Podcasts about strategic partnerships

Send us a textWhat separates the enduring capital raisers from the ones who fade?In this candid exchange, the panelists share their most painful lessons, from misaligned partners and unrealistic timelines to communication breakdowns.An honest roadmap for founders learning how to build sustainable trust under pressure.This clip was taken from the Niche Investment Strategies Panel, filmed live at our Family Office Club Super Summit.To become part of our investor community — with 30 nationwide events a year, 10,000 registered investors, and 40 proprietary AI tools — visit https://FamilyOffices.com#Entrepreneurship #InvestorLessons #CapitalRaising #Leadership #FamilyOfficeClubhttps://familyoffices.com/

As the industry shifts gears into a new year, James Shepherd sits down with Allan Noe for a timely conversation focused on growth, goal setting, and building the right partnerships to scale an ISO. Allan brings deep experience helping payments businesses grow through strategic relationships - including associations, bank referral programs, and other partnership-driven models that create long-term leverage. This episode offers practical perspective for agents and ISOs looking to start the year with clarity, prioritize the right opportunities, and think more strategically about how partnerships can accelerate growth in today's payments landscape.

This week on Swimming with Allocators, it's a bonus episode as Earnest talks about the "Best of Season Three" on the show, highlighting memorable moments and insights from the year's most popular shows. Topics include building intentionally diverse venture portfolios, the value of connecting distinct networks in the VC space, and innovative approaches to GP seeding and strategic partnerships for fund managers. Key takeaways for listeners are the importance of focusing on quality and flexibility over rigid investment categories, embracing discomfort to foster impactful professional connections, and looking beyond the largest funds to find unique opportunities and generate true alpha in venture capital. Don't miss a look back at some of the best moments on the podcast in 2025. Highlights from this week's conversation include: Welcome and Introduction to the Best Of Episode (0:02) Honorable Mention: Joshua Berkowitz on Venture Portfolios (3:43) Embracing “A Mess by Design” in Portfolio Strategy (4:03) Kevin and Raudline on Network Building and Connectivity (9:41) The Value of Bridging Networks and Network Effects (12:36) Capital Concentration and Middle-Market Allocators (14:33) Trends in Venture Capital for 2025 and Beyond (17:35) Jason Howard on GP Seeding and Strategic Partnerships (22:25) Partnership Benefits and Advisor Roles for GPs (27:02) Final Thoughts and Takeaways (35:57) Swimming with Allocators is a podcast that dives into the intriguing world of Venture Capital from an LP (Limited Partner) perspective. Hosts Alexa Binns and Earnest Sweat are seasoned professionals who have donned various hats in the VC ecosystem. Each episode, we explore where the future opportunities lie in the VC landscape with insights from top LPs on their investment strategies and industry experts shedding light on emerging trends and technologies.  The information provided on this podcast does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice; instead, all information, content, and materials available on this podcast are for general informational purposes only. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

if you're using the holiday break to plan for a strong Q1, this conversation will reshape how you think about pipeline. [this is an Encore Episode originally aired December 3, 2025]Nick Petroski, founder of Promethean Research and the industry's go-to source for agency market data, spent years studying what actually drives growth for digital agencies. Not best practices or guru advice, but real numbers from real shops.What he found challenges conventional wisdom. The agencies getting the most predictable growth aren't the ones with the slickest outbound machines, they're the ones who've built systems around relationships they already have. Nick breaks down the ownership gaps, comp structures, and tactical frameworks that separate random referrals from repeatable revenue. If you're heading into 2026 wondering whether your pipeline issues are a "you" problem or a market problem, this conversation will help you see which levers you actually control.What You'll Leave With:-The "is it me or the market?" framework for diagnosing your real pipeline problems-Why shrinking total addressable markets make relationship-based growth less optional and more strategic-How to structure account manager compensation to drive growth, not just retention (70-30 vs 60-40 splits explained)-A tactical approach for asking clients for specific introductions without feeling pushy or salesy-Why your Fortune 500 "locked down" account might actually be your biggest referral opportunity-The consultative mindset shift that makes asking for referrals feel like service, not sales-How to identify which accounts actually have referral potential worth pursuingMentioned Resources / Links:-Video Training: How to Scale Your Agency with Systematic Referrals and Strategic Partnerships (30 min)-From Random to Repeatable: The Digital Agency Referral Playbook - Nick's research report on systematizing referrals

En Capital Intereconomía, Víctor Saéz, Director of Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Kraken, ha protagonizado la sección de Empresas con Identidad. La compañía ha anunciado una ronda de inversión de 800 millones de dólares en dos tramos para impulsar su estrategia de llevar los productos financieros tradicionales a la blockchain. Fundada en 2011, Kraken opera una infraestructura global y regulada que cubre trading al contado, derivados, acciones, activos tokenizados, staking y pagos Kraken mantiene una rentabilidad sólida, con 1.500 millones de dólares en ingresos en 2024 y ya ha superado estas cifras en los primeros tres trimestres de 2025. Con solo 27 millones recaudados antes de esta ronda, ha construido una plataforma robusta que conecta las finanzas tradicionales con el ecosistema de activos digitales y tokenizados.

In this episode, Matt shares his journey from a struggling first-time entrepreneur to selling his company, Up Launch, for over $14 million. He discusses the psychological barriers to raising prices, the importance of simplifying business processes, and the vital lessons he learned about market testing and valuation during the acquisition process. Matt also reflects on how his experience as a firefighter helped him make critical decisions quickly in business. As he embarks on his second venture, he emphasizes the importance of having the right backers and staying focused on core business competencies. Tune in to learn how Matt navigated the complexities of scaling a business, negotiated a successful exit, and his strategies for future ventures. 00:00 Overcoming Pricing Fears as a First-Time Founder 00:58 The Journey to an Eight-Figure Exit 01:10 Navigating the Acquisition Process 02:09 The Reality of Earnouts and Valuation 05:58 Lessons Learned from Selling a Business 07:56 The Importance of Accurate Financials 10:47 From Fireman to Entrepreneur 13:20 The Correlation Between Pricing and Self-Worth 16:28 Investing in Business Coaching 23:01 Building a Sellable Business 28:29 The $2 Million Facebook Ad Story 29:37 Execution is Key to Success 31:23 Optimizing Business Processes 34:19 The Importance of Focus and Specialization 43:40 Lessons from a Second Venture 46:58 The Value of Strategic Partnerships 52:34 Advice for Stuck Entrepreneurs 54:26 Preparing for an Exit  

In this episode of Know Your Risk and Insurance Coverage, host Kyle Watts talks with Matt Sasso, Executive Director of RiskProNet, to reflect on a transformative year for the network—and lay out what's ahead in 2026.From a complete brand refresh and a new website to adding four new member agencies, launching new practice groups, and expanding corporate partnerships, RiskProNet has solidified itself as a nimble, collaborative force in the independent insurance landscape.If you're part of the RiskProNet network—or considering joining—this conversation outlines everything you need to know about how the group is growing, modernizing, and creating new opportunities for its members across the country.Timecodes:00:00 – 01:10 - Podcast intro and episode overview01:11 – 02:47 - Why the rebrand? A new logo, colors, and market positioning02:48 – 03:56 - Member-led brand refresh process with creative collaboration03:57 – 05:29 - Four new agencies in 2025: who they are and why they joined05:30 – 06:59 - Key regions targeted for 2026 membership expansion07:00 – 08:59 - New practice groups launching in 2026: surety, sales, nonprofit & more09:00 – 10:50 - CIO, AI, and Risk Control groups: tech-driven collaboration for agencies10:51 – 12:33 - Corporate partnerships: what they bring and what's coming12:34 – 14:07 - Two big wins from 2025: quality growth and strategic alignment14:08 – 15:31 - Practice groups as a value engine—for both leadership and frontline staff15:32 – 16:53 - New website and mobile app: modern tools for member access16:54 – 17:25 - Shoutout to Patti Reed for her leadership on the site launch17:26 – 18:23 - Final reflections on 2025 and closing remarks for the yearResources:Become a member at RiskProNet.comConnect with Matt Sasso on LinkedInConnect with RiskProNet on LinkedIn

Geert Laporte, Miriam Mukalazi, Robert Zischg, Philomena Apiko, Georg Krenn, Jamie Just, Stephan Scholz25 YEARS OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP IN TURBULENT TIMESAfrica-Europe relations and the Austrian Africa Strategy Twenty-five years have passed since the establishment of the EU–Africa Partnership at the first summit in Cairo, and seventeen years since the adoption of the historic Joint Africa–Europe Strategy in Lisbon in 2007, whose preamble says “Africa and Europe are bound together by history, culture, geography and a common future, as well as by a community of values – respect for human rights, freedom, equality, solidarity, justice, the rule of law and democracy.”Since then, the partnership has faced many tensions around diverging priorities like migration policies, vaccine distribution among others. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israel–Hamas war have further exposed geopolitical rifts, and Brexit and the decline of French influence in West Africa have weakened Europe's traditional position on the continent and African scholars and policymakers continue to question the notion of a “partnership of equals” as long as power asymmetries, colonial legacies and the full historical context remain insufficiently addressed.Today, Europe is challenged to engage as a genuine partner with a more self-confident Africa — an Africa that increasingly pursues its own interests and has strategic alternatives with China, India, Russia, or the Gulf states, in view of the new geopolitical and economic realities, the EU has a renewed interest to reach out to Africa with its emerging markets, trading and investment opportunities. According to EU President Antonio Costa, the 7th AU–EU Summit, held in Luanda on November 24–25 was set “strengthen cooperation in key areas such as economic integration, trade and investment, green transition, digitalization, migration, peace and security, multilateralism, and human development”.The Austrian Foreign Minister Meinl-Reisinger also emphasized that Africa is a continent of opportunity, marked by enormous economic potential and a dynamic young population and the new Austrian Africa Strategy, recently announced by the Austrian government, shall follow similar priorities.The event shall analyze the major achievements, potentials and challenges of the current AU – EU partnership, discuss the main results of the summit in Luanda from different point of views and explore how the priorities and modalities of the upcoming Austrian Africa Strategy could contribute to embolden a renewed partnership among equals.  ModeratorMiriam Mukalazi, Africa Policy Programme, VIDCKey noteGeert Laporte, Senior Associate of ECDPM, former Director of the European Think Tanks GroupAU-EU Summits-25 years of strategic partnership in turbulent times: What are the majors achievements, potentials and challenges of the current AU – EU partnership?DiscussantsRobert Zischg, Head of Department for Sub-Sahara Africa and the African Union, Austrian Federal Ministry for European and Internationals AffairsPhilomena Apiko, Policy Analyst on AU-EU relations, ECPDMJaimie Just, African European Civil Society Engagement Platform (CSEP/Concord)Georg Krenn, Austrian Commercial Counsellor & Head of ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA CairoStefan Scholz, design. Head of Department for Sub-Sahara Africa and the African Union, Austrian Federal Ministry for European and Internationals AffairsIn cooperation with the ⁠Vienna Institute for International Dialogue and Cooperation (VIDC)⁠

