conversation with a family office industry veteran and risk management expert serving UHNW families and their complex enterprises.

Central banks just posted the highest gold-buying intentions ever recorded. 45% say they'll buy more in the next 12 months. 89% expect to hold more within the year. When the people who print money are hoarding gold, it's worth paying attention. Andy Tanner sits down with Robert Gottlieb — the man who helped launch GLD and spent decades trading precious metals at Citibank, Republic National, HSBC, Bear Stearns, and Koch Industries — for a rare, unfiltered look at how the gold and silver markets actually work. You'll hear why silver may be scarcer than gold right now despite its lower price, how tariff fears moved 533 million ounces of silver in a single market event, and why the most credible voice in the room is telling investors that patience — not panic buying — is the real trade. Andy also breaks down his three-level approach to gold: generational insurance, ETF cash flow, and owning the mine itself. This one covers the whole stack.

In today's episode, you'll discover: 1.     Why authenticity is an important part of leadership? 2.     What kind of masks do you, the leaders, wear, and what is it costing you? 3.     What Emotional Contagion is and how to Use the Emotional Contagion Effect in Positive Ways? To support these three takeaways, I chose a quote from Theodore Roosevelt: "The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint to keep from meddling with them while they do it."  About Frans Campher: Today, my guest is Frans Campher, an executive coach, leadership strategist, and facilitator with over two decades of experience guiding high-performing leaders through the challenges of growth, authenticity, and meaningful impact. As CEO and US President of a global leadership development firm, he has worked with senior executives and teams at companies like BP, Ford Europe, GlaxoSmithKline, Deloitte, Citibank, and Johnson & Johnson. How to Get in Touch with Frans Campher: Email: frans@ildynamics.com Website: https://www.ildynamics.com/ Free Gift: https://teamtrust.ildynamics.com/ Stalk me online! Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/conniewhitman Communication Style Assessment (CSA)™:  https://changingthesalesgame.com/communication-style-assessment/

Technology expert explains how small business owners can leverage AI as a force multiplier while protecting their data, systems, and intellectual property from emerging cybersecurity risks. Show Notes Page: https://www.thehowofbusiness.com/615-mordy-hackel-ai-cybersecurity / Artificial intelligence is creating enormous opportunities for small businesses—but it is also introducing new cybersecurity, data, and operational risks. In this episode of The How of Business, Henry Lopez is joined by technology entrepreneur and KJ Technology founder Mordy Hackel to explore how small business owners can embrace AI, use technology as a force multiplier, and protect their businesses as the technology landscape continues to change. Mordy shares his entrepreneurial journey from studying economics and working in technology for organizations including the NBA, Sony Music, and Citibank to building KJ Technology, a Manhattan-based managed IT services firm he has been growing since 1998. Henry Lopez and Mordy Hackel discuss why small businesses should not assume they are too small to be targets for cybercrime. AI is making phishing emails, voice impersonation, social engineering, and other attacks increasingly sophisticated. Small organizations may be particularly vulnerable when they lack established procedures for authorizing payments, sharing sensitive information, or granting access to systems. They also explore another increasingly important issue: employees using AI tools independently. When employees use personal ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI accounts for company work, businesses may expose confidential information or lose valuable intellectual property and institutional knowledge when those employees leave. But the message of this episode is not to be afraid of AI. Mordy believes the opportunities significantly outweigh the risks. The challenge is learning how to use the right technology for the right problem. AI can help business owners think creatively, analyze problems, overcome writer's block, develop workflows, prototype applications, and identify opportunities to improve how their businesses operate. This episode is hosted by Henry Lopez. The How of Business podcast focuses on helping you start, run, grow and exit your small business. The How of Business is a top-rated podcast for small business owners and entrepreneurs. Find the best podcast, small business coaching, resources and trusted service partners for small business owners and entrepreneurs at our website https://TheHowOfBusiness.com

A live, sell-out crowd celebrates the legacy of iconic creativity in Minneapolis. Campaigns like Harley Davidson, Porsche, Buddy Guy, EDS, BMW Films, Target, Citibank and more recent work including Subaru and Walmart. Fallon, Carmichael and Colle McVoy join me live at the roundtable. Thanks to The Effies, Tracksuit and System1 for making our live tour possible. See the iconic creative work on our website at www.onstrategyshowcase.com

Send us Fan MailA résumé can look inevitable in hindsight, but the human story is usually messier and far more useful. I sit down with Jack Madrid, whose career spans Citibank, Ayala, MTV Philippines, Yahoo, Multiply, and now IBPAP, the organization that represents the Philippines' IT-BPM industry. We talk about what actually travels across industries when your job title changes, and why relationship management is not only about clients; it is also about learning to manage up, sideways and down inside real organizational hierarchies.Jack shares the moment that rewired his confidence: an eighth-grade debate where he was terrified to speak, then heard his own voice and realized he belonged. From there we explore a practical idea for anyone who stays quiet in meetings: the wasted opportunity of an unexpressed opinion. We also dig into the mindset behind a non-linear career, including trusting instinct, learning from mistakes without living in regret, and staying open to lessons from any conversation. His rule is simple and challenging: if you have to choose between engaging with a person or looking at your phone, choose the person.We also go straight at the anxiety of our time: AI and the future of BPO and knowledge work. Jack argues the bigger risk is not artificial intelligence itself but complacency, and he explains what “moving up the value chain” means for frontline workers in practical terms. We close with an underrated leadership lever that costs nothing and changes everything: kindness. If you find this helpful, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What part of your career are you ready to reinvent next?Have you purchased the copy of Inspire Someone Today, yet? - Give it a go geni.us/istbookAvailable on all podcast platforms, including, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify

The Pirate Street Journal takes a sharp look at business through the category design lens, and this episode delivers three stories that reveal how the decisions made today will define economic winners and losers for decades. From data center legislation in New York to Apple raising prices and a Costco cashier becoming a millionaire, each story points to the same underlying truth: the category you choose matters more than almost anything else. Whether you are a governor, a tech executive, or an hourly worker, picking the right side of the S-curve is everything. This is just one of the topics that Pirates Christopher Lochhead, Eddie Yoon and Bri Clark discuss on this episode of Pirate Street Journal. Each week, the Category Pirates pick three headlines worth paying attention to and break down the category underneath. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go.   New York Said No to Data Centers and It Will Pay the Price On July 10th, New York became the first state in America to ban new data centers, with Governor Kathy Hochul signing a freeze on permits for hyperscale facilities for up to a full year. She cited higher power bills, water use, and grid strain as her reasons. Meanwhile, legislation is already being introduced to extend that freeze to three years. This is happening at the same time a study revealed New York has lost $11 billion in taxes due to millionaires leaving the state, and the city recently implemented rent control that has effectively killed new housing development. Compare that to Boise, Idaho, where four people started a memory chip company called Micron in the basement of a dental office back in 1978. Today, Micron employs more than 6,000 people, stands as the third largest private employer in Idaho, and just committed to a $15 billion expansion, the largest private investment in the state’s history. One town said yes 48 years ago and is still cashing that check. The next Boise could be anywhere someone decides to welcome the future, including, perhaps, the Big Island of Hawaii. The smarter move for any governor would not be a blanket freeze but a proof of concept, a small data center pilot that generates real-world data instead of relying on academic spreadsheets. Governors today have more power and agency than they may realize, and the choice between welcoming AI infrastructure or blocking it is really a choice between the future and the past.   Apple’s Price Hikes Signal the Return of On-Premise AI Apple recently raised prices across its lineup, with the Mac Studio jumping $1,300 and even entry-level MacBooks climbing $100. Tim Cook called the memory shortage a hundred-year flood, and he is not entirely wrong. DRAM and NAND prices surged roughly 60% last quarter and are projected to climb another 13 to 18% this quarter, with some analysts expecting memory costs to double again before the cycle ends. The AI hardware boom is still in its early innings, and anyone due for an upgrade should know that prices are only heading one direction. But the deeper story here is about data ownership and the return of on-premise computing. When businesses send their data into cloud-based AI platforms, those platforms can see everything. The controversy around Anthropic launching a product that competed directly with Cursor, a development tool built on top of Anthropic’s cloud, illustrated exactly why enterprises cannot afford to hand over their intellectual capital. Goldman Sachs, Merck, Citibank, none of them can afford to have an AI provider see their most sensitive work and potentially act on it. Apple’s privacy-first approach and its push to run more AI directly on device is not just a marketing position. It is a strategic response to a real problem. As LLMs commoditize, Apple is positioning itself as the gateway that routes your queries to the right model for the right task, while keeping your data on your device and out of someone else’s servers. Dell is also worth watching here, as its infrastructure business is growing at 40% while its consumer hardware grows at just 5%, a clear signal that the on-prem shift is accelerating.   The Costco Cashier Proves Category Kings Build Millionaires The Wall Street Journal ran a story about a Costco cashier who makes $32.90 an hour, started at $5.85 back when it was still Price Club, owns a three-bedroom home with a pool, and has a 401(k) worth over one million dollars. He is not an outlier. Costco’s CFO confirmed that many thousands of their hourly workers have crossed the seven-figure mark in retirement savings, and the company’s annual turnover sits at just 7% compared to a retail industry average of 60%. This story is really about category design in action. Costco became a category king in retail by capping its markups at 15% when every other retailer was charging 35 to 40%, offering generous health benefits even to part-timers, and building a culture that retains people for decades. When you combine low turnover with a growing stock, mission-driven leadership, and a business model that serves customers, employees, and investors simultaneously, you get the kind of compounding wealth that turns a cashier into a millionaire. The lesson applies whether you are scanning groceries or launching a startup. The category you pick matters more than the salary on your offer letter. Finding a company on the left side of the S-curve, one that treats its customers, its people, and its investors well while still growing, is the real career decision. The title and the paycheck matter far less than whether the category you join is heading toward abundance or quietly flatlining on the way down. To hear about all the topics in this week's The Pirate Street Journal, download and listen to this episode. You can also read more Pirate Street Journal entries in the Category Pirates newsletter.   We hope you enjoyed this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and subscribe on Apple Podcast / Spotify!

What happens when corporate cyber-theft, dark money networks, and political manipulation collide? Host Joe sits down with elite Military Analyst B to dissect the jaw-dropping paper trail provided by tech insider Raul. Together, they pull back the curtain on how routine banking fraud metastasized into systematic election manipulation designed to protect bad actors at the highest levels of global finance and intelligence.Analyst B brings an uncompromising tactical perspective to the evidence, breaking down actual documents with surgical precision. From altered Social Security numbers and stolen American identities to paper trails linking Coltor accounts, Soros funding, Citibank channels, and shell entities like Corani Consulting, this episode exposes the operational blueprint used to execute—and attempt to conceal—one of the most sophisticated financial-electoral schemes in modern history.This isn't theory; it's a forensic breakdown of real documentation. Joe and Analyst B connect the dots between military-grade cyber operations, institutional corruption, and the cover-up that followed. Tune in for a raw, hard-hitting hour that cuts straight through the noise and confronts the evidence head-on.

In the latest episode of Executive Function, Brett sits down with Eric Sager, COO of Plaid, following stints as CRO of Bluevine and Head of Sales at Square. During his seven-year tenure at Plaid, Eric has helped lead the business through a pandemic, Visa's collapsed acquisition, a fintech downturn, and the AI boom. In today's conversation, he unpacks how he kept teams focused during turbulent times, why he refuses to run at 100% capacity, and how he re-architected the go-to-market function as Plaid scaled. In today's episode, we discuss: How Plaid stayed focused after the Visa acquisition fell through and then raised at nearly 3x the price Why great COOs deliberately make themselves obsolete Why Eric treats speed, risk, and cost as a three-way trade-off, and why sometimes going slower wins How refusing to run at 100% capacity helped Plaid win OpenAI, Perplexity, and Replit Why Eric personally cold-calls brand-new employees References Bain & Company: https://www.bain.com Bluevine: https://www.bluevine.com Chase: https://www.chase.com Citibank: https://www.citi.com Eyal Lifshitz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyallifshitz/ Françoise Brougher: https://x.com/FrancoiseBr Gokul Rajaram: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gokulrajaram1/ Jack Dorsey: https://x.com/jack Michael Mankins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelcmankins OpenAI: https://openai.com Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai Plaid: https://plaid.com Replit: https://replit.com Sarah Friar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-friar/ Square: https://squareup.com Visa: https://www.visa.com William Hockey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-hockey-04536710 Zach Perret: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zperret/ Where to find Eric Sager LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-sager-a529516 Where to find Brett LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-berson-9986094/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/brettberson Where to find First Round Capital Website: https://firstround.com/ First Round Review: https://review.firstround.com/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/firstround YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FirstRoundCapital This podcast on all platforms: https://review.firstround.com/podcast Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:40 Leading a company through turbulent times 04:24 How to build a resilient team culture 08:33 How Plaid avoids bureaucracy, while operating at scale 10:58 The speed-quality tradeoff: Going faster isn't always better 15:32 When to move from generalists to specialized customer segments 20:14 Why Plaid has one owner for entire customer relationships 22:06 The "quarterback" model: one owner, experts on call 24:08 Why you should never run your org at 100% capacity 29:47 "Always available, never needed": the support mantra 36:49 Eric's unusual "hit by a bus" test to measure job success 43:57 Why Eric cold calls brand-new employees 52:14 Eric's week: 25% ecosystem, 50% business, 25% team 55:15 How to spot fake mission alignment in interviews 59:04 The one thing a founder has that no hire can replicate

Unlocking Leadership in a Disruptive World with Frans Campher -Executive Coach and Program Director at Imperial College Business School London.Book on Amazon: Dynamic Leadership in a Disruptive WorldWeb: https://www.ildynamics.com/ In this episode, Frans Campher, an executive coach and leadership strategist, shares his insights on how leaders can navigate the complexities of today's disruptive environment. From shifting identities to cultivating authenticity and strategic agility, Frans offers practical frameworks for leaders at every level.Key topics:The evolving definition of leadership and the shift from expert to catalytic rolesThe importance of identity and ego in leadership developmentHow to foster authenticity and trust within leadership teamsThe orchestra analogy for understanding leadership transitionsThe significance of voice, listening, and shared thinking in decision-makingPractical approaches for coaching senior leaders and facilitating growthLeveraging AI while maintaining human connection and empathyDesigning impactful leadership programs rooted in relevance and personalizationThe role of inside-out development—who I am—and its impact on organizational cultureDynamic Leadership in a Disruptive World by Frans CampherImperial College Business SchoolRichard Pascal on Behavior and ThinkingLinkedInTimestamps:00:00 - Why leadership development matters in a disruptive world01:17 - Leaders must be present and curious for effective leadership01:47 - Lightning round: common misconceptions about leadership02:02 - Leaders often try to have all the answers, limiting growth02:20 - Authenticity hinges on trusting oneself02:32 - The biggest surprise: leaders don't need to have all the answers02:54 - The orchestra analogy: transitioning from expert to conductor03:46 - Identity shifts required to grow from managing to leading04:43 - Creating shiny eyes: impact as leadership metaphor05:12 - The amnesia of new leaders and rediscovering genuine leadership05:46 - The importance of letting go of controlling behaviors06:11 - Scaling leadership from small teams to enterprise-wide impact07:52 - The three leadership buckets: Expert, Achiever, Catalytic08:45 - Impact of the catalytic leader: orchestrating system-wide impact10:00 - The danger of micromanagement and the importance of trust10:51 - Hiring smart people and setting them free11:42 - The inside-out personal development for authentic leadership12:10 - The importance of human presence over superficial skills13:15 - Practical coaching with senior leaders: feedback, awareness, growth pathways14:23 - How leaders influence culture through vulnerability and openness15:15 - The process of gathering stakeholder feedback for leadership growth16:55 - Leaders operating below their potential and AI's role in organizational squeeze18:17 - Ownership of outcomes and empowering teams19:03 - Using narrative 360 for leadership self-awareness20:12 - The essence of purpose: understanding the “why” in leadership and organizations21:56 - Fundamental human needs: being seen, ideas matter, growth22:43 - Supporting development through personalized conversations and recognition23:58 - Leaders owning their own development, beyond HR and L&D25:36 - The importance of sharing thinking in decision-making processes26:23 - The metaphor of baking a cake: timing and readiness in decision-making30:12 - Leading academic programs: designing relevant, practical leadership education31:48 - Grounding oneself and holding steady against expert ego32:11 - The evolving role of AI and the irreplaceable value of human connection34:03 - Behaving your way into new thinking, not just thinking into new behaviourFrans Campher is an executive coach and has worked with senior executives and teams at companies like BP, Ford Europe, GlaxoSmithKline, Deloitte, Citibank, and Johnson & Johnson.

Unlock the inspiring journey of Anusha Nerella, a seasoned technology leader, Member of the Forbes Technology Council, Microsoft MVP, and advocate for responsible AI, in this insightful episode of The Brand Called You.Anusha shares her remarkable journey from rural India to leading global technology initiatives across financial services and the public sector. She discusses her work in AI, automation, digital transformation, and enterprise modernization at organizations including Barclays, Citibank, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.Discover the pivotal moments that shaped her career, the resilience that fueled her success, and her contributions to professional communities such as IEEE and ACM. The conversation also explores the rapidly evolving world of generative AI, responsible AI governance, agentic AI, enterprise transformation, and the future of ethical technology.Whether you're an aspiring technologist, an AI enthusiast, or a leader navigating digital transformation, Anusha's experiences and practical advice will inspire you to embrace lifelong learning, lead with integrity, and make a meaningful impact.⭐ Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications for more inspiring conversations from The Brand Called You.

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Krystal Bajkor, founder of Bee Organized Lake Norman, a professional organizing service that helps busy families and professionals reclaim their homes. Krystal shares her path from a career in corporate banking at Citibank to an eight-month, 17-country "mini retirement" that ended with her family settling in the Lake Norman area. She explains why motherhood sparked her passion for organizing, and why she chose the Bee Organized franchise model, drawn to its 2015 roots, 50+ locations, and core values of compassion, confidentiality, and judgment-free service.Krystal walks through what makes her team's approach different: coming in with a larger crew to deliver a full "fresh reset" in a day or less, then leaving clients with sustainable, customized systems built around how each household actually lives. She shares memorable transformations, including an 1,100-square-foot closet project that took nearly eight days and 244 team hours, plus tips for anyone feeling frozen by clutter and unsure where to start.Learn more:https://beeorganized.com/pages/lake-norman-ncThe Best of LKNhttps://thebestoflkn.com/Hosted by:Jeff Hammhttps://lknreal.com/Support the show

Denise George tried to attack Jeffrey Epstein's operation through the money trail, not just the sex-abuse allegations, by using the U.S. Virgin Islands' civil enforcement power to subpoena banks and financial institutions that handled Epstein's accounts, entities, trusts, charities, and shell companies. Her office sought records from major institutions including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Citibank, and others, looking for account records, transaction details, communications, cash movements, and the financial architecture around Epstein's estate and business entities. George later sued JPMorgan, accusing the bank of helping Epstein finance and conceal his trafficking operation, and her office had already reached a settlement of more than $105 million with Epstein's estate and related defendants. In other words, she was trying to prove that Epstein's crimes were not just enabled by recruiters and household staff, but by banks, lawyers, accountants, and institutions that moved the money and ignored the warning signs.A separate financial trail later raised similar questions around Ghislaine Maxwell. Reuters reported in 2026 that UBS helped move money connected to Maxwell before her arrest, including funds that ultimately helped purchase her secluded New Hampshire hideout, even after UBS had received a grand jury subpoena seeking information about her financial dealings in a child-sex-trafficking investigation. UBS had told Maxwell it would close her accounts, but documents showed millions still moved through the system before the shutdown was complete. That is what makes the institutional side of the Epstein story so damning: while George was trying to force major banks to explain how Epstein's money flowed for years, other institutions were still handling Maxwell-linked money in the aftermath, showing once again how elite clients could remain bankable long after the red flags should have been impossible to miss.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.com