Ari Morcos and Rob Toews return for their spiciest conversation yet. Fresh from NeurIPS, they debate whether models are truly plateauing or if we're just myopically focused on LLMs while breakthroughs happen in other modalities.They reveal why infinite capital at labs may actually constrain innovation, explain the narrow "Goldilocks zone" where RL actually works, and argue why U.S. chip restrictions may have backfired catastrophically—accelerating China's path to self-sufficiency by a decade. The conversation covers OpenAI's code red moment and structural vulnerabilities, the mystique surrounding SSI and Ilya's "two words," and why the real bottleneck in AI research is compute, not ideas.The episode closes with bold 2026 predictions: Rob forecasts Sam Altman won't be OpenAI's CEO by year-end, while Ari gives 50%+ odds a Chinese open-source model will be the world's best at least once next year. (0:00) Intro(1:51) Reflections on NeurIPS Conference(5:14) Are AI Models Plateauing?(11:12) Reinforcement Learning and Enterprise Adoption(16:16) Future Research Vectors in AI(28:40) The Role of Neo Labs(39:35) The Myth of the Great Man Theory in Science(41:47) OpenAI's Code Red and Market Position(47:19) Disney and OpenAI's Strategic Partnership(51:28) Meta's Super Intelligence Team Challenges(54:33) US-China AI Chip Dynamics(1:00:54) Amazon's Nova Forge and Enterprise AI(1:03:38) End of Year Reflections and Predictions With your co-hosts:@jacobeffron  - Partner at Redpoint, Former PM Flatiron Health@patrickachase  - Partner at Redpoint, Former ML Engineer LinkedIn@ericabrescia  - Former COO Github, Founder Bitnami (acq'd by VMWare)@jordan_segall  - Partner at Redpoint

This episode is an audio recording of an Opportunity Starts at Home (OSAH) Campaign Roundtable event held in Washington, D.C. on December 2, 2025. The event brought together campaign partners to reflect on campaign achievements, mobilize around priority bills, and discuss new strategies to further multi-sector collaboration for housing affordability. The episode features Renee M. Willis, NLIHC President and CEO, Chantelle Wilkinson, NLIHC Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Campaigns, May Louis-Juste, NLIHC Project Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Julie Walker, OSAH Campaign Project Manager, David Gonzalez Rice, NLIHC Senior Vice President of Public Policy, and Meghan Mertyris, NLIHC Disaster Recovery Policy Analyst. Learn more about the OSAH Roundtable here: https://www.opportunityhome.org/organizations-2/opportunity-roundtable/

Brock Anderson and Tracy Awe are Directors of Enterprise and Strategic Partnerships with Function Health, a biometric data company helping individuals and groups take control of their health data to live longer, healthier, more productive lives. Mentioned on the ShowListen to Dr. Mark Hyman on the Huberman Lab podcast: https://www.hubermanlab.com/episode/how-to-improve-your-vitality-heal-from-disease-dr-mark-hymanLearn more about Function Health and their approach to testing and longevity: https://www.functionhealth.com/Review the study conducted by the Integrated Benefits Institute on Economic Impact of Early Disease Detection: https://www.ibiweb.org/resources/economic-impact-of-early-disease-detectionO'Brien gave a shout-out for Peter Attia's book, Outlive. Available on Amazon here: https://a.co/d/5nSm1XnBrock Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brock-anderson-16196Tracy Awe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracyaweTimestamps(00:00:00) – Tracy Awe and Brock Anderson join O'Brien McMahon on People Business(00:02:38) – What is Function Health? What is Function Health's approach to preventative health?(00:10:20) – When should people start preventative health analysis and biometric screening?(00:15:19) – How can companies encourage people to think more long-term about their health?(00:18:48) – Do doctors welcome data from these types of screenings? How can Function members have constructive conversations with their doctors? (00:31:22) The 5 Types of Medical Consumers: segments of employees and how they use medical benefits. Population health management in practice.(00:38:21) – How does diet and exercise fit into the Function Health approach? How does Function Health support lifestyle change?(00:44:53) The Process: how many blood draws are needed?(00:44:59) Costs: what are the costs associated with bringing Function Health to employees?(00:49:16) What shifts are seen in the business clients of Function Health? Does the conversation about health shift as prevention gets a spotlight?(00:50:33) What ‘add-ons' does Function Health offer in addition to the core blood panel?