Denise George tried to attack Jeffrey Epstein's operation through the money trail, not just the sex-abuse allegations, by using the U.S. Virgin Islands' civil enforcement power to subpoena banks and financial institutions that handled Epstein's accounts, entities, trusts, charities, and shell companies. Her office sought records from major institutions including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Citibank, and others, looking for account records, transaction details, communications, cash movements, and the financial architecture around Epstein's estate and business entities. George later sued JPMorgan, accusing the bank of helping Epstein finance and conceal his trafficking operation, and her office had already reached a settlement of more than $105 million with Epstein's estate and related defendants. In other words, she was trying to prove that Epstein's crimes were not just enabled by recruiters and household staff, but by banks, lawyers, accountants, and institutions that moved the money and ignored the warning signs.A separate financial trail later raised similar questions around Ghislaine Maxwell. Reuters reported in 2026 that UBS helped move money connected to Maxwell before her arrest, including funds that ultimately helped purchase her secluded New Hampshire hideout, even after UBS had received a grand jury subpoena seeking information about her financial dealings in a child-sex-trafficking investigation. UBS had told Maxwell it would close her accounts, but documents showed millions still moved through the system before the shutdown was complete. That is what makes the institutional side of the Epstein story so damning: while George was trying to force major banks to explain how Epstein's money flowed for years, other institutions were still handling Maxwell-linked money in the aftermath, showing once again how elite clients could remain bankable long after the red flags should have been impossible to miss.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Denise George tried to attack Jeffrey Epstein's operation through the money trail, not just the sex-abuse allegations, by using the U.S. Virgin Islands' civil enforcement power to subpoena banks and financial institutions that handled Epstein's accounts, entities, trusts, charities, and shell companies. Her office sought records from major institutions including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Citibank, and others, looking for account records, transaction details, communications, cash movements, and the financial architecture around Epstein's estate and business entities. George later sued JPMorgan, accusing the bank of helping Epstein finance and conceal his trafficking operation, and her office had already reached a settlement of more than $105 million with Epstein's estate and related defendants. In other words, she was trying to prove that Epstein's crimes were not just enabled by recruiters and household staff, but by banks, lawyers, accountants, and institutions that moved the money and ignored the warning signs.A separate financial trail later raised similar questions around Ghislaine Maxwell. Reuters reported in 2026 that UBS helped move money connected to Maxwell before her arrest, including funds that ultimately helped purchase her secluded New Hampshire hideout, even after UBS had received a grand jury subpoena seeking information about her financial dealings in a child-sex-trafficking investigation. UBS had told Maxwell it would close her accounts, but documents showed millions still moved through the system before the shutdown was complete. That is what makes the institutional side of the Epstein story so damning: while George was trying to force major banks to explain how Epstein's money flowed for years, other institutions were still handling Maxwell-linked money in the aftermath, showing once again how elite clients could remain bankable long after the red flags should have been impossible to miss.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-epstein-chronicles--5003294/support.

In this Encore episode of The Voice of Retail, I'm joined by James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, executive search, and the future of talent in the retail industry. James brings an exceptional career journey to the mic, beginning in advertising with agencies like Grey and Ogilvy, moving into marketing leadership at Citibank, in leadership roles at Esquire and then Conde Nast Traveller—where he helped it become the top-performing title, even outpacing Vogue. His passion for growth and transformation led him to become a CEO, owner-operator, and eventually launch Rare Placement, a boutique executive search firm focused on personalized, human-centric talent solutions. In our conversation, James emphasizes the power of storytelling—not just for brands, but for leaders. He reveals that every candidate he's placed has gone on to become a client, a testament to his laser focus on culture fit, agility, and soft skills over just resumes. We dive into how executive hiring has changed, why modern CEOs need courage, humility, and the ability to say “I don't know,” and how COVID permanently reshaped leadership styles and expectations around flexibility and culture. James shares practical advice for current and aspiring retail leaders—from building a strong, concise personal narrative to investing in ongoing networking, not just when you're in transition. He stresses that succession planning should be an ongoing, layered strategy, and reminds executives that “people buy leaders, not logos.” We also explore the increasing importance of board roles—both fiduciary and advisory—and how executives can position themselves for these opportunities by knowing what they uniquely bring to the table. Whether you're a retail executive planning your next move, a CEO rethinking your leadership team, or a rising leader wondering how to stand out, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025 and 2026. Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

From his home on the Spanish coast, Bernice Klaassen has been a leading thinker and contributor to the global dialogue on the future of insights and analytics. Once you know his journey, it is easy to understand why.Bernice's professional journey has taken him all over the world with companies like Kantar, Ipsos, Citibank and now RSB Insights, and it spans several disciplines including design, music, research and sustainability.Bernice traces his unique path, shares his refreshingly optimistic view of the industry's future and chooses some surprisingly awesome records to keep him company on a desert island.

Two Rice alums are shaking up the renewable energy world with Tierra Climate, an AI-powered energy storage platform that's quietly reshaping how the power grid works.Co-founded by Jacob Mansfield (BA '16) and Emma Konet (PMBA '24), Tierra Climate is driven by a shared belief that the transition to clean power needs to happen faster. Both have been passionate about the energy space since early in their careers, and when they saw an opportunity to use AI and software to accelerate the deployment of storage on the grid, they committed fully, leaving stable careers behind to build something that could make a real impact on climate change.They join host Brian Jackson '21 to trace their unlikely path from Citibank trading desks to startup life. They open up about the underlying anxiety of early-stage founding but why entrepreneurship is still worth it, how large-scale batteries are being underutilized on the grid, and the ways the Rice network keeps showing up.Episode Guide:00:00 Introductions & Origin Stories06:29 Founding Tierra Climate11:39 Customers & the Energy Storage Market16:36 The Startup Journey23:11 Taking the Leap & Building with AI29:29 The Rice Network & Industry Trends35:33  What's Next & the Texas PilotThe Owl Have You Know Podcast is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.Episode Quotes:Magic happens when you commit20:13: [Jacob Mansfield] I had a professor in business school that said that magic happens when you commit. There's some sort of like lucky space of serendipity that you invite, and you talk to people, and you clearly come from the space and you understand their pain points, and yet you've kind of left all of that world to try to solve the problem. I think that's pretty compelling for folks. I think it's committing at inception, but it's like a continual process of commitment throughout the entire journey.On finding the courage to go all in18:48: [Emma Konet] I think going into that program, I'm not sure I ever would've quit my job and foregone health insurance and taken the big risk, because I was scared. I mean, I was genuinely like, "Oh, like, that feels really risky. I'm not sure my risk tolerance is there." But through the process of my MBA, I think because Rice is so focused on entrepreneurship, that's kind of in the veins of the MBA program throughout. I basically got convinced that it wasn't as big of a risk as I thought, and I think throughout that program, it just made me realize, you know what? Just do it. Like, it was kind of the "just do it, just take the leap" mentality that pushed me over the edge, and I'm very glad that I went full-time on this. On building something that matters16:11: [Jacob Mansfield] Emma and I used to joke early on this concept of existential dread, which I'm sure founders can relate to. You know, when you work in a big organization, it may get some little nervousness around, like bonus day or when you hear, there's going to be some reorg. But generally speaking, I wasn't concerned, going in day in and day out, that Citibank would be in existence. It was one of the largest companies in the world. And so I think the difference is when you start a company, you do have, like, those butterflies in your stomach or that kind of like, okay, like, I want to make sure that what I'm building is going to amount to something and be meaningful.Show Links: Tierra Climate“Clean Energy's Missing Link” | Rice MagazineTranscriptGuest Profile:Jacob Mansfield | LinkedInEmma Konet | LinkedIn

Who is the CEO of Sheffield Wednesday - Mr. David Bruce? Matt goes through David's career so far. Back to where it all started at Citibank before working on the London 2012 project and being involved in the rise of the MLS to find out who David Bruce really is. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In pursuing civil enforcement under the Virgin Islands' Criminally Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (CICO), former U.S. Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George didn't just target Jeffrey Epstein's estate and his immediate corporate structures — she cast a far wider net that reached into major financial institutions she believed enabled and obscured his criminal enterprise. After securing a blockbuster $105 million settlement with Epstein's estate and co-defendants for human trafficking, child exploitation, fraud, and corrupt use of tax incentives, her office issued subpoenas to multiple banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, and Citibank, seeking detailed account records, wire transfers, and communications related to Epstein's myriad corporations, trusts, and financial vehicles. These subpoenas were intended to trace how funds moved through Epstein's networks and whether banks knowingly facilitated or failed to flag suspicious activity tied to his sex-trafficking scheme.George then took the extraordinary step of filing a federal lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, accusing the bank of “knowingly facilitati[ng], sustain[ing], and conceal[ing]” Epstein's human trafficking operations and alleging it financially benefitted from maintaining and managing his accounts over years. The complaint portrayed JPMorgan as indispensable to Epstein's ability to pay recruiters and victims, maintain secrecy, and profit from his criminal enterprise — claims that expanded the legal exposure beyond individuals directly implicated in abuse to the financial systems that kept Epstein's operation solvent. Although Deutsche Bank was not named as a defendant in George's suit, the broader investigative push signaled an effort to hold major financial players accountable for oversight failures or complicity in facilitating one of the most notorious trafficking networks in recent history.to contact me:bobbycapucci@protonmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-moscow-murders-and-more--5852883/support.