Hi everyone. I'm Rio Laine, the Director of Strategic Partnerships at ALPS Insurance. Welcome to our latest installment of the Alps In Brief Podcast. I am joined today by our Chief Financial Officer, Sara Smith, and she is also the president of the Montana Society of CPAs.  Her theme for her term as president is connection, which is a value that runs through both her leadership and her life. So at ALPS, Sara helps guide a growing company that's redefining what it means to lead with purpose. And when she's not leading finance teams, she's often on a mountain bike trail somewhere in Montana. So exploring new terrain, both literally and figuratively.  So thank you so much for joining us, Sara.  Sara Smith:  Thanks, Rio. Thanks for having me.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, it's a pleasure. I'm happy we got this chance to sit down and chat about all the exciting things you have going on, and I'm really looking forward to our discussion.  Sara Smith:  Yeah, me too.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So okay, let's start with your story, the beginning. What first drew you to accounting and being a CPA?  Sara Smith:  That's a great question.  When I was in high school, I took accounting and they taught the class with a packet, right? And it had the balance sheet and income statement and all the journal entries. And it was such a neat and clean process, and I really enjoyed that. But when I went to college, I thought, "I am much too exciting to be an accountant. I have way more things that I would like to do and this seems really boring." So I went the long way. I got my undergraduate in marketing and management and got my MBA, and then discovered accounting and pursued my CPA after that.  Rio Laine:  Oh, awesome. And did you kind of revisit that love of that kind of order and the balance sheet and all the nice orderly parts of it?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think the thing ... There's a misconception about accounting that it is very black and white. And in reality, it's really messy and it has a lot of shades of gray, which make it much more challenging than it looks on paper.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, interesting.  So before joining ALPS, you spent a lot of time working for a variety of companies, including Target and Montana Rail Link. So I'm very curious, can you tell us a little bit about that path and what eventually led you to ALPS?  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  So I was an intern at Target when I went to college here at the University of Montana. It was such a fun internship. I mean, we just basically ran around that store and did whatever we wanted. And I thought, "Oh, well, if this is how the work turns out, then I want to join this team." And there weren't a lot of good job prospects when I graduated from college, so I moved to Colorado with Target and went through their store management training program, which was a lot of hands-on management, which was great. I really enjoyed it.  It wasn't long into that process though that I realized that this was not for me. Retail was not going to be a long-term career. And I utilized their program to pay for graduate school and I went and got into my MBA program.  So I did that for a couple of years, and then 9/11 happened and decided to move back to Montana; and had a friend of a friend that worked at Montana Rail Link and got in the accounting department there. And I didn't love it, to be honest. It was not my favorite place, mainly because of culture.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so my advisor suggested that I try ALPS, and I've been there 22 years.  Rio Laine:  Wow. Yeah, it's true. I mean, culture is such an important part of a workplace.  And so in terms of ALPS, I mean, obviously the culture was appealing, but also is there anything else that made you feel like it was the right fit?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I came in in a strange part of time in ALPS' history. They were on this really kind of creepy second floor and the doors were closed all the time, and it wasn't actually a very welcoming type atmosphere. And so I really found solace in the accounting department. They liked to have fun, they played jokes on each other. There was just a lot of laughing.  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so that's something that I really, really enjoyed.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, that's awesome.  And I mean, there's still a lot of laughing at ALPS, which is really nice. I mean, now we're on a different floor and it's much more open and nice, so ...  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Oh, that's awesome. Well, we're obviously very happy that you're part of the ALPS team.  Sara Smith:  Thanks.  Rio Laine:  And you're a really important part of it. I mean, really, you literally make the numbers work, so ...  All right. So let's shift our focus a little bit and talk about the idea of connection and how that plays into your kind of leadership philosophy. You know, you made connection the central theme of your leadership this year kind of personally, but also at the Montana Society of CPAs. So I'm curious to know what inspired you to make that your theme?  Sara Smith:  So there were three things that actually fed into that. First was just from an organizational perspective, people weren't coming to things in person, right?  Rio Laine:  Oh yeah.  Sara Smith:  They were choosing the online option. And then my guess is they were likely multitasking, right?  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  And so they're missing that opportunity to connect in person.  And then the second thing is the people that did come, you would go to a table and they'd all be on their phones. Right?  Rio Laine:  Oh yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so that is also very challenging. It's hard to connect when you literally have your nose in your device.  And then earlier this year, I was on a flight, and I had a woman sitting next to me and she started to talk to me. And I just wasn't sure if I was going to take the bait, if I was in that place to have that sort of conversation on a plane, and I ultimately decided, "Yes." And we had such a rich conversation and had a lot of connections about a lot of different things that I didn't anticipate, and I actually went and had coffee with her a few months later after she got back from her travels.  Rio Laine:  Oh, really?  Sara Smith:  And so if I had not said yes to that, I wouldn't have formed that new connection. And so that really has just stuck with me, right? You got to say yes in order to engage.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, absolutely. I love that.  I love that you made a new friend on the plane too-  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  ... Because yeah, you never know sometimes.  Sara Smith:  Yeah.  Rio Laine:  I travel a lot and you're like, "Am I going to have this conversation?"  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Right. Exactly.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, yeah. I'm happy you did. That's pretty amazing.  So it sounds like kind of your approach to connection is the idea that it not necessarily comes from doing more, but from being present and kind of saying yes to that. So I mean, what does that mean for you in practice as a leader, but as a person? I mean, aside from saying yes to airplane conversations. Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  I think that one of the most important things is just not being distracted. And whether that means you put your phone away, you turn it off, you put it someplace where you can't access it, I think that's step number one.  Rio Laine:  Hmm.  Sara Smith:  And then you really intently listen with your whole person and try to understand what that person is really saying to you. I think those are the two things that I really try to take into practice. And it can be hard some days.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. So unplugging and active listening.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Both of which, yes, are definitely difficult, especially we live in a time when we're so tied to our devices and we're just expected to be available every second of every day, and yeah, that's a difficult thing to accomplish. So it's ... Yeah, kudos for making that a priority.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So in your role as kind of CFO for ALPS, how does that idea of connection show up in how you lead and make decisions?  Sara Smith:  Right. So I think one of the pieces of my job that is really important is building trust, right? You have to trust the numbers, you have to trust what the data that we're looking at is saying, and just the overall data set that you're looking at. And in order to get comfortable with the numbers, you have to be comfortable with the person, right? And you have to have that trust.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So I think building and establishing strong relationships with the people that I work with is the number one way to build that trust and connection.  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. And I mean, that is a really, really good point. If you don't trust the person, you're not so sure about those numbers.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And when you're growing, the numbers are really important, so ...  Sara Smith:  Mm-hmm.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Oh, that's pretty awesome. I love how that kind of plays such an important role in your life, but also your leadership. Yeah, that's pretty great.  So let's kind of shift again. I want to transition a little bit and talk about growth and how connection kind of plays into that as well.  So ALPS has been growing pretty rapidly over the last few years, and growth can sometimes make it really hard to stay connected, particularly as we have more remote staff like myself and things move faster and change quickly. But it sounds like obviously for you connection is part of that formula for sustainable growth. And so in terms of kind of ALPs, what does sustainable growth mean to you, like financially and culturally?  Sara Smith:  Well, I think at the core of our business is we have to be financially stable and sound in order to pay claims and make sure that our insureds are in a safe place, right?  Rio Laine:  Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so I think that is at the foremost thought all the time is, are we financially stable, are we growing responsibly to help grow that base, and are we in it in the long term, right? I'm a big believer in long-term thinking, not short-term gains.  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  And so in order to be sustainable, you have to think more long-term.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I love that. I mean, I've come from companies that have been in kind of hyper growth, they've grown very, very quickly, and it does tend to be quite shortsighted and really come at the cost of the people who are doing the work.  Sara Smith:  Correct.  Rio Laine:  And it makes me really happy to hear that we're thinking about it in terms of, is this sustainable for the long term? Because I think that's when you really find success, in that balance between financial success, building revenue, but also people success and culturally and having a strong company.  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So how do you and kind of the larger leadership team at ALPS keep that sense of connection alive as the company grows?  Sara Smith:  Yes. So I think the senior leadership team, we've been through some ups and downs, and so we have a really good, solid understanding of who we are and how we interact. We have a dedicated Teams channel that we joke and talk on, and that helps form that sense of connection, especially when people are traveling so much. It's hard, right? We're not always in the office together at the same time.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So that's great. And I think that also transcends down as well, right? Having just connection with your teams and building those cross-functional relationships is really important.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. And it's definitely difficult when everyone's on the go all the time and trying to stay connected to that central hub.  What's one kind of practice or habit that you think ALPS has embraced that's kind of maintaining that strong connected culture?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think there's probably different things in different departments that help kind of foster their own identity and culture, but overall holistically, I think that ALPS does a Coffee Talk every two weeks and that helps bring all the information together. We get to understand our employees a little bit better. We have an Employee Spotlight, we get to learn more about each other. And I think that only helps build that kind of connection.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, I'm a big fan of the Coffee Talk too, especially when we do the Employee Spotlight, getting to see everyone's pictures of their pets and their family and the fun stuff they do.  Sara Smith:  Right?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I think that's a really good thing that we do. Yeah.  So as a finance leader, how do you see connection influencing business outcomes, whether is it through collaboration, innovation, decision making?  Sara Smith:  I think it's everything.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  I think the one misconception about finance is that we don't know what's going on in the business, but we know everything that's going on in the business. We have to. We have to understand the drivers and the levers that are bringing the numbers into focus and telling a story. So I think that collaboration between departments to get the story behind the numbers is really, really important. And so I think that's where we really serve our purpose, is storytelling among the different groups.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I find that misconception so interesting, because I mean ... I don't know, I'm a big true crime aficionado, but if you want to understand what happened, you look at the numbers, you look at the money.  Sara Smith:  That's correct.  Rio Laine:  What are they spending the money on?  Sara Smith:  Right.  Rio Laine:  That's how you know what's going on. So yeah, I would think that you'd know all the things that are going on.  Sara Smith:  That's right. You got to follow the pennies.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, exactly.  Awesome. So okay, let's kind of shift our focus and talk a little bit more about your personal life and how you spend your free time.  Sara Smith:  Hmm.  Rio Laine:  So you've mentioned that you love to get out in nature and you love to hop on your mountain bike and sometimes be completely off grid. So how does that help you kind of reconnect with what's important? Like how does that help you connect with, I guess, the things that are important in your life?  Sara Smith:  Right, right.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Well, so part of the mountain biking pieces that I've done is bike packing, right? Where you go in the woods and the only thing you have to do that day is ride your bike. You have to get from point A to point B without crashing, keeping yourself hydrated and fed, and not have any animal encounters. But that's all you have to do, right? That is your job for the day. And that really puts things into focus and simplifies your outcome.  And so that, I have really appreciated because it really ... I mean, you could die out there, right? So you get hyper focused on what you need to do today and nothing else really matters at that point.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. And I guess that's a really good time to kind of put down your phone and to be focused, and to practice that kind of active paying attention and being aware of where you are in your surroundings.  Do you feel like that experience kind of teaches you anything in terms of leadership or how you approach it?  Sara Smith:  Oh, absolutely. I feel like there are lessons to be learned every time you do something like that.  As an example, this one trip I did this summer, we found ourselves lost.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And not really lost, but we had three different mapping devices. We had already gone 20 miles, we had to go 20 more, and what the trail was telling us, it just didn't sit right. It didn't seem right, right? And so one of the big decisions was what to do. "What do we do?" Right? "There's no one we can ask. We have no cell service. We are out in the woods."  And I think trying to make a decision collectively, and when that can't be done, just making a decision and sticking to it and doing it. Because inaction is also a decision and one that doesn't generally work out very well.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, yeah, absolutely. And especially if you're in the middle of the woods.  Sara Smith:  Yes. Exactly.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So it sounds like kind of mountain biking teaches a lot about obstacles and trusting your instincts and maybe builds confidence?  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  What was it that first drew you to mountain biking? Like how did you first decide, "I'm going to get on a bike and do this?"  Sara Smith:  Well, I grew up in rural Montana and I didn't have any friends that lived anywhere near me, and so the only way to get anywhere was to get on a bike. I had to ride three miles to see my closest friend.  And then as I got older, my brother and I shared a car, which also was not awesome, and so I could either ride the bus, which was not very cool when you were 16 years old, or I could ride my bike to school. And so I just started riding my bike and I haven't looked back.  Rio Laine:  Nice. Oh, that's awesome. That's awesome.  Whereabouts have you gone mountain biking? Is there one place that really stands out to you that was your favorite?  Sara Smith:  Oh boy. They're all so different.  There's a trail in Beartooth called the Line Creek Plateau, and you start riding at 10,000 feet and there's no trees.  Rio Laine:  Oh, wow.  Sara Smith:  And so it feels like you're riding on the moon. It's like all tundra.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  The first time we did it, there wasn't much of a trail, and so the wisdom was, "Stay right. You'll know the end when you get there."  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And so it felt very kind of mystical in this journey.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  And then it drops to about 3000 feet in very short miles.  Rio Laine:  Oh, wow. Wow.  Sara Smith:  So it's a great ride. It's one of my favorites.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Oh, that's awesome.  I love that kind of idea of like the mystical journey. It kind of sounds like your leadership journey too, right?  Sara Smith:  Right.  Rio Laine:  Like just moving through the world, like, "This is mystical, crazy times." Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Exactly.  Rio Laine:  So speaking of kind of like the leadership journey and lessons in leadership and life, you've held many leadership roles in that span; finance, kind of strategy. So I want to kind of talk a little bit about what you've learned along the way and really what you see for the profession ahead, I mean in terms of CPAs.  So I think my first question would be, how has your view of leadership evolved over time?  Sara Smith:  Yeah, boy. I think that ... That's a great question. And I think about how much you learn from people that you work for and other leaders. And so you take some of that in yourself about either what to do or what not to do.  Rio Laine:  Yes.  Sara Smith:  So that's been a big journey.  And I think as a young person, I thought, "Oh, you eventually figure it all out, right? You got it." And as you get older, you realize you never will have it ever and that the pursuit is constant.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  You're continually growing and evolving as you go along.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, which is kind of a beautiful thing about life. I mean, it'd be kind of boring if you got to a point and you're like, "I have this all figured out. I don't have to think anymore."  Sara Smith:  It's probably just so much easier, but ...  Rio Laine:  Yeah, but it's-  Sara Smith:  [inaudible 00:18:00].  Rio Laine:  Yeah, but it's kind of fun that you don't. Yeah.  So kind of along that lines then, what advice would you give to leaders, especially maybe in a data driven or finance role?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think that when you look back at your life and you think about all the things that you've learned, most of that learning has come from making a mistake. And so giving yourself some grace when you do make a mistake. Just don't make the same mistake again, but really be willing to take a look at yourself, why you did it, and then how do you evolve to make it so it doesn't happen again?  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, that kind of personal accountability is really important.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  I think it's also something that's very difficult for a lot of people too. It can be a humbling experience to learn that you're not perfect and that you have to improve some stuff. Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah, that's really good advice. Yeah.  As the president of the Montana Society of CPAs, what do you hope to accomplish under your term this year, kind of in terms of connection?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. It's so hard because when you start this ... My presidency is only a year, and so you wonder how much you can actually get done. But then I also go back to my experience on the airplane and how just one small interaction can make a big difference.  Rio Laine:  Hmm.  Sara Smith:  And so I think that my challenge to our group is, "What kind of connection can you make? Can you make one connection this year that's new or different? How do you engage?" And my hope is by next year at our annual meeting, we have more people there, and more people talking to each other and I see less phones out.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. That's a good goal. It's a good goal to have.  And I know they say ... Well, a lot of professions are evolving quickly, but the accounting profession is definitely one.  Sara Smith:  Mm-hmm.  Rio Laine:  You know, technology, automation, new expectations. How do you think connection can help the profession stay resilient and human?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Well, I think the one thing is, I was just at a conference with a bunch of other CFOs and there is a lot of hesitancy to allow an AI bot to tell us what the numbers look like, right?  Rio Laine:  Hmm. Mm-hmm.  Sara Smith:  And it's that fundamental question about trust again.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  How do you get trust from something that's not alive and real, and how do you trust that number? And that's going to take some time, and you're going to have to have not accuracy of 60%, but accuracy of 100%. And we're just not there yet, but we're going to get there eventually. And so I think it's still continuing to build that trust one day and one person at a time.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah. Agreed. And also, I mean, AI can't even figure out how many fingers a human has. So I feel like it probably shouldn't be trusted to run the numbers just yet.  Sara Smith:  Not yet.  Rio Laine:  It'll get there, but yeah, not quite yet.  Sara Smith:  Yeah. Not yet.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  So what is one piece of advice that you would give your younger self starting out as a CPA? What would that be?  Sara Smith:  Yeah. I think, again, I would come back to just being open to learning constantly and then not being so hard on yourself when you do mess up, right? I think early in my career, I took things really personally, and that's not ever going to work out well.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  You have to forgive yourself once in a while when you screw up and just give yourself some grace.  Rio Laine:  Yeah. Yeah, I think that's really good advice. We could all use a little more grace from ourselves. You're your own worst critic, they say, so ...  Sara Smith:  Absolutely.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  All right. So we've got just a couple more minutes. I'm going to wrap it up with one more question kind of tying into your theme of connection for this year. So how do you plan to make space for more connection in your own life this year?  Sara Smith:  Yes. You know, it would not be great if I set that theme and then I didn't do anything myself.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  So a couple of things that I've been working on is just when I am going to conferences or meeting new people is being the one that says hello first.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Sara Smith:  Right? Which is hard for me.  Rio Laine:  It's hard.  Sara Smith:  I'm not a super extroverted person. And so taking that first step is one that's hard, but really important that I do it.  I've been reaching out to old friends that I haven't talked to for a long time, and that's been really fun to reconnect with them; and just having really good, deep conversations about hard things, I think is really important.  Rio Laine:  No, that's fantastic. And it is really hard to be the first person to say hello. For myself, I have a very public facing job and, yeah, it is difficult. You're just like, "Oh."  But it's nice to remember that everybody is probably feeling that way-  Sara Smith:  Exactly. It's so true.  Rio Laine:  ... And they're so thankful that somebody did it.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  So it's good work to be doing.  Sara Smith:  Yes.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  Awesome. Well, Sara, thank you so much for sharing your time and your insights. I'm really, really happy that we got to sit down and have this conversation, and it's really impressive how you've shown that connection isn't just a personal goal, it can be a leadership philosophy and a business advantage really. So yeah, I mean, I think from the trails of Montana to the boardroom, your message definitely reminds us that slowing down and being present often leads to the strongest momentum.  So yeah, thank you so much for joining me today.  Sara Smith:  Thank you, Rio. I enjoyed our conversation.  Rio Laine:  Yeah.  All right. And that's a wrap, folks. Thank you so much for joining us on this installment of the ALPs In Brief Podcast. We will see you again for the next round. 

"I got employee of the year in 2016 for introducing Excel as a project management tool for the construction department in my company."That's the state of technology in the $300 billion store development industry.In today's episode of Bricks & Bytes, we sat down with Genevieve Davis and Alim Uderbekov from Surfaice. These two met on a beach in California (yes, really) and decided to tackle one of the most analog industries out there with AI agents.Here's what we covered:✅ Why companies building hundreds of stores aren't using Procore (hint: it's expensive and they're retailers, not developers)✅ The "McDonald's is a race car" analogy - why 40,000 cookie-cutter restaurants are actually the perfect use case for AI in construction✅ How code is becoming a commodity and why that changes everything about vertical software✅ Why AI won't take your job, but people who know how to use it willLink in comments - give it a listen if you're in retail, store development, or just want to hear how two people turned a beach conversation into a company.Our Sponsors:Aphex is the multiplayer planning platform where construction teams plan together, stay aligned, and deliver projects faster – check out aphex.coArchdesk -  “The #1 Construction Management Software for Growing Companies - Manage your projects from Tender to Handover” check archdesk.comBuildVision -   streamlining the construction supply chain with a unified platform - www.buildvision.ioChapters00:00 Intro03:46 Introduction to Surface and Founders' Backgrounds 06:48 The Vision Behind Surface and AI in Construction 09:41 The Meeting of Minds: Genevieve and Alim's Collaboration 12:45 Current Challenges in Store Development 15:30 AI's Role in Automating Construction Processes 18:32 Efficiency Gains and Time Savings with AI 21:44 The Future of Store Development and Human Touchpoints 24:30 Defensibility and Business Model of Surface 27:25 Funding and Future Plans for Surface 39:13 Investment Insights and Strategic Partnerships 41:31 Customer Engagement and Feedback 44:33 AI in Construction: Transforming Workflows 47:14 Navigating the Go-To-Market Strategy 54:20 Understanding Competition in the AI Space 59:25 Customization and Onboarding Process 01:03:07 Future of AI in Construction

Commercial banks are confronting a rapidly shifting landscape as private credit markets grow toward $3.5 trillion and fintech competitors accelerate their offerings with AI-powered tools. Rather than retreating, traditional institutions are doubling down on technology investments and reimagining their commercial lending strategies to compete in this new environment. "Banks are not short-term thinkers," says Héctor Pagés, SVP and Head of Global Commercial Lending at FIS. "We're not seeing a slowdown in terms of interest or investment from our institutions, in terms of advancing and changing the ways that they're working." The response from banks has been multifaceted, according to Pagés. Some retail-focused institutions are shifting resources toward commercial lending, while smaller commercial banks are expanding into more complex lending products. Others are adopting an "originate to distribute" model, partnering with private credit firms to spread risk while generating fee income. This strategic evolution is happening against a backdrop of regulatory uncertainty, tariff fluctuations, and the continued expansion of non-bank lenders into territory traditionally dominated by banks. Listen to the podcast to learn about how banks are transforming their commercial lending operations through unified technology platforms, the role of AI in automating credit decisions and underwriting processes, and why cloud infrastructure is becoming essential for global scalability.

In this episode of the Transform Sales Podcast, Dave Menjura ☁, Marketplace Specialist at CloudTask, is joined by Mojan Butler, VP of Strategic Partnerships at CoPilot AI. They explore how CoPilot AI's advanced sales assistant leverages artificial intelligence to automate and enhance outreach efforts on LinkedIn. Mojan highlights how CoPilot AI helps sales teams efficiently manage prospect engagement, streamline follow-ups, and improve lead quality through targeted, personalized messaging and sophisticated audience insights. This innovative tool addresses common LinkedIn outreach challenges, enabling sales professionals to significantly boost their productivity and effectiveness in generating meaningful conversations and qualified opportunities. Try CoPilot AI here: https://software.cloudtask.com/copilot-ai-6a9e78 #LinkedInOutreach #SalesAutomation #Cloudtask

Jeff Forbes, Founder and CEO of The Patriot Group, discusses the organization's mission to support veterans and military families. Formed in 2016, the Patriot Group helps veterans buy homes and provides innovative logistics solutions. The Patriot Group have around 60-70 clients.. Jennifer Cortes, VP of Strategic Partnerships for the organization, highlighted the importance of workforce readiness and partnerships with organizations such as the Center for Energy Workforce Development. Forbes and Cortes emphasized the need for legislation to keep veterans in California and the significance of supporting the trades. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

Steve Werner emphasizes the vital difference between speaking to build authority and structuring live events for sales-driven outcomes. Through years of refining his approach, he's discovered that real success in events comes from scripting every aspect of engagement toward generating tangible business results. Rather than relying solely on reputation or passion, Steve champions the need for intentional sales conversations that begin well before the event starts and continue throughout its duration. He believes that true value in live events is created when participants clearly see how their investment of time and money will lead to meaningful returns—both professionally and personally. A cornerstone of Steve's philosophy is his commitment to forming strategic alliances with like-minded professionals who share his drive but don't directly compete. These partnerships have allowed him to extend his reach, build credibility, and create events that stand out for their practical impact and profitability. Steve's ability to pivot in a rapidly changing world—adapting to virtual experiences without losing the essence of connection—demonstrates his forward-thinking mindset. His advice is rooted in authenticity and focused on fostering enduring growth by prioritizing emotional engagement, detailed planning, and results-driven interaction. For event organizers, speakers, and entrepreneurs ready to elevate their own events, Steve offers a suite of valuable resources. Visit https://steve.coffee for access to a free course, details on booking a one-on-one call with Steve, and the opportunity to bring him in as a powerhouse speaker or emcee at your next live event. Take advantage of his expertise to transform your gatherings into experiences that motivate action, overcome challenges, and drive remarkable business results. For the accessible version of the podcast, go to our Ziotag gallery.We're happy you're here! Like the pod?Support the podcast and receive discounts from our sponsors: https://yourbrandamplified.codeadx.me/Leave a rating and review on your favorite platformFollow @yourbrandamplified on the socialsTalk to my digital avatar Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In EVN Report's news roundup for the week of December 12: Armenia and Germany sign joint declaration on a new Strategic Agenda for bilateral partnership; Yerevan and Baku begin talks on potential export of Azerbaijani fuel to Armenia; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposes a joint roadmap with Azerbaijan to close two issues: the return of Armenians to Nagorno-Karabakh and Baku's so-called “Western Azerbaijan” narrative and more.