Crypto News: Michael Saylor lies saying Strategy never said it would sell its Bitcoin. Visa says it has moved $7B annually in stablecoins through its network. Stellar Development Foundation has unveiled a quantum preparedness plan to migrate all XLM accounts to quantum-resistant signatures by end of 2027. Ripple and Bitso expand their partnership, bringing Bitso's MXN-backed stablecoin MXNB to the XRP Ledger. Brought to you by

A new report from Citibank finds that racial disparities in income, wealth and business ownership continue to have far-reaching consequences for Black Americans and the broader economy. The analysis shows significant gaps in earnings and family wealth while estimating that closing those disparities could create millions of jobs and generate trillions of dollars in economic activity. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed with the latest news from a leading Black-owned & controlled media company: https://aurn.com/newsletter Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does it really take to lead meaningful change in today's fast-moving world? In this episode, strategic consultant, leadership expert, and author Angnieszka Wolińska-Skuza shares insights from her journey working with global organizations including Google, IBM, Citi Bank and more. From developing the MasConsulting Delivery Framework and Design Thinking methodology to combining creativity, mindset and innovation in business transformation, she brings a deeply human perspective to leadership and growth. We also explore the role of emotional intelligence, human potential, and why sustainable success begins with inner balance. A thoughtful conversation on strategy, innovation and creating impact that lasts. https://awolinskaskuza.com/Episode streaming now on Spotify, Apple Podcast, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. [Angnieszka Wolińska-Skuza, Consultant, Leadership, Design Thinking, Innovation Strategy, Business, Strategic Thinking, Consulting Frameworks, Business Growth, Podcast, Melting Pot, Payal Nayar] #Leadership #DesignThinking #Innovation #Management #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to another Risky Women Radio Book Club Edition. In an era dominated by rapid AI disruption, intensifying social scrutiny, and relentless geopolitical shifts, compliance can no longer be treated as a mere back-office box-checking exercise. In this episode, host Kimberley Cole sits down with Natalie McManus-Barnett, co-author of How to Be a Chief Compliance Officer and founder of Innovate Compliance. Shifting the narrative away from dry, bureaucratic policy-pushing, Natalie brings a refreshing dose of "polite disruption" to the table. She shares her "Jungle Gym" journey from the Financial Conduct Authority to Citibank, introducing a masterclass on how to weave compliance directly into the DNA of corporate strategy, execution, and culture to turn risk management into a genuine competitive advantage.

On today's episode of The CLS Experience we have a transformational conversation with the brilliant Marcus Weston, diving deep into Kabbalah, ego mastery, conscious leadership, and building true wealth consciousness. Marcus shares his powerful journey from Goldman Sachs and Citibank into becoming a global thought leader helping people reconnect to purpose, soul alignment, and fulfillment. Together, Craig and Marcus unpack why stress is often created by the gap between who we truly are and who we think we need to be, and how Kabbalah offers a lifelong path of awakening deeper desire, consciousness, and meaning. Marcus reframes ego not as something to destroy, but as an “energy intelligence” designed to strengthen us through challenges and resistance. They discuss comfort versus growth, why most people unknowingly make “bad trades” for temporary certainty, and how slowing down reactions creates freedom and power. The conversation also goes deep into money mastery, wealth blocks, receiving and sharing, and why wealth cannot shrink itself to meet your current identity - you must rise energetically to meet it. From purpose and wholeness to pain, leadership, sports psychology, and spiritual tools like Zohar practice and service, this episode is filled with wisdom for anyone looking to elevate their consciousness, leadership, and life.6:19 Awakening Big Desire14:20 Ego Defined by Kabbalah24:32 False Battles to Freedom41:02 Money Mastery Myths45:57 Hidden Wealth BlocksCheck out Marcus on Instagram HERE:Check out Marcus HERE:Check out this podcast live on YouTube:Early Bird Tickets now available for our October live event, CLS: Formation HERE:To join our community click here.➤ Order a copy of Craig's book The Reinvention Formula today! ➤ Join our CLS texting community for free daily inspiration and wisdom to elevate your life, text (917) 634-3796➤ INSTAGRAM➤ FACEBOOK➤ TIKTOK➤ YOUTUBE➤ WEBSITE➤ LINKEDIN➤ X

In this episode, Travis sits down with Raja Rajamannar, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Mastercard and one of the most influential marketing leaders in the world. Raja shares his incredible journey from studying chemical engineering in India to leading branding and marketing initiatives for some of the world's biggest companies, including Citibank and Mastercard. Along the way, he discusses cultural intelligence, financial lessons learned during the 2008 crisis, and the future of marketing through his groundbreaking concept of “Quantum Marketing.” On this episode we talk about: Raja's unconventional career path from chemical engineering to global marketing leadership Cultural lessons learned while living and working in India, Dubai, London, and New York How Mastercard transformed into one of the world's most recognizable brands The importance of diversification and smart investing after the 2008 financial crisis Raja's concept of “Quantum Marketing” and how AI, neuroscience, and behavioral economics are reshaping the future of business Top 3 Takeaways Marketing is deeply tied to culture. Understanding people's values, behaviors, and norms is essential if you want your messaging to resonate globally. Diversification matters. Depending entirely on one company for both your income and investments can create major financial risk. The future of marketing will belong to companies that embrace AI, behavioral science, data, and multi-sensory customer experiences. Notable Quotes “Hope is not strategy.” “Marketing always operates in culture.” “Don't put all your eggs in one basket.” Connect with Raja Rajamannar: LinkedIn: Raja Rajamannar  Instagram: @raja_rajamannar Other: Quantum Marketing Book Website Other: Mastercard Official Website A Word from Our Sponsors: https://invest.modemobile.com/travismakesmoney - Are you ready to start your own creatorjourney and make it big? Visitwww.fanvue.com today and launch yourcareer!- To learn more about Mode Mobile and its investor community, go to-Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency.Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform.Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Rugg, Global Head of Digital Assets for Citibank's TTS business, joined us at the Solana Policy Institute's Summit to discuss Citibank's digital asset, tokenization and blockchain initiatives. We dive into the nuances of tokenized deposits and stablecoins and much more. Brought to you by

A toxic and false belief has been dominating business culture for decades: Money is the byproduct of value creation. It sounds like common sense, but it is one of the most damaging things a thinking person can believe. This episode takes the belief apart and shows the moral claim hiding inside the causal one. The cost of getting this wrong is steep: you spend thirty years hounded by a number you can never reach, unable to rest, unable to truly enjoy what you have built — and then arrive at sixty to discover the prize the belief promised was never there. You will hear about Gary Stevenson, the Citibank trader who got rich betting against ordinary people, and Harvard professor Michael Sandel on what price does to meaning. And one night in Singapore — the Dragon VIP table, thirty thousand dollar minimum, and the dread right behind the performance of pleasure. On the other side is rest from chasing the next number, space for fulfillment, contribution, and love… and the greater work that the market alone could never have pointed you toward, the work that runs on its own fuel and outperforms anything you ever produced to please the market. Listen now. Show Highlights Include: A popular claim made in podcasts, LinkedIn posts, and even respected business books that slyly design your belief system into feeling like you're not enough and will never be enough (2:03)  Irrefutable examples of why your worth is not tied to your market value so you can stop living with invisible chains attached to you (3:52)  How your belief that prices indicate worth will try to argue with me at (7:32) - watch what happens in you…  The insidious way a toxic belief hijacks your mind to prove its worth to you (this explains why it's so hard to change your beliefs even when you're faced with proof it is not true) (12:07)  Why some of the most successful people are the most unhappy and unsatisfied but won't even admit it to themselves (12:54)  2 ways the belief that "price = worth" tears apart your joy, fulfillment, and love bit by painful bit (15:16)  3 questions that can incapacitate the toxic belief that's been running you for your entire life (and why your toxic belief will fight back every step of the way) (21:07) How to step off of the "Treadmill of Worth" before you're on your deathbed and regret your entire existence (28:26)    For more about David Tian, go here: https://www.davidtianphd.com/about/  Feeling like success in one area of life has come at the expense of another? Maybe you've crushed it in your career, but your relationships feel strained. Or you've built the life you thought you wanted, yet there's still something important missing. I've put together a free 3-minute assessment to help you see what's really holding you back. Answer a few simple questions, and you'll get instant access to a personalized masterclass that speaks directly to where you are right now. It's fast. It's practical. And it could change the way you approach leadership, love, and fulfillment. Take the first step here → https://dtphd.com/quiz

Most banks still treat AI as a faster way to do the same work. Citibank believes the entire operating model of banking is about to change. Recorded live at the Financial Brand Forum, Driss Temsamani, Head of Digital at Citi and author of The Agentic Bank, explains why the next phase of AI is not about chatbots or isolated use cases. It is about rebuilding how banks deploy software, organize teams, serve customers, manage operations, and create decisions at scale. We discuss why software development costs are collapsing, why subject matter expertise becomes more valuable in an AI-driven organization, how agentic systems could reshape customer engagement, and why technologies like blockchain may become foundational to the future of financial services infrastructure. This conversation goes well beyond automation. It looks at what banking may become once intelligence is embedded into every part of the organization. Hosted by Jim Marous, Co-Publisher of The Financial Brand and Owner and Publisher of the Digital Banking Report. #Banking #AI #AgenticAI #DigitalBanking #BankingTransformed #Citi #Fintech #CustomerExperience

It's 5:47 PM. You're trying to make dinner. Your four-year-old is melting down. You hand her the iPad, just for twenty minutes. She gets quiet. And then, because you're a person who loves your kid, you feel like a bad parent. Hey. It happens. I've been there too. And the man I sat down with for this conversation has been there too, except in his case, he's the one who invented the technology you just handed her. In this episode, I sit down with Rob LoCascio, the man who invented web chat in 1995 and built LivePerson into a public company powering customer conversations for Apple, American Express, and Citibank. After twenty-eight years inside the conversational AI industry, watching his own three kids try to grow up in the world he helped build, Rob had a reckoning. He started a new company building tech for kids that doesn't exploit them, and he sat down with me to explain, with receipts, what is actually happening behind the screen your kid won't put down. In This Episode The exact moment a tech founder realized he was losing his own kids to the screens he built, and why it changed everything for him Why senior YouTube executives quietly don't let their own kids use YouTube, and what they know that you don't The reframe that turns the daily iPad battle from a parenting failure into a systems problem What Jonathan Haidt's research found when Apple introduced the front-facing camera, and why youth depression rates spiked globally at the same moment Why your kid asks for the iPad when she's upset, and what is actually happening in her nervous system in that moment The 25-million-person creator economy your kid is being fed by, and why "just set limits" stopped working in 2020 What healthier tech for kids could actually look like, and what to ask before you hand any device to a four-year-old Why This Matters This episode is for anyone who has handed their kid a device just to get through dinner and then felt the wave of guilt that follows. For the parent who has yelled, then immediately regretted it, then negotiated, then given in. For the mom or dad whose kid melts down when the iPad gets put away, and who has started to wonder whether something deeper is going on. You are not crazy. You are not failing. You are up against an industry that is very, very good at what it does, and what it does is not in your kid's interest. This episode names what you have been feeling, and gives you new language for what is actually happening. Episode Breakdown 01:42 The Screen Time Fight Every Parent Knows 05:00 The Inventor of Web Chat Pulls Back the Curtain 09:00 Devices Are Homework, Not a Babysitter 12:00 What's Actually Inside the Videos Your Kids Are Watching 15:30 What Screens Do to a Developing Brain 19:11 "I Feel Like I've Lost": A Tech Founder's Confession 22:45 Why YouTube Executives Won't Let Their Kids Use YouTube 25:25 The 25-Million-Person Machine Behind Every Scroll 37:00 Why Early Exposure Hits a Developing Brain Harder 43:15 What Healthier Tech for Kids Could Actually Look Like Resources Read the full article and access every resource Rob mentions in this episode (including his work at KID Company) One-on-one parenting coaching and family therapy with our team Schedule a free consultation, no pressure, no commitment If you know another parent who has been crying in the bathroom over the iPad fight (and you probably have someone in mind right now), please share this episode with them. They will feel less alone, and that matters more than you know. XO, Dr. Lisa Marie Bobby Growing Self