Owners fixate on the purchase price of their exit, but the bigger loss to long-term income can come from how Social Security is handled. Get it wrong, and you can quietly lose six figures. Thomas Drapala, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Registered Social Security Analysts (RSSA), explains why 96% of Americans leave money on the table when they treat Social Security as an afterthought. Drawing from his client work, he discusses how self-employment tax, entity structure, and "reasonable compensation" influence Social Security benefits. Thomas also walks through how RSSA's analysis helps owners save thousands of dollars a year in taxes, protect future benefits, and make Social Security a strategic part of their exit plan so it isn't ignored.   In this episode, you will: Understand why every owner should check their SSA earnings record and run an independent analysis before selling Learn what younger owners should do now to avoid losing benefits later See how RSSA analysis ties Social Security into your full exit and retirement plan   Highlights: (00:00) Meet Thomas Drapala (01:42) The shocking statistics on Social Security optimization (03:32) Understanding Social Security rules and benefits (05:49) Strategies for business owners to maximize Social Security (13:37) Case study: The bagel store owner's Social Security optimization (16:52) When it makes sense to bring in a Social Security expert (24:12) How a full Social Security review is done   Follow Thomas: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-drapala-rssa%C2%AE-878611207/  Email: thomas.drapala@rssa.com  Learn more about Registered Social Security Analysts: https://rssa.com/    Follow Ed: Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edmysogland/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defendersofbusinessvalue/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bvdefenders

In this episode of Mining Stock Education, host Bill Powers interviews Tim Clark, CEO of Fury Gold Mines, to discuss the latest updates on the company's transition from exploration to development, particularly at their Eau Claire project in the James Bay region of Quebec, Canada. Tim highlights the confidence gained from their Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and recent drilling results. Additionally, Tim mentions productive discussions with Dhilmar Ltd., the private miner which acquired the nearby Eleonore Mine from Newmont recently. Fury could potentially collaborate with Dhilmar Ltd. to feed more gold ore into their mill. The conversation also covers other significant projects and the general outlook for the company as it strives to increase shareholder value and advance towards production. 00:00 Introduction to Mining Stock Education 00:47 Fury Gold Mines Update 01:14 Eau Claire Project Insights 03:27 Strategic Partnerships and Market Dynamics 06:26 Drilling Programs and Future Plans 17:36 Financial Overview and Market Position 20:21 Conclusion and Investment Advice Sponsor: https://furygoldmines.com/ Ticker: FURY Sakami Resource Estimate Press Release: https://furygoldmines.com/fury-announces-initial-mineral-resource-estimate-for-the-sakami-gold-project-in-quebec/ Sign up for our free newsletter and receive interview transcripts, stock profiles and investment ideas: http://eepurl.com/cHxJ39 Sponsor Fury Gold Mines pays MSE a United States dollar seven thousand per month coverage fee. The forward-looking statement found in Fury Gold's most-recent presentation found at www.FuryGoldMines.com applies to everything discussed in this interview. Mining Stock Education (MSE) offers informational content based on available data but it does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. It may not be appropriate for all situations or objectives. Readers and listeners should seek professional advice, make independent investigations and assessments before investing. MSE does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of its content and should not be solely relied upon for investment decisions. MSE and its owner may hold financial interests in the companies discussed and can trade such securities without notice. MSE is biased towards its advertising sponsors which make this platform possible. MSE is not liable for representations, warranties, or omissions in its content. By accessing MSE content, users agree that MSE and its affiliates bear no liability related to the information provided or the investment decisions you make. Full disclaimer: https://www.miningstockeducation.com/disclaimer/

TODAY'S HEADLINES on DEC 8Ancient Bitcoin Awakens: 2,000 BTC in Casascius Coins Move After 13 YearsPrivacy Takes Center Stage: Aztec Raises $60M in ETH as ZKsync Announces Sunset of LiteU.S. Turns Up the Heat: CFTC Approves Regulated Spot Crypto Trading as Markets Brace for Fed Rate DecisionBybit and Circle Announced a Strategic Partnership to Expand USDC Access AI Narrative Reignites Ahead of Bittensor's Halving Next WeekLITTLE BITZUniswap integrated Revolut to enable fiat-to-crypto onramps for more than 40 million users — normies getting the easy button.A ring that buzzes when your bags pump: Moodring connects to TradingView and vibrates on price action — wearable market signals have officially arrived.Dogecoin turned 12 years old and still refuses to act its age — Billy Markus made a joke coin and the universe just kept doubling down.WHERE TO FIND DCNdailycryptonews.nethttps://twitter.com/DCNDailyCryptoEMAIL or FOLLOW the HostsQuileEmail: kyle@dailycryptonews.netX: @CryptoQuile——————————————————————***NOT FINANCIAL, LEGAL, OR TAX ADVICE! JUST OPINION! WE ARE NOT EXPERTS! WE DO NOT GUARANTEE A PARTICULAR OUTCOME. WE HAVE NO INSIDE KNOWLEDGE! YOU NEED TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS! THIS IS JUST EDUCATION & ENTERTAINMENT! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ICEYE has secured €150 million in new funding. NASA has selected two science instruments designed for astronauts to deploy on the surface of the Moon during the Artemis IV mission. Cosmonaut Sergey Ryzhikov to hand over command of the ISS to four-time space flyer NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, and more. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app. Be sure to follow T-Minus on LinkedIn and Instagram. T-Minus Guest Our guest today is Gerry Hudack, VP of Engineering at Rendezvous Robotics. You can connect with Gerry on LinkedIn, and learn more about Rendezvous Robotics on their website. Selected Reading ICEYE and General Catalyst partner to redefine space-based intelligence in Europe NASA Selects 2 Instruments for Artemis IV Lunar Surface Science Crew Swaps Commanders on Sunday as Trio Packs for Departure - NASA ispace and Kurita Water Industries Agree on Strategic Partnership for Lunar Water Resource Development SpaceX tells investors it is targeting late 2026 IPO, the Information reports- Reuters NASA spacecraft were vulnerable to hacking for 3 years and nobody knew. AI found and fixed the flaw in 4 days- Space Share your feedback. What do you think about T-Minus Space Daily? Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts with us by completing our brief listener survey. Thank you for helping us continue to improve our show.  Want to hear your company in the show? You too can reach the most influential leaders and operators in the industry. Here's our media kit. Contact us at space@n2k.com to request more info. Want to join us for an interview? Please send your pitch to space-editor@n2k.com and include your name, affiliation, and topic proposal. T-Minus is a production of N2K Networks, your source for strategic workforce intelligence. © N2K Networks, Inc. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of IDEA Collider, host Mike Rea speaks with Dr. Sekar Kathiresan, founder of Verve Therapeutics and now part of Eli Lilly, about one of the boldest ideas in modern medicine: using one-time gene editing to permanently lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease.Dr. Kathiresan shares his journey from immigrant upbringing to Harvard cardiologist, genetic researcher, biotech founder, and now leader inside a global pharmaceutical company. The conversation explores how human genetics, CRISPR base editing, lipid nanoparticle delivery, and asymmetric learning converged to create a potential lifelong solution to cardiovascular disease.They also dive deep into the ethics of gene editing, global access and pricing, early intervention versus chronic care, FDA regulatory challenges, and what the Verve–Lilly acquisition means for the future of cardiometabolic medicine.This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in biotech innovation, gene therapy, cardiovascular disease, and the future of preventive medicine. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome01:16 Sekar Kathiresan's Early Life and Education03:19 Founding Verve and Transition to Entrepreneurship05:35 The Science Behind Verve's Mission10:27 Challenges and Breakthroughs in Gene Editing20:05 Regulatory Hurdles and First Human Trials25:11 Ethical Considerations in Gene Editing27:06 Introduction to Drug Delivery and Ethical Considerations27:51 Historical Context and Pioneers in Medical Procedures28:35 Commercial and Ethical Challenges in Medicine29:32 Innovations in Cardiovascular Treatments32:49 The Role of Gene Editing in Long-term Health37:55 Strategic Partnerships and Industry Insights45:08 Reflections on the US Medical Ecosystem48:54 Conclusion and Future Outlook Keep up with Sekar Kathiresan;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sekar-sek-kathiresan-3501846/Website: https://www.lilly.com/ Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://ideacollider.simplecast.com/ 

In this episode of the Shift AI Podcast, Jeff Reihl, Technology Chairman at LexisNexis and former CTO, joins host Boaz Ashkenazy to discuss how one of the world's largest legal information companies executed a dramatic pivot to generative AI. Jeff shares the remarkable story of how LexisNexis transformed their entire 2023 strategy in response to ChatGPT's emergence, leveraging their 160 billion document repository to solve AI hallucination problems that plague the legal profession.From modernizing mainframe systems written in IBM assembly language to implementing multi-model AI strategies using GPT and Claude, Jeff provides a masterclass in enterprise AI adoption. The conversation explores critical topics including maintaining trust and accuracy in legal AI applications, the evolving role of junior lawyers in an AI-augmented world, and how LexisNexis achieved 300% ROI for their customers while dramatically accelerating their own internal processes. Whether you're leading digital transformation at an established enterprise or simply curious about how AI is reshaping professional services, this episode offers invaluable lessons from the frontlines of the legal AI revolution.Chapters[01:40] Jeff's Background and Career Journey[05:54] LexisNexis, RELX, and the Legal Information Industry[07:21] The ChatGPT Revolution and Strategic Pivot[10:17] Solving the Hallucination Problem with RAG[13:26] Liability, Accountability, and the Role of Legal Professionals[16:16] ROI Metrics and Customer Adoption[21:02] Agentic Workflows and Strategic Partnerships[26:18] The Future of Junior Lawyers and Legal Education[29:05] The Future of Work and Software Development[31:33] Framework for AI Integration in Organizations[34:46] Two Words for the Future: Transformative and PersonalizedConnect with Jeff Reihlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreihl/Connect with Boaz AshkenazyLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/boazashkenazy Email: info@shiftai.fm

James Oliver is a veteran strategist and executive in the professional audio and entertainment technology industries. Currently VP of Strategic Partnerships at ACT Entertainment, he leads the company's new Professional Audio Division and drives growth for some of the most influential brands in live sound. Previously, he helped PK Sound achieve 600% growth and expanded Adamson Systems Engineering's global reach. A Juno-nominated recording artist with The Strumbellas, James brings a rare perspective from both the stage and the boardroom, shaping how technology and artistry meet on the world's biggest stages.Ths episode is brought to you by RZI Lighting and ETC

Welcome back to the Alt Goes Mainstream podcast.Today's episode brings the perspective of an asset management veteran who has sat on both sides of the table.We sat down in Franklin Templeton's New York City office with George Stephan, COO of Global Wealth Management Alternatives at Franklin Templeton.George joined Franklin to continue the buildout of the firm's Alternatives capabilities, which boasts over $264B AUM in private markets strategies that include Lexington Partners, Benefit Street Partners, and Clarion Partners. George came from KKR, where he was Head of Strategy and Business Development for the firm's Global Client Solutions business and was also COO and Head of Investor Relations for KKR's Global Wealth Solutions business in the Americas. Prior to KKR, George spent nine years in Morgan Stanley's wealth management division. George is also a Board Observer at CAIS.George and I had a fascinating conversation about how to build a wealth solutions business and how advisors approach private markets. We discussed:How has the adoption of private markets by the wealth channel evolved over the course of George's career?The benefits and challenges of being a traditional asset manager building out its private markets capabilities.The breadth and depth of Franklin Templeton's reach as a firm and how that brand and history have helped Franklin partner with the wealth channel in private markets.How has Franklin Templeton's family of specialists enabled the firm to leverage the expertise of specialist alternative asset managers within a larger platform?How does the wealth channel approach private markets?How will model portfolios be constructed and adopted by the wealth channel?Will evergreen funds be the structure of choice for most advisors?Thanks George for coming on the show to share your expertise and wisdom at the intersection of private markets and private wealth.Show Notes00:00 Introduction to our Sponsor, Ultimus01:55 Welcome to the Podcast02:03 Guest Introduction: George Stephan03:59 George's Career Journey04:12 Building Wealth Solutions at Franklin Templeton06:06 Key Pillars for Success in Wealth Management07:31 Client Service and Operational Excellence09:04 Strategic Approach to Wealth Management10:15 Convergence of Public and Private Markets10:48 Advisor Needs and Solutions13:31 Franklin Templeton's Private Markets Business14:23 Unifying Private Markets Business15:01 Cross Collaboration and Investment Decisions15:43 Cultural Alignment in Acquisitions16:35 Franklin Templeton's Core Principles17:15 Heritage and Long-Term Thinking21:30 Brand Evolution and Market Perception24:19 Strategic Partnerships in Private Markets25:56 Future of Partnerships and Acquisitions26:57 Winners and Losers in Partnerships27:10 Advisor's Perspective on Productization27:43 Allocating to Public and Private Markets28:21 Innovation in Private Markets29:05 Challenges and Opportunities in Wealth Management29:56 The Future of Multi-Asset Solutions30:17 Operational Complexity in Private Markets31:27 The Need for Digital Transformation31:59 Adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)32:46 Evolving Technology in Wealth Management33:49 Impact of Market Efficiency on Returns35:13 Dispersion in Private Markets Performance37:17 Scale and Investment Integrity38:44 Building Capabilities in Franklin Alternatives40:10 Partnering with Asset Managers41:36 Keys to Building a Wealth Solutions Business42:16 Hiring for Private Markets Expertise43:39 Educating the Industry on Private Markets45:48 Evergreen Structures in Private Markets49:45 Exciting Trends in Private MarketsEditing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant.A word from AGM podcast sponsor, Ultimus Fund SolutionsThis episode of Alt Goes Mainstream is brought to you by Ultimus Fund Solutions, a leading full-service fund administrator for asset managers in private and public markets. As private markets continue to move into the mainstream, the industry requires infrastructure solutions that help funds and investors keep pace. In an increasingly sophisticated financial marketplace, investment managers must navigate a growing array of challenges: elaborate fund structures, specialized strategies, evolving compliance requirements, a growing need for sophisticated reporting, and intensifying demands for transparency.To assist with these challenging opportunities, more and more fund sponsors and asset managers are turning to Ultimus, a leading service provider that blends high tech and high touch in unique and customized fund administration and middle office solutions for a diverse and growing universe of over 450 clients and 1,800 funds, representing $500 billion assets under administration, all handled by a team of over 1,000 professionals. Ultimus offers a wide range of capabilities across registered funds, private funds and public plans, as well as outsourced middle office services. Delivering operational excellence, Ultimus helps firms manage the ever-changing regulatory environment while meeting the needs of their institutional and retail investors. Ultimus provides comprehensive operational support and fund governance services to help managers successfully launch retail alternative products.Visit www.ultimusfundsolutions.com to learn more about Ultimus' technology enhanced services and solutions or contact Ultimus Executive Vice President of Business Development Gary Harris on email at gharris@ultimusfundsolutions.com.We thank Ultimus for their support of alts going mainstream.

The holidays are meant to be a season of joy, generosity, and gratitude. Yet for many families, the celebrations come with a heavy dose of financial stress—stress that lingers long after the decorations are packed away. Our desire to bless others often leads to spending more than we planned. But it doesn't have to be that way.Recently, we sat down with Neile Simon, Certified Credit Counselor and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Christian Credit Counselors, to talk about how families can give meaningfully, stay within their means, and refocus on what Christmas is truly about.Creating a Realistic Holiday PlanMost people enter the holiday season with the best of intentions. We want to show love, bless others, and create special memories. But somewhere along the way, those intentions can derail.Neile explains that a mix of cultural pressures makes overspending almost effortless: holiday sales, credit card offers at checkout, “buy now, pay later” deals, and social media's endless highlight reels. Before long, the drive to be generous morphs into the belief that we must spend more to prove how much we care.And the consequences last far beyond December—financial stress, increased debt, and a January filled with regret rather than joy. The good news: overspending isn't inevitable. Neile suggests starting early and planning intentionally.1. Decide what you can truly afford. Account for all holiday expenses—gifts, food, travel, entertainment, and even small traditions that add up.2. Set a total spending limit. Let this number guide every decision throughout the season.3. Use cash or debit when possible. “When the money's gone, you're done—and that's okay,” Neile says. This simple boundary protects you from impulse spending.4. If using credit cards, treat them as tools—not the enemy. Used wisely, they can help you track your spending. The key is to stay disciplined and avoid taking on debt you can't comfortably repay.Ultimately, a budget is not a restriction—it's a path to freedom. It helps you enjoy the season without dreading the bill that arrives in January.Meaningful Giving Without OverspendingGenerosity isn't measured by price tags. In fact, the most meaningful gifts are often the simplest.Neile encourages families to focus on personal, relational giving:Handwritten notesHomemade treatsShared experiencesThoughtful, small gifts with clear intentionHer own family keeps gift-giving fun by setting spending limits and doing a white-elephant exchange. “It takes the pressure off,” she says, “and turns gift-giving into shared laughter and memory-making.”When togetherness becomes the priority over possessions, Christmas becomes both more joyful and more affordable.If You're Already in Debt, There's HopeFor families already carrying debt, Christmas can feel like a tug-of-war between generosity and financial reality. Neile offers this encouragement: give within your means—even if it means scaling back.Why? Because responsible giving protects your finances, your peace, and your future.“Think of it this way,” Neile says. “A relaxed, stress-free January is far better than stressing out after overspending in December.”Scaling back isn't failure—it's stewardship. And it models wisdom and faithfulness for your children.Refocusing on the True Meaning of ChristmasAmid the lights, the gifts, and the traditions, it's easy to lose sight of the heart of Christmas.“Christmas is a celebration of Jesus—the greatest gift ever given,” Neile reminds us. When our hearts are centered on Him, love and grace become the focus. Giving within our means allows us to celebrate joyfully, gratefully, and peacefully.And when we spend with purpose—anchored in Christ rather than consumerism—we experience a kind of joy that lasts long after the season ends.Need Help With Debt?If financial stress is weighing you down, Christian Credit Counselors can help. As a nonprofit ministry, they specialize in debt management—not debt consolidation—working directly with your creditors to lower interest rates and help clear the path toward freedom.Learn more at: ChristianCreditCounselors.org/Faith. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm an 84-year-old retired veteran, and my wife is 81. We have a $375,000 mortgage on a $3.2–$3.4 million home, a $140,000 portfolio, a 529 with $55,000, about $100,000 in gold jewelry, $40,000 in Social Security benefits, and $15,000 in credit card debt. We're running out of money and need to tap our home equity. The VA offered a $400,000 loan, but would a HELOC or a reverse mortgage be better? Who can help us make the right decision?We're receiving a $60,000 inheritance and have $10,000 in credit card debt. Should we use some of the inheritance to pay it off, and what should we do with the rest? My husband is disabled, and we're in our 60s—so is investing any of it in the stock market wise? And should we tithe on the inheritance?I'm 65, still working full-time as a caregiver, and have about $900,000 in my 401(k). When should I start Social Security—now or when I retire in May 2026? And how do I know if I have enough saved for retirement, since I'm debt-free and have fairly basic expenses?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)Christian Credit CounselorsHome Equity and Reverse Mortgages: The Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement by Harlan J. AccolaMovement MortgageWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions every workday at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. You can also visit FaithFi.com to connect with our online community and partner with us as we help more people live as faithful stewards of God's resources. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Show Notes: Lloyd opens the conversation by talking about the infinite opportunities at Harvard and encourages incoming freshmen to make the most of their time there. Lloyd shares his initial plan to study pre-med but also pursued fine arts, specifically architecture, and theater work. He mentions meeting Professor James Stilgoe at the Graduate School of Design, which opened his eyes to opportunities beyond STEM. From Cornell to New York City Lloyd discusses his decision to attend Cornell and his subsequent move to New York City. He had two job offers: working at Disney or a consulting firm, but chose the consulting firm due to financial needs. Lloyd worked for a boutique workout restructuring organization in New York City and later joined Starwood Capital Group. He was asked to open the London office for Starwood Capital Group in 2001, combining his interests in architecture, finance, and real estate. He honed his skills as an investment guy over the next few years before moving into entrepreneurship. Founding Yoo Capital In 2010, Lloyd and his business partner founded Yoo Capital, focusing on real estate private equity. The firm aimed to be responsible and institutional in their investments, creating global iconic destinations in London. Yoo Capital has invested in various sectors, including live theaters, film and television studios, music arenas, hotels, and restaurants. The firm has also created incubator spaces for startups and supports educational programs at Imperial College London and other institutions. About Yoo Capital Yoo Capital has committed to contributing 50% of all housing built in central London to government affordable housing. The firm has partnerships with major names in hospitality, food, beverage, music, and entertainment. Yoo Capital's investments are considered strategic to the national interest and socially responsible. The firm ensures accessibility in their destinations, ranging from affordable to high-end options. Professional and Personal Goals Lloyd shares his practice of journaling since 1997, mapping out his personal and professional goals. He contributes the success of his journey to education, skills learned, and opportunity to his passions professionally. He and his wife have created an ethos to build opportunities and contribute to social value that they have impressed upon their children. Lloyd discusses the importance of setting targets and reviewing progress regularly. He emphasizes the significance of maintaining a work-life balance and involving his family in the planning process, and he explains his setting targets and weekly review process.  Challenges of Brexit and COVID-19 Lloyd recounts the challenges faced during the Brexit vote and the COVID-19 pandemic. He explains the firm's strategy of being prudent and risk-averse, often forward-selling properties to secure investments. Lloyd shares a story about forward-selling and transforming a million square feet of residential property during the recession. Lloyd describes many of the exciting rejuvenation projects that invest in both the buildings and benefit the community with housing, entertainment, art, and businesses. The firm's approach has allowed them to weather economic storms and continue growing. Lloyd also mentions what he has learned from working with theatres. Harvard Reflections Lloyd credits Professors James Stilgoe and Harvey Cox as influential figures in his life. He discusses how Professor Stilgoe's course on the History of the American Built Environment broadened his perspective. Lloyd appreciates Professor Cox's course on Jesus in the world, which reinforced his Christian beliefs. Both professors' teachings have shaped Lloyd's approach to business and personal life. Guiding Beliefs at Work Lloyd explains how his Christian beliefs guide his professional decisions and the firm's ethos. He emphasizes the importance of humility and collaboration with world-class partners. Lloyd shares how the firm's investments are rooted in creating socially responsible and accessible destinations. He highlights the significance of maintaining a moral fiber in all business dealings. Lloyd discusses the firm's future plans, including expanding their investments in central London. He mentions ongoing projects like the Camden Film Quarter and the transformation of Olympia. The firm aims to continue creating iconic destinations that are both financially successful and socially responsible. Lloyd expresses his gratitude for the opportunities and challenges that have shaped his journey. Timestamps: 04:22: Transition from Harvard to Early Career  08:53: Social Responsibility and Strategic Partnerships  12:15: Personal and Professional Growth  21:54: The Weekly Review Process 24:22: Founding Yoo Capital 32:19: Understanding the Theatre Business  43:06: Influence of Harvard Professors  Links: Yoo Capital: https://yoocapital.com/ Olympia: https://www.olympia.co.uk/ Camden Film Quarter: https://www.camdenfilmquarter.com/       Featured Non-profit:   The featured non-profit of this week's episode is brought to you by Elijah Aron who reports:  "Hi. I'm Elijah Aron, class of 1992. The featured non-profit of this episode of The 92 report is Earth Justice. Basically, it's an organization of lawyers who protect the planet. I like to give money to environmental causes, but I don't always understand what a lot of these big green nonprofits are actually doing with my money. But Earth justice, I totally understand. They fight court cases against corporations and sometimes the federal government on the side of the earth. You can learn more about their work@earthjustice.org Now here is Will Bachman with this week's episode. To learn more about their work, visit: www.earthjustice.org.    *Show notes and transcript are AI generated.  