(00:00) — Welcome and setup: from premed dropout to med student(00:47) — Corporate grind sparks the spreadsheets vs patients question(01:30) — Rewinding to undergrad premed and the 495 MCAT during COVID(03:15) — Finances and first-gen pressure push him off the path(04:35) — Articles, AI, and volunteering rekindle interest in medicine(06:10) — Leadership draw: why physician responsibility appealed to him(07:10) — Timeline: research job, 2018 grad, 2020 MCAT, business analytics at Fordham(09:05) — Undergrad habits, no planner, and managing ADHD with better tools(11:05) — Corporate wins build confidence (Big Four, Wall Street, AVP)(12:50) — Planning the leap: savings, living at home, loans, and side investments(14:10) — Bridge/SMP at Toro Harlem: structure and guaranteed-seat criteria(16:25) — Working at Citibank while starting the master's; then going all in(17:55) — Confirming fit: brief shadowing, almost passing out, but more intrigued(18:55) — Harlem community events as a student doctor and seeing disparities(19:52) — MCAT retake to 501–502; Kaplan and official full-lengths(21:27) — SMP mirrored M1 exams; Z-score cutoff and comprehensive exam(22:45) — M1 transition is easier after the SMP run-through(23:35) — Logistics: 3.45 GPA + comp exam = seat; could apply elsewhere(24:25) — Starting a tea franchise in Astoria with partners during M1(25:35) — Brick-and-mortar stress, construction, and opening mid-semester(26:50) — Hardest part: letting go of a six-figure salary(28:05) — Would he change his path? Choosing experience over speed(29:20) — Exploring passions helps future practice and options(30:52) — Keeping doors open: medicine, consulting, and business(31:28) — Parents' reaction: skepticism to tears of pride(32:34) — Final advice: build confidence and believe in yourselfZarak shares how he walked away from premed after a 495 MCAT and an average undergrad GPA, chased a thriving corporate career, and then found his way back to medicine. A first-gen student, he talks openly about family expectations, finances, and why spreadsheets and commutes couldn't replace patient impact. He explains the planning that made his return possible: saving while living at home, using loans wisely, and enrolling in a one-year bridge/SMP at Toro Harlem that mirrored M1 exams and offered a guaranteed seat with a 3.45 GPA plus a comprehensive exam. He retook the MCAT to around 501–502 using Kaplan and official full-lengths, and found confidence through improved study systems and corporate-built habits. Now an M1, he's volunteering in Harlem, reflecting on health disparities, and even launching a brick-and-mortar tea franchise in Astoria with partners—while keeping med school first. Dr. Gray and Zarak dig into letting go of a six-figure salary, rebuilding confidence, managing ADHD with better tools, and why exploring interests outside of medicine can strengthen your future as a physician.What You'll Learn:- How a low MCAT and average GPA didn't end his med school goals- What a guaranteed-seat bridge/SMP at Toro Harlem required- How he planned the leap: savings, loans, and timing while working- MCAT retake resources he used the second time around- Balancing M1 demands with launching a brick-and-mortar business

We're joined by Bhavesh Ratanpal. product leader, author, and long‑time practitioner of yoga philosophy, for a unique conversation about his book Product Ashtangi and how ancient Vedic wisdom can change the way we build products and lead teams.Bhavesh shares his journey from growing up in a family of priests in India, to a career in software development and product management at places like TD Bank, Citibank, and TELUS, and now to founding human‑centric AI startups in Canada. Along the way, he kept returning to one insight: a calm, clear mind makes better product decisions. Product Ashtangi is his attempt to codify that, combining the eight limbs of Ashtanga yoga with modern product practice.Join Matt and Moshe as they explore with Bhavesh:What “Product Ashtangi” means and why the first product you work on is yourselfHow the eight limbs of yoga (starting with Yama - truthfulness, ethics, ego‑awareness) translate into everyday product decisionsThe difference between building from ego and cosmetics vs. focusing on real user pain and social welfareHow to shift between observer and experiencer modes so you can see problems clearly instead of reacting emotionallyStories of applying these principles in practice, from enterprise migrations and platform decisions to Bhavesh's current AI products (pet adoption and strata governance)Treating your life like a product: personal sprints, self‑retros every two weeks, and continuously “shipping” a better version of yourselfHow karma yoga and product management align when you see products as vehicles for societal good, not just business metricsThe structure of the book:Part 1 – theory connecting yoga sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and product thinkingPart 2 – practical ways to adopt the eight limbs in your product workWhere to start if you're curious: books, practices, and small mindset shifts you can apply this weekAnd much more!Want to learn more or get the book?Website: http://bhaveshratanpal.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhaveshratanpalYou can also connect with us and find more episodes:Product for Product Podcast: http://linkedin.com/company/product-for-product-podcastMatt Green: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattgreenproduct/Moshe Mikanovsky: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mikanovskyNote: Any views mentioned in the podcast are the sole views of our hosts and guests, and do not represent the products mentioned in any way.Please leave us a review and feedback ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Episode 236 - April 30th 2026 - Checking out the Facts - Violations Counter - DJ Intence - 0 x Walt - 40 x Ceddy - 46 - Ish on The Joe Budden Podcast calling out people for Background Checking On New Neighbors - Artist D4vd Arrested & Charged for Murder of Celeste Rivas Hernandez - LiveNation Illegaly Monopolized Ticketing Market, Jury Rules in Anti-Trust Trial (Ticketmaster Story) - The World Cup - New York City female teenager STOMPED after rejects a classmates advances - White House correspondents' Dinner shooter - Donald Trump Interview review - 2 Influencers Jailed for Scamming (Jonathan Dupiton “Rich & Umployed Podcast” & Stormy Wellington “Coach Stormy”) - Wise Guy's Segment - Stop putting your BUSINESS on Social Media. Megan Thee Stallion Klay Thompson Drama - Wise Guy's Segment - Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith Drama keeps GOING!!!! - Wise Guy's Segment - People finding happiness- Cheaper going to DISNEY in foreign countries than in American

In this episode of People Not Titles, host Steve Kaempf speaks with Mark Ratfelders, a former corporate sales leader at American Express and Citibank, turned coach, consultant, and yoga and meditation leader. Mark shares his 30-year corporate journey, the keys to success including vision, alignment, and persistence, and the importance of balancing career ambitions with personal values. He discusses his transition from corporate life to heart-centered coaching, how yoga and meditation transformed his approach, and his Mindful Wellness workshop, which helps individuals and teams improve performance and well-being through mindfulness and energy awareness.Introduction & Guest Overview (0:00)Mark's Corporate Career Journey (1:14)Keys to Corporate Success (4:36)Personal Motivation & The Three Rs (5:05)Alignment and Making Bold Choices (6:43)Balancing Career and Family (8:05)Decision-Making at Career Crossroads (10:18)The Cost of Work-Life Imbalance (11:58)Finding Middle Ground & The Power of Pause (13:17)Corporate Culture & Value Alignment (14:57)Redefining Success Beyond the Grind (15:52)Challenging Limiting Narratives (16:41)Work-Life Balance & Presence (17:01)Happiness and Holistic Success (18:54)Holistic Practices: Running, Yoga, Meditation (20:02)Transition Out of Corporate America (21:07)Identity Shift After Corporate Life (28:14)Beginning Coaching & The Role of Yoga/Meditation (31:24)Coaching vs. Corporate Leadership (33:06)Foundations of Sales Success (33:48)Energy, Awareness, and Performance (36:54)Energy Assessment & Seven Levels (40:28)Role of Coaching in Change (42:22)Heart-Centered Service in Sales (46:01)Loving Kindness & Relationship Energy (47:26)Group Work & Mindful Wellness Workshops (49:03)Mindfulness vs. Multitasking (50:26)Seven Levels of Energy & Human Experience (51:48)Conclusion & Contact Information (52:34)Podcast Outro & Sponsor Message (53:16)About the Podcast:People, Not Titles is dedicated to elevating professionals in real estate and business by focusing on real-world strategies, honest conversations, and the principles that drive long-term success.Full episodes available at:[www.peoplenottitles.com](http://www.peoplenottitles.com)Connect with us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peoplenottitlesFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/peoplenottitlesTwitter: https://twitter.com/sjkaempfSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1uu5kTvSubscribe for weekly insights on real estate trends, investing strategies, and business growth.Because in the end, it's always about people not titles.#ChicagoRealEstate#HousingMarket#RealEstatePodcast#Investing#MortgageRates

Guest Co-Host Henry Harteveldt. Guest: Vicki Jaramillo, EVP/Chief Commercial Officer, Orlando International Airport. Topics: Q1 loss at Delta; Fuel cost impact; Citibank files objection to Spirit proceeding; Pricing pressures & baggage fees; Listener feedback on safety issues previously discussed, plus a quick shout-out from George & Caroline.

In this engaging conversation, Guy Pinsent shares his entrepreneurial journey from Cambridge economics student, being a banker in the City, to the Foreign Office and on to real estate and finally, on his own account, as a successful self storage business owner in Central Europe. Guy discusses the founding and growth of Less Mess Storage, which now operates 18 locations across Poland and Czech Republic with backing from Metric Capital Partners since 2015, and with 100,000 sqm of rentable space and 40,000 more in the pipeline. Key Topics Covered: The Self Storage Business Model: Guy explains his freehold property approach, inspired by companies like Big Yellow and the McDonald's model featured in "The Founder" film. Also attractive features of the self storage business: long lifetime value of clients, custom inertia, counter-cyclical demand so the business performs well across the business cycle.Cambridge University Value of a first-class education. The Why question: How Guy never worried about social status, and simply doing what it takes to build a life, do something of value. Entrepreneurial Philosophy: Discussion of motivation and work ethic, referencing Arnold Schwarzenegger's YouTube talks and Gary Vaynerchuk's "I will outwork you" mentality. Economic Principles: Insights on loss aversion from Daniel Kahneman's research and lessons from Cambridge professor Michael Kuczynski. Life as a British Expat: Guy shares his experience living abroad and his documentary project "Should Brits Come Home?" made with Patrick Ney, exploring whether British expats should return to the UK. Documentary Filmmaking: Behind-the-scenes stories from filming at the Notting Hill Carnival, agricultural shows, and conducting street interviews. Political Commentary: Reflections on Britain's direction, post-nationalism, and concerns about current UK leadership. About Guy Pinsent Guy is a British real estate entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Less Mess Storage, a leading self‑storage company operating across Central Europe. Born in London and raised in the English countryside, he studied at Eton College and Cambridge University before starting his career in investment banking at Citibank. He later served at the British Embassy in Poland to strengthen UK–Poland business relations, then moved into commercial real estate with Colliers, and in 2014 founded Less Mess Storage, which he has since built into a benchmark player in the Central European self storage sector. Guy's Linkedin Links Arnold Schwarzenegger - Guy referenced a 4-minute motivational talk on YouTube about entrepreneurship principles YouTube: Arnold Schwarzenegger 6 Rules of Success Gary Vaynerchuk - Richard mentioned him as an American entrepreneur from Belarus known for saying "I will outwork you" as part of his pathway to success example here Daniel Kahneman - Guy referenced his work on loss aversion (people feel $100 loss twice as painfully as the good feeling of a $100 gain) Wikipedia: Loss Aversion Michael Kuczynski - Economics professor at Pembroke College, Cambridge who taught both Richard and Guy; passed away in 2025 at age 84 Pembroke College: Michael Kuczynski (1941–2025) Pedro Pablo Kuczynski - Michael's brother, became President of Peru Wikipedia: Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Less Mess Storage - Guy's self-storage company operating in Poland and Czech Republic with 18 locations lessmess.storage Pembroke College, Cambridge - Where both Richard and Guy studied economics pem.cam.ac.uk Big Yellow - UK self-storage company mentioned as reference for freehold approach bigyellow.co.uk "The Founder" - Film about Ray Kroc and McDonald's history, illustrating property-based business model Wikipedia: The Founder (film) Richard's TED-ED lesson based on The Founder link "Should Brits Come Home?" - Documentary Guy made with Patrick Ney about whether British expats should return to the UK especially from a Polish perspective. Here Patrick Ney was a guest on this NBN channel here, And gave one of the most popular TEDxKazimierz talks of all time with over 375,000 downloads here Center for Policy Studies - UK centre-right think tank Guy mentioned link Extra Space - Major US self-storage operator link Metric Capital Partners - Private equity investor in Less Mess since 2015 link1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Become a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show! It's fun. All the cool kids are doing it! ------------- It's the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. In this new series from The Climate Pod, we're looking back on the global pact to determine: how have things changed since 2015 and what has the Paris Agreement accomplished? Our first three episodes were on extreme heat, adaptation, and the state of climate action.  This week, we look at the transformative change in clean energy and electrification technology over the last decade, Our guest today, Kingsmill Bond (along with the team at Ember Energy) are championing this change as the  "Electrotech Revolution." As they note, "humanity is graduating from burning fossil commodities to mastering manufactured technologies—from hunting scarce fossils to farming the inexhaustible sun, from consuming Earth's resources to merely borrowing them. This isn't a marginal climate substitution. It's an energy revolution.  Kingsmill Bond, CFA is an energy strategist for Ember. He has worked as a financial market analyst and strategist for over 30 years, including for Deutsche Bank and Citibank. Bond and I talk about the decade's technological advances, geopolitical implications of the changing energy system, and the future opportunities he sees. We also talk about the role of China and emerging markets in global energy transition and the economic implications of real energy independence around the globe. Check out Ember Energy's full report here.  Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to our newsletter/podcast, The Climate Weekly, to help support this show. Your contributions will make the continuation of this show possible.  Our music is "Gotta Get Up" by The Passion Hifi, check out his music at thepassionhifi.com. Rate, review and subscribe to this podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and more! Subscribe to our YouTube channel.

In this episode of The Voiceover Gurus Podcast, Linda chats with Susan Berkley about her journey from radio and the Howard Stern show to becoming the voice of major brands like AT&T and Citibank, and building a production and coaching business. They explore how the industry changed from in-person auditions and ISDN to online studios, IVR work, pay-to-play platforms, and direct marketing—plus practical advice on finding authenticity, marketing yourself, and adapting across decades. Susan shares lessons on entrepreneurship, coaching, and longevity in voiceover, with tips for newcomers and seasoned pros alike. In this episode, we explore: How radio early beginnings shaped a resilient voice actor The transformative impact of the internet on the voice business Real stories of rejection, reinvention, and the power of marketing Practical tips on staying authentic and flexible in a changing industry The importance of community, mentorship, and giving back Secrets behind landing major clients like AT&T, Citibank, and lifetime success stories Resources for new voice artists: from pay-to-play to direct outreach Resources & Links Voiceover.GURU Voiceover Gurus Community — Connect and grow Connect with Susan Berkley: LinkedIn Twitter

Lauren Douglass, founder of Reverve, joins AdTechGod to unpack what modern B2B marketing actually needs to look like now. From her journey through Citibank, Teads, and Channel Factory to building a consultancy that stitches PR, social, and content into one strategy, Lauren shares why authenticity and point of view beat polished jargon every time. They dive into the real grind of content creation, how personal brands will drive B2B growth into 2026, and where AI helps without replacing the human connection that makes marketing work. Takeaways Lauren Douglass has a rich marketing background, having worked with major companies like Citibank and Channel Factory. Reverve was founded to simplify and enhance B2B marketing strategies, focusing on integration across channels. Content creation is more challenging than many realize, requiring organization and planning. The future of marketing will heavily rely on personal branding and authentic storytelling. Brands that embrace personality and authenticity will stand out in the competitive landscape. AI will play a significant role in content creation, but human connection remains vital. Consistency in content creation is key, even when results are not immediately visible. Embarrassment and vulnerability are part of the journey in building a personal brand. Companies should encourage their employees to share their unique stories and perspectives. The marketing landscape is shifting towards more human-centric approaches, moving away from corporate jargon. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lauren Douglass and Her Journey 02:58 The Evolution of Marketing in B2B 05:38 Content Creation Challenges and Predictions for 2026 08:22 Finding Balance in Content Quality and Frequency 11:17 The Importance of Personal Branding 13:57 Navigating the Future of Advertising 16:46 Embracing Authenticity in Marketing 19:39 The Core of Effective Marketing 22:27 AI's Impact on Content Creation 24:03 The Passion Behind Marketing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mitch Axelrod's BIO:  A 47 year entrepreneur, speaker, trainer, advisor and 5 time #1 Wall St. Journal, Barnes & Noble and Amazon best-selling author of The NEW Game of Business™, The NEW Game of Selling™ and the forthcoming book, The NEW Game of Service™. Mitch has delivered 4,000 seminars, workshops, keynotes, executive briefings, webinars and coaching clinics to a million people on business, entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, values, life skills and intellectual property. His clients include IBM, AT&T, Citibank, Prudential, MetLife and thousands of small, medium and home based businesses, professionals and solo practitioners. They have generated $4 billion of revenue. Mitch shared the stage with Jack Canfield, Les Brown, Denis Waitley, Brian Tracy, Mark Victor Hansen, Jay Abraham, Barbara Corcoran, Michael Gerber and Dan Kennedy. Featured on media including WABC, Best-Seller TV and Sales Talk Radio, Mitch has taught at NYU, USC, Notre Dame and is faculty at Harvard's Executive Leadership Conference. In 2020 Mitch suffered a stroke and brain aneurism that left him paralyzed on his right side. He had to learn to walk and talk again. His inspirational story of resilience, rebound and recovery has been written about in books and featured on TV shows.   In this episode, Virginia and Mitch talked about How Mitch got into selling The new game of business Big shift in how successful people sell How to turn service into a profit center Marrying sales & service as a holistic system Rejection-proof networking   Takeaways: Be the trusted voice of choice Sell them the BEST solution for THEM Your job is to find the hungry fish Your qualified buyer is either ready or getting ready The most important question: Why did you buy from us?   Connect with Mitch Axelrod on his social media accounts to learn more about his work and insights into networking effectively: LinkedIn URL https://linkedin.com/in/mitchaxelrod Facebook URL https://www.facebook.com/mitchaxelrod Instagram URL https://www.instagram.com/mitchellaxelrod   Connect with Virginia: https://www.bbrpodcast.com/