Segment 5 — Rogue Allies: Assessing the Nuclear and Proliferation Threat Posed by North Korea and Iran — Bruce Bechtol — Bechtol examines North Korea and Iran as "Rogue Allies" whose strategic partnership the U.S. has failed to comprehend since 1983. North Korea, functioning as the "arsenal of resistance," possesses the Hwasong-15missile capable of striking the continental United States. This partnership represents a fundamental threat to regional stability and American strategic interests. 1953

Nick Johnston is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development at Salesforce, where he leads strategic relationships with major technology companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google, IBM, and Workday. In this conversation recorded during Dreamforce 2025, Nick shares how Salesforce closed 12,500 Agentforce deals and navigated the complexities of announcing major partnerships like the expanded OpenAI integration that brings Salesforce's Agentforce 360 directly into ChatGPT. He reveals his unique approach to building win-win partnerships grounded in customer demand rather than competitive positioning.Key Topics Covered:How Salesforce builds customer-driven partnerships with tech giants like OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, and GoogleThe three core hiring values that create high-performing partnership teams: low ego, high curiosity, and gritWhy uncomfortable conversations are essential for building trust and creating impactful partnershipsUsing AI tools to position partnership proposals and draft joint press releases with strategic clarityThe Dreamforce partnership strategy and how compelling events drive deal executionCareer lessons from coaching varsity football wide receivers and celebrating team achievement over personal winsLiving in Buenos Aires for six months and the value of full cultural immersion for partnership workWhy getting customer-facing experience early in your career is the best foundation for any roleThe interview question that reveals hero culture versus team players in partnership rolesBalancing partnership work across multiple departments including product, marketing, operations, and salesHow human experience will become the ultimate competitive moat as AI automates routine tasksThe "be great" daily philosophy and applying the same standards to yourself that you set for your teamEpisode Timestamps:03:07 - From college football to coaching varsity wide receivers at Torrey Pines High School in 200605:47 - The vibes and trust mentality: lessons from undersized teams that outperform expectations07:26 - Three core hiring values: low ego, high curiosity, and grit in partnership teams09:15 - Six months in Buenos Aires learning Spanish through full immersion with Spencer Stuart12:49 - Customer-driven partnership strategy: building frameworks from market demand to product integration16:15 - The customer-centric approach at Dreamforce and delivering the Agentforce agenda with partners18:04 - Using AI to write joint press releases, position partnerships, and create mutually beneficial proposals21:27 - Career advice for new graduates: get as close to the customer as possible in sales or customer success roles24:56 - Why human experience and the arts will be the ultimate differentiator as AI automates work28:02 - Parenting lessons and the "be great" daily motto for building confidence and pushing through challenges29:06 - Why do you do what you do: achieving hard things in team settings and making family proudAbout Nick JohnstonNick Johnston is the Senior Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development at Salesforce, where he has spent over 12 years advancing from Customer Success Director to leading strategic technology partnerships. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and a BA with honors in International Relations from UC Davis, where he also played college football. Nick has been instrumental in establishing major partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS, Google, IBM, Workday, and other leading technology companies to deliver integrated customer experiences through Salesforce's Agentforce 360 platform.ransformation and agentic AI.Partner Links:Book Enterprise Training — **https://www.upscaile.com/**Subscribe to our free newsletter — **https://www.theaireport.ai/subscribe-theaireport-youtube**

Send me a messageWhat if the real disruption in solar isn't the technology — but the business model behind it?This week I'm joined by Scott Therien, Director of Strategic Partnerships at REC Solar, to unpack one of the most important, and least discussed, shifts in the energy transition: the move from one-off construction projects to long-term, risk-bearing power-purchase agreements. It's a change that's quietly reshaping who owns energy infrastructure, who carries the financial risk, and how quickly commercial sectors can decarbonise.In this episode, you'll hear why the old “buy a solar system and hope it performs” mindset is being replaced by something far more aligned - developers putting up the capital, carrying the downside, and only winning when the customer wins. We dig into how solar-plus-storage now beats diesel on cost and resilience in many markets, why procurement processes often sabotage their own climate goals, and what separates successful projects from expensive disappointments. You might be surprised to learn how much hinges not on panels or batteries, but on load profiles, tariff structures, and whether an organisation actually knows what it wants.We also explore the future: a post-ITC world, the rise of data centres as demand engines, and unexpected benefits like agrivoltaics, including sheep producing better wool under solar arrays. It's a vivid reminder that decarbonisation isn't just an engineering exercise; it's a systems shift.

In this episode, we mark the first year of the Nagulendran Chair in Peace Mediation with a wide-ranging conversation on the state of peace diplomacy today. At a time when conflicts are multiplying across the globe, we ask whether this signals a failure of diplomacy or a call for its evolution. We explore how the peace diplomacy sector works—who its actors are, the roles they play, and how they differ. We also examine the mounting pressures of budget cuts and political change, and consider how these challenges are reshaping the field's future. This conversation offers both a moment of stock-taking and a forward-looking vision for how peace diplomacy can remain resilient, relevant, and transformative in uncertain times. Our guest is Achim Wennmann, Director for Strategic Partnerships here at the Geneva Graduate Institute, Professor of Practice in the Inter-disciplinary Programme, and Nagulendran Chair in Peace Mediation.

Dr. Laura Otis-Miles, Executive Vice President of TURN Behavioral Health Services, is joined by Brad Bianchi, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, discuss the organization's mission to provide mental health and substance abuse services. They highlight the impact of the holidays on mental health, noting a 20% increase in depression and anxiety during this period. The conversation also covers the challenges faced by youth, military families, and veterans, emphasizing the importance of coping strategies and community support. Turn's programs serve 14,000 clients annually, and they stress the need for increased awareness and support, especially during the end-of-year giving season. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media  "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local podcasts, telling the stories, highlighting the people, and celebrating the gravitational power of local.   For more information on Cloudcast and its shows and cities served, please visit www.cloudcastmedia.us. Cloudcast Media | the national leader in local podcasting.   About Mission Fed Credit Union  A community champion for over 60 years, Mission Fed Credit Union with over $6 billion in member assets, is the Sponsor of Spotlight On The Community, helping to curate connectivity, collaboration, and catalytic conversations.  For more information on the many services for San Diego residents, be sure to visit them at https://www.missionfed.com/

HRLocker, Ireland's leading HRIS platform, has announced a strategic partnership with the country's premier payroll services provider, Paycheck Plus by IRIS, to deliver a seamless, end-to-end, integrated payroll and HR experience for SMEs across Ireland and the UK. By uniting HRLocker's management platform with Paycheck Plus's payroll expertise, the partnership addresses a critical gap in the SME market: a lack of integration between HR systems and payroll services. The seamless all-in-one solution eliminates data silos, streamlines processes, and ensures greater accuracy across the employee lifecycle. With a phased rollout in the fourth quarter of 2025, existing customers will benefit from the combined offering in the months ahead. Notably, SMEs will gain a single source of truth for employee data, automated information flow between HR and payroll, and synchronised processes that improve compliance while reducing errors. "This partnership is about giving SMEs clarity and confidence," said HRLocker CEO, Crystel Robbins Rynne. "HRLocker is focused on delivering the practical tools SMEs need to manage growth with accuracy and ease. By connecting HR and payroll into a single solution, we're enabling businesses to spend less time on admin and more time on their people." "Paycheck Plus's mission has always been to simplify payroll for businesses. Partnering with HRLocker extends that simplicity across the entire employee lifecycle, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency for our clients," added IRIS Senior Director, Brona Grogan. "This collaboration reflects IRIS's commitment to improving the way people work by making business processes more efficient. Together, HRLocker and Paycheck Plus are setting a new standard for integrated HR and payroll in Ireland and the UK." As part of the new strategic partnership, HRLocker CEO Crystel Robbins Rynne and Paycheck Plus Lead Product Manager Niall Clarke hosted a free 45-minute webinar on Thursday 20th November at 11am. This informative and practical session will help employers understand and prepare for changing compliance demands arising from Ireland's auto-enrolment pension scheme, which begins on 1 January 2026. For more information, and to receive a recording of the webinar, visit: https://www.hrlocker.com/webinars/auto-enrolment-in-ireland See more stories here. More about Irish Tech News Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too. You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss. Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience. You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.

From professional wakeboarder to CEO managing $250M+ in commercial real estate investments, Nick Jones shares proven strategies for building successful real estate businesses through strategic partnerships, effective capital raising, and protecting investor interests. In this episode of the DealQuest Podcast, host Corey Kupfer sits down with Nick Jones, CEO of Alakai Capital, who has underwritten and acquired over 70 commercial investments and developments representing more than $250 million in value. Nick currently oversees 800,000+ square feet of industrial, retail, office, and medical assets across multiple states. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: In this episode, you'll discover how to raise outside capital for your first commercial real estate deal while protecting downside risk, why syndication can work better than funds when you can close deals quickly with trusted investors, and the surprising truth about "off-market" deals versus listed properties in today's transparent market. Nick shares how to build broker relationships that generate consistent deal flow without constantly hunting for opportunities, due diligence strategies when high-credit tenants won't share financial information, and why Covid flipped conventional wisdom about credit tenants versus mom and pop operators. You'll also learn about the strategic value of balancing consistent real estate returns with selective angel investments, how to navigate market trends including drive-through retail and efficiency-focused opportunities, and what freedom means beyond just financial independence. NICK'S JOURNEY: Nick's path wasn't linear. Growing up near Microsoft and Nintendo in Redmond, Washington, he found real estate "incredibly boring" until witnessing how it connected to fascinating industries. After his father and grandfather passed away during his senior year of high school, Nick moved to Florida to pursue professional wakeboarding, eventually earning a podium finish at the World Championships in 2011 while graduating summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida. The dean of UCF's real estate program, whose son was also a professional athlete, reignited Nick's interest in commercial real estate investment and development. Nick started in land brokerage during 2011-2012 when Florida land was worth less than the buildings next to it, learning through challenging cold calls to developers. FIRST DEAL LESSONS: Nick's entry into investing came through a vacant Taco Bell property. Working with a broker partner, they secured the building, signed a 10-year lease with a new tenant, and only had to replace the HVAC and roof. The timing proved fortunate - securing 80% loan to value at 2% interest on an interest-only basis during the post-financial crisis recovery. That first deal taught valuable lessons about protecting downside risk and building tenant relationships while delivering one of his strongest returns ever. CAPITAL RAISING EVOLUTION: For his first capital raise, Nick bought an old bank branch all cash with plans to tear it down and build a quick service restaurant. To protect downside risk as a new sponsor, he structured it with no debt and two years of interest and tax reserves. After approaching friends' parents, fellow brokers, and creating a detailed investment memorandum, a tenant approached wanting to lease the existing building as-is with a 10-year lease. Nick refinanced at 50% LTV, pulled equity out, and used those proceeds to buy a second deal. That snowball effect has grown to approximately 100 investors making about 500 investments with his company. KEY INSIGHTS: Nick continues syndicating individual deals instead of raising funds because his deals follow similar patterns with consistent return theses. This approach gives investors freedom to select which markets and property types align with their preferences while maintaining speed to close. Managing investor capital creates heightened responsibility that sharpens every aspect of deal execution. Nick approaches it similarly to personally guaranteeing loans - while losing your own capital is unfortunate, losing someone else's carries profound implications for relationships and reputation. The biggest lesson from deals that didn't go as planned: contracts matter, but people matter just as much. When tenants respond unusually quickly to lease documents without redlines for 10-15 year commitments, it raises red flags. During Covid, high-credit tenants had attorneys advising them to stop paying rent while small bay industrial mom and pop tenants maintained perfect payment records. BROKER RELATIONSHIPS: The majority of Nick's deals come through brokers he's built long-term relationships with over years. These relationships prove valuable because brokers trust Nick will maintain confidentiality, move quickly through underwriting, and they understand his investment criteria. After years of exchanging deals and feedback, brokers know which opportunities match his thesis. MARKET TRENDS: Interest rate movements create near-term positivity while inflation continues hitting sectors unevenly, creating inefficiencies and opportunities. The retail apocalypse predictions following Covid haven't materialized because people still crave experiences. Drive-throughs represent a clear trend as efficiency becomes paramount - almost every concept has figured out how to use them successfully, including Chipotle proving the model works for food types that seemed ill-suited initially. Perfect for real estate investors considering raising outside capital, operators building broker networks, and anyone interested in how successful commercial real estate investors structure deals and protect investor capital.FOR MORE ON THIS EPISODE: https://www.coreykupfer.com/blog/nickjones FOR MORE ON NICK JONES:https://www.alakai-capital.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/alakaicapital/https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjonesrealestate/https://www.instagram.com/alakaicapital/ FOR MORE ON COREY KUPFERhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker. He has more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker. He is deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is also the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Get deal-ready with the DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer, where like-minded entrepreneurs and business leaders converge, share insights and challenges, and success stories. Equip yourself with the tools, resources, and support necessary to navigate the complex yet rewarding world of dealmaking. Dive into the world of deal-driven growth today! Episode Highlights with Timestamps [00:00] - Introduction: Nick Jones' journey from professional wakeboarder to real estate CEO [02:21] - Growing up around real estate near Microsoft and Nintendo in Redmond, Washington [04:21] - Pivoting from professional sports to commercial real estate after family tragedy [06:09] - The first deal: A vacant Taco Bell property that set the foundation [07:44] - Why Nick started with commercial properties instead of residential real estate [09:17] - Evolution of financing and capital raising strategies across 70+ deals [11:44] - Syndication vs funds: Why individual deal syndication works better [13:26] - The decision to raise outside capital and the weight of investor responsibility [14:15] - How grandfather and father approached real estate differently without raising capital [16:15] - Learning from deals that didn't go as planned: Contracts and people both matter [19:05] - Due diligence challenges with high-credit tenants who won't share financials [20:23] - Covid revelation: Mom and pop tenants paid while credit tenants had attorneys advise stopping rent [22:28] - How to source properties and build broker relationships that generate deal flow [25:52] - The truth about "off-market" deals in today's transparent commercial real estate market [27:59] - Balancing commercial real estate with selective angel investing for asymmetric returns [31:09] - Relying on specialized partners for angel investing due diligence [34:10] - Current market trends: Interest rates, inflation, drive-through retail, and efficiency plays [37:52] - Whether Nick's investor pool is set and how new investors can learn more [40:00] - What freedom means beyond financial independence: Physical, mental, and relationship dimensions [41:22] - The danger of gaining financial freedom while losing physical health or relationships [42:25] - Corey's "ideal life now" philosophy versus waiting for retirement Guest Bio Nick Jones has been involved in commercial real estate management, investment, development, and brokerage for over 20 years. Each role has added valuable perspective, introducing various angles and strategies to evaluate every opportunity Alakai Capital pursues. Currently, he serves as CEO managing acquisitions, development, and capital markets. Throughout his career, Nick has underwritten and acquired over 70 commercial investments and developments representing more than $250 million in value. He currently oversees 800,000+ square feet of industrial, retail, office, and medical office assets. Nick graduated summa cum laude from the University of Central Florida while simultaneously competing on the World Tour as a professional wakeboarder, earning a podium finish at the World Championships in 2011. He is an active member of ULI, ICSC, and NAIOP. Host Bio Corey Kupfer is an expert strategist, negotiator, and dealmaker with more than 35 years of professional deal-making and negotiating experience. Corey is a successful entrepreneur, attorney, consultant, author, and professional speaker deeply passionate about deal-driven growth. He is the creator and host of the DealQuest Podcast. Show Description Do you want your business to grow faster? The DealQuest Podcast with Corey Kupfer reveals how successful entrepreneurs and business leaders