In this Legend Series episode of The Practice Podcast, Brett Amron and Jeff Bast sit down with John Kozyak, co-founder of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton. Known nationally as a bet-the-company litigator and restructuring lawyer, Kozyak reflects on a career shaped by risk, mentorship, and an unwavering willingness to create opportunity where none existed.From knocking on office doors in downtown Miami in the 1970s to building one of the most respected litigation and bankruptcy firms in the country, Kozyak's story is a masterclass in persistence, leadership, and purpose. Key Takeaways from the ConversationStarting with Nothing but InitiativeKozyak's entry into the legal profession was anything but traditional. As a law student, he flew to Miami with a stack of resumes and literally knocked on law firm doors looking for work. That initiative landed him a summer position that ultimately shaped his entire career. His approach was simple but powerful:Show up.Ask directly for opportunities.Make it difficult for people to say no.That willingness to act created momentum long before formal recruiting processes existed.The Leap to EntrepreneurshipIn 1982, Kozyak and two partners took the risk of starting their own firm during a period of economic uncertainty and high interest rates.At the time:He had a young family.Mortgage rates were above 14%.The new firm had only three lawyers and limited resources.Despite the risks, the firm quickly gained traction through strong litigation work and strategic bankruptcy matters. One early case from Citibank helped establish the firm's reputation in restructuring and insolvency work. Seizing Opportunity in Bankruptcy LawKozyak positioned himself early in bankruptcy and restructuring law by attending a specialized program shortly after the Bankruptcy Code was enacted in 1979.That decision gave him:Early exposure to a developing practice areaAccess to national legal networksA chance to build credibility among leading practitionersIt was a calculated move that helped define his career trajectory.Mentorship as a Professional ResponsibilityBeyond litigation success, Kozyak's legacy includes a deep commitment to mentorship and diversity in the legal profession.He co-founded the Kozyak Minority Mentoring Foundation, which has connected thousands of minority students with judges and lawyers across South Florida. The goal was simple: Create access to relationships and opportunities that many aspiring lawyers would not otherwise have.Many alumni of the program have gone on to become judges, partners, and leaders in the profession.Leadership Lessons from Decades in PracticeThroughout the conversation, several consistent leadership themes emerge:Create your own opportunities. Kozyak built his career by actively pursuing relationships and openings others overlooked.Mentorship multiplies impact. Helping others succeed ultimately strengthens the entire profession.Take calculated risks. Launching a firm during uncertain economic times required confidence and long-term vision.Show up with purpose. Networking only works when you approach it with intention.Advice for the Next Generation of LawyersKozyak offers a straightforward message for young lawyers seeking mentorship or career direction:Do not wait for opportunities to come to you.Attend events and engage with people intentionally.Introduce yourself and ask thoughtful questions.Build relationships early.In his words, the most important step is simple:Go knock on doors. About the GuestJohn Kozyak is the co-founder of Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton and a nationally recognized trial lawyer. Over his career he has represented clients in high-stakes litigation, complex bankruptcies, and major receiverships.He is also an author, lecturer, and longtime advocate for mentorship and diversity within the legal profession.If you enjoyed this Legend Series episode of The Practice Podcast, consider subscribing and sharing the episode with your network.Streaming on  YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Podcasts. We are also in the top ten percent of listened-to podcasts globally.

Iran's has threatened to attack banks related to United States and Israeli entities in the region after what it called an attack on an Iranian bank. This fear has cause mass migration into crypto as a safe haven for financial security against a possible financial crisis in the region. Meanwhile, the banks continue to fight against crypto and the CLARITY act.~This episode is sponsored by Tangem~Tangem ➜ https://bit.ly/TangemPBNUse Code: "PBN" for Additional Discounts!Guest: Ron Hammond - Head of Policy and Advocacy at WintermuteWintermute website ➜ https://bit.ly/WintermuteCryptoFollow Ron on Twitter ➜ https://x.com/RonwHammond00:00 Intro00:10 Sponsor: Tangem00:40 Iran targeting banks01:20 Middle East Banks are at peak fear02:40 Polymarket vs Ron05:00 Is conflict a major catalyst for crypto06:30 Self-custody narrative reinforced08:00 Trump too busy to deal with CLARITY?10:00 Democrats sweep midterms: Plan B?11:20 CFTC protects Phantom?12:10 ABA Summit: BS survey data on yields14:20 ABA Summit: BS survey data on merchants15:50 LIGHTNING ROUND21:20 What can change everything?#Crypto #Bitcoin #Ethereum~War Hits Banks Triggering Crypto Escape

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Teri Williams. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features a powerful and informative interview with Teri Williams, President, COO, and owner of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Teri Williams. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features a powerful and informative interview with Teri Williams, President, COO, and owner of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:

Listen and subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, www.moneymakingconversations.com/subscribe/ or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Teri Williams. Thanks! The transcript from this episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass features a powerful and informative interview with Teri Williams, President, COO, and owner of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black-owned bank in the United States. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and takeaways:

If you have an American Airlines card issued by Barclays, it won't be a Barclays card for much longer, as AA cards will transition to Citi instead. So what does that mean for you? We'll answer some common questions about this transition in today's podcast episode.Barclays AA cards: planning the transition to CitiRead more about the Barclays to Citi transition here.(01:03) - April 24, 2026, the bank that issues your AAdvantage® credit card is changing from Barclays Bank Delaware to Citibank, N.A. (Citi)(02:15) - $99 cards(02:45) - Silver to GlobeSee our episode about the Globe card here.(03:24) - Barclays vs Citi Companion Certs(11:45) - Should we cancel our Barclays cards before the changeover?(16:38) - Disadvantages to cancelling BEFORE(23:07) - Should we apply for Citi AA cards before the changeover?(24:25) - What are Nick and Greg going to do?Visit https://frequentmiler.com/subscribe to get updated on in-depth points and miles content like this, and don't forget to like and follow us on social media.Music Credit – Beach Walk by Unicorn HeadsMentioned in this episode:Check out this month's sponsor and support our showJoin the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com/mileshttps://joinbilt.com/miles

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe world is continually paying the [CB]s more and more of their hard earned labor. In Germany the people are taxed 42%, almost half of their income. Fed inflation indicator reports no inflation, Truinflation reports inflation is at 1.2%.BoA and Citibank are in talks to offer 10% credit card. Trump says US will the crypto capital of the world. Globalism/[CB] system has failed, the power will return to the people. The patriots are sending a message, DOJ 2.0 is not like DOJ 1.0, same with the FBI, you commit a crime you will be arrested. The message is clear, the protection from these agencies are gone. Bondi arrest the Church rioters. Trump’s message at DAVOS is clear, the [DS] power and agenda is no more. Trump is now in control and the world will begin to move in a different direction, either you are on board or you will be left behind. The power belongs to the people.   Economy https://twitter.com/WallStreetMav/status/2014289396112011443?s=20 (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Fed’s Favorite Inflation Indicator Refuses To Show Any Signs Of Runaway ‘Trump Tariff’ Costs The Fed’s favorite inflation indicator – Core PCE – rose 0.2% MoM (as expected), which leave it up 2.8% YoY (as expected), slightly lower than September’s +2.9%…   Bear in mind that this morning’s third look at Q3 GDP printed a +2.9% YoY for Core PCE. Under the hood, the biggest driver of Core PCE remains Services costs – not tariff-driven Goods prices…   In fact, on a MoM basis, Non-durable goods prices saw deflation for the second month in a row…   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/truflation/status/2014322072286302619?s=20 – Food – mostly Eggs – Household durables – particularly housekeeping supplies – Alcohol & tobacco – mostly alcoholic beverages Our number is derived by aggregating millions of real-time price data points every day to calculate a year-over-year CPI % rate. It is comparable but not identical to the survey-based official headline inflation released monthly by the BLS, which was 2.7% for December. Bank Of America, Citigroup May Launch Credit Cards With 10% Rate Two weeks after Trump shocked the world by demanding lenders cap credit card interest rates at 10% for one year, Bank of America and Citigroup are exploring options to do just that in an attempt to placate the president.  Bloomberg reports that both banks are mulling offering cards with a 10% rate cap as one potential solution.  Earlier this week, Trump said he would ask Congress to implement the proposal, giving the financial firms more clarity about what exact path he's pursuing. Bank executives have repeatedly decried the uniform cap, saying it'll cause lenders to have to pull credit lines for consumers.  Source: zerohedge.com Trump sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over alleged ‘political’ debanking The lawsuit claims JPMorgan’s decision ‘came about as a result of political and social motivations’ to ‘distance itself’ Trump and his ‘conservative political views’  President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon in a $5 billion lawsuit filed Thursday, accusing the financial institution of debanking him for political reasons. The president's attorney, Alejandro Brito, filed the lawsuit Thursday morning in Florida state court in Miami on behalf of the president and several of his hospitality companies.  “ Source: foxnews.com https://twitter.com/RapidResponse47/status/2013984082640658888?s=20  WEF Finance/Banking Panel – If Independent National Economies Continue Rising, Global Trade Drops and We Lose Control Globalism in its economic construct is a series of dependencies. If those dependencies are severed, if each country has the ability to feed, produce and innovate independently, then the entire dependency model around globalism collapses. Within the globalism model that was historically created there was a group of people, western nations, banks, finance and various government leaders, who controlled the organization and rules of the trade dependencies.  The action being taken for self-sufficiency, in combination with the approach promoted by President Trump that each nation state should generate their own needs, then the rules-based order that has existed for global trade will collapse. If nations are no longer dependent, they become sovereign – able to exist without the need for support from other nations and systems. If nations are indeed sovereign, then globalism is no longer needed and a threat of the unknown rises. How will nations engage with each other if there is no governing body of western elites to make the rules for engagement?  The need for control is a reaction to fear, and it is the fear of self-reliance that permeates the elitist class within the control structures.   If each nation of the world is operating according to its individual best interests, the position of Donald Trump, then what happens to the governing elite who set up the system of interdependencies. This is the core of their fear. If each nation can suddenly grow tea, what happens to the East India Tea Company.  Who then sets the price for the tea, and worse still an entire distribution system (ships, ports, exchanges, banks, etc.) becomes functionally obsolescent. Source: theconservativetreehouse.com  Political/Rights TWO-TIERED JUSTICE: Conservative Journalist Kaitlin Bennett Charged and Fined for Interviewing Democrats in Public — While Don Lemon Storms Churches With Zero Consequences The United States now operates under a blatantly two-tiered justice system, where conservative journalists are criminally charged for speech in public spaces, while left-wing media figures face zero consequences for harassing Americans and disrupting religious services. Conservative journalist Kaitlin Bennett revealed this week that she was charged with a federal crime and fined by the National Park Service in St. Augustine for the so-called offense of asking Democrats questions on public property. According to Bennett, federal agents targeted her while she was conducting on-the-street interviews, a form of journalism protected by the First Amendment. Despite being on public land, Bennett says she was cited and punished simply for engaging in political speech that the Left finds inconvenient. Bennett addressed the incident directly in a post on X, writing: https://twitter.com/KaitMarieox/status/2014174254799958148?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2014174254799958148%7Ctwgr%5Ef4a6650cd0c60d38edfea018c5665c2cc2fe5199%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Ftwo-tier-justice-conservative-journalist-kaitlin-bennett-charged%2F When asked by another local journalist exactly what “lawful order” Bennett had disobeyed, the ranger reportedly could not provide a straight answer. WATCH: Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2014322865848406370?s=20   Alexander Conejo Arias, fled on foot—abandoning his child. For the child's safety, one of our ICE officers remained with the child while the other officers apprehended Conejo Arias.   Parents are asked if they want to be removed with their children, or ICE will place the children with a safe person the parent designates. This is consistent with past administration's immigration enforcement. Parents can take control of their departure and receive a free flight and $2,600 with the CBP Home app. By using the CBP Home app illegal aliens reserve the chance to come back the right legal way. https://twitter.com/DHSgov/status/2014049440911303019?s=20   inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant. An immigration judge issued him a final order of removal in 2019. In a dangerous attempt to evade arrest, this criminal illegal alien weaponized his vehicle and rammed law enforcement. Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired defensive shots. The criminal illegal alien was not hit and attempted to flee on foot. He was successfully apprehended by law enforcement. The illegal alien was not injured, but a CBP officer was injured.  These dangerous attempts to evade arrest have surged since sanctuary politicians, including Governor Newsom, have encouraged illegal aliens to evade arrest and provided guides advising illegal aliens how to recognize ICE, block entry, and defy arrest. Our officers are now facing a 3,200% increase in vehicle attacks. This situation is evolving, and more information is forthcoming.   https://twitter.com/nicksortor/status/2014063905413177637?s=20  CNN Panelist Issues Retraction and Apology After Going Too Far in On-Air Trump Attack    footage of CNN's “Newsnight with Abby Phillip” was posted to social media platform X featuring 25-year-old leftist activist Cameron Kasky alongside panel mainstay Scott Jennings. A moment between the two went viral when Kasky casually declared that President Donald Trump had been involved in an international sex trafficking ring. Jennings wasn't going to let that remark go unchallenged by host John Berman. The topic of conversation had been Trump's interest in Greenland and the Nobel Peace Prize, but Kasky threw in a jab at Trump with an allusion to the president's relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein — an allusion Kasky's now trying to walk back. “I would love it if he was more transparent about the human sex trafficking network that he was a part of, but you can't win 'em all,” he blurted out. https://twitter.com/overton_news/status/2013455047288377517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2013455047288377517%7Ctwgr%5E20edbbd712c7076d1aafdac2d1e39d7eb8307263%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcnn-panelist-issues-retraction-apology-going-far-air%2F   Berman asked Jennings a follow-up question about Greenland, but instead of addressing that, Jennings circled back to Kasky's remark. “You're gonna let that sit?” Jennings asked Berman. “Are we going to claim here on CNN that the president is part of a global sex trafficking ring or …?” After assuring Jennings that he would do the fact-checking, Berman asked Kasky to repeat what he'd said about the global sex-trafficking ring. “That Donald Trump was … probably … very involved with it,” the arrogant young man replied, with perhaps a touch less confidence. To Berman's credit, and the CNN legal team's, he immediately said, “Donald Trump has never been charged with any crimes in relation to Jeffrey Epstein.” https://twitter.com/camkasky/status/2013760245298864477?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2013760245298864477%7Ctwgr%5E20edbbd712c7076d1aafdac2d1e39d7eb8307263%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fcnn-panelist-issues-retraction-apology-going-far-air%2F Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2014189561002291385?s=20 DOGE Geopolitical https://twitter.com/brentdsadler/status/2014311942119137584?s=20  important as these agreements cover the entirety of the Chagos group of islands/features. Critical as future third party presence in those areas proximate Diego Garcia could in practical terms render those U.S. military facilities operationally impractical (ie useless). The current deal under consideration in the UK parliament in a rushed vote as soon as 2 February is ill advised. And it likely would break the decades long understanding with the U.S. government. See: Active U.S. treaties: https://state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Treaties-in-Force-2025-FINAL.pdf 1966 Foundational Understanding: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20603/volume-603-I-8737-English.pdf 1972 Understanding regarding new facilities on Diego Garcia: https://treaties.un.org/doc/Publication/UNTS/Volume%20866/volume-866-I-8737-English.pdf 1976 Understanding and concurrence on new communications facilities on Diego Garcia and references as foundational the 1966 Understanding: https://treaties.fcdo.gov.uk/data/Library2/pdf/1976-TS0019.pdf?utm_source https://twitter.com/HansMahncke/status/2014150131247874267?s=20 The EU-Mercosur deal is a major free trade agreement between the European Union and the Mercosur bloc (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay). Negotiated for over 25 years, it aims to create one of the world’s largest free trade zones, covering more than 700 million people and reducing tariffs on goods like cars, machinery, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural products.  It includes commitments on sustainability, labor rights, and environmental protections, but critics argue these are insufficient to address issues like Amazon deforestation and unfair competition for European farmers. The agreement was politically finalized in 2019 but faced delays due to environmental concerns and opposition from countries like France and Austria. It was formally signed on January 17, 2026, after EU member states (with a qualified majority, despite opposition from five countries including France) greenlit it on January 9.  The Stupidity of Davos Explained Using an Example of Their Own Creation China is manufacturing a product to create a carbon credit certificate in response to the demand for carbon credits from all the world auto-makers.  Any nation that has a penalty or fine attached to their climate goals is a customer. Those are nations with fines or quotas associated with the production of gasoline powered engines if the auto company doesn't hit the legislated target for sales of electric vehicles. In essence, EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car companies buy Chinese car company carbon credits, to avoid the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN fines.  The Chinese then use the carbon credit revenue to subsidize even lower priced Chinese EVs to the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car markets, thereby undercutting the EU/AU/CA/RU/ASEAN car companies that also produce EVs. China brilliantly exploits the ridiculous pontificating climate scam and has an interest in perpetuating -even emphasizing- the need for the EU/AU/RU/ASEAN countries to keep pushing their climate agenda.  China even goes so far as to fund alarmism research about climate change because they are making money selling carbon credit certificates on the back end of the scam to the western fear mongers.  This is friggin' brilliant.   The climate change alarmists are helping China's economy by pushing ever escalating fear of climate change.  You just cannot make this stuff up. What does the outcome look like? Well, in this example we see hundreds of thousands of unsold BYDs piling up in countries that emphasize climate regulations with no restrictions on the import of EVs (which most don't even manufacture), which is almost every country.  Big Panda doesn't care about the car itself; they care about generating the carbon credit certificate to sell in the various carbon exchanges. Put this context to the recent announcement by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about his new trade deal with China to accept 49,000 EVs this year. Prime Minister Carney bragged about getting the Chinese to agree to only super low prices for the Canadian market.  Mark Carney was very proud of his accomplishment to get much lower priced vehicles for Canadian EV purchasers.   No doubt Big Panda left the room laughing as soon as Carney made his grand announcement. 1. China sells EV's in Canada, creating credits available on the carbon exchange scheme. Europe et al will purchase the carbon credits because Bussels has fines against EU car companies. 2. With a foothold already established in Europe, China will then take the money generated by the carbon credit purchases and lower the prices of the Chinese EV cars sold in Canada. It's gets funnier. 3. Carney bragged about forcing China to only sell low price EV's as part of the trade agreement. The low price of the EV's in Canada will be subsidized by Europe. China doesn't pay or lose a dime. But wait…. 4. Carney can't do anything about the scheme he has just enmeshed Canada into, because Canada has a Carbon Credit exchange in law.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Teri Williams. President & COO (and owner) of OneUnited Bank, from Money Making Conversations Masterclass: Purpose of the Interview The interview aimed to: Showcase OneUnited Bank’s role as the largest Black-owned bank and its commitment to financial empowerment. Educate listeners on digital banking solutions, financial literacy, and generational wealth strategies. Promote OneUnited Bank’s services and initiatives, including its youth financial literacy contest and “One Transaction” wealth-building concept. Key Takeaways Origins & Growth of OneUnited Bank Started as a community bank in Boston, later acquired four Black-owned banks (Miami, LA, Boston) and merged into OneUnited. Became the first Black-owned digital bank and now serves customers nationwide. Digital Banking & Accessibility Customers can open accounts online in minutes. Features include: Mobile check deposit (take a photo of your check). Direct deposit with early pay (up to 2 days early, no fees). Largest surcharge-free ATM network (100,000 ATMs, including Walgreens, 7-Eleven, Chase, Citibank). Combatting Financial Deserts Addresses lack of brick-and-mortar banks in Black communities and reliance on predatory check-cashing services. Emphasizes that check-cashing services never improve credit scores and often harm financial health. Financial Literacy & Wealth Building Advocates automatic savings as a key wealth-building habit. Introduced WiseOne, a tool that aggregates financial data to: Track net worth, income, expenses. Identify duplicate charges and suggest savings. Provide debt-reduction strategies. Youth Financial Literacy Initiative “I Got Bank” Contest for ages 8–12: Read a financial literacy book (free download available). Submit an essay or artwork on what they learned. 10 winners receive $1,000 savings accounts. One Transaction Concept Six key transactions to build generational wealth: Homeownership (OneUnited offers $25K–$50K down payment assistance). Life Insurance (affordable way to transfer wealth). Investments (automatic contributions). Profitable Business (entrepreneurship or side gigs). Credit Score Improvement. Savings (automatic transfers). Focus on one transaction at a time for sustainable progress. Economic Advice for Uncertain Times Anticipates stagflation (inflation + rising unemployment). Recommendations: Hold on to your job (avoid unnecessary job changes). Save more, spend less. Notable Quotes “We were the first Black-owned digital bank—and now the largest Black-owned bank in the country.” “Check cashers only report to credit bureaus when you don’t pay them. That’s crazy.” “If it goes in your pocket, you’re more likely to spend it. Wealthy people automate savings.” “One transaction can make the difference between being wealthy or not.” “We have the largest surcharge-free ATM network in the country—100,000 ATMs.” “Hold on to your job. Start saving more and spending less.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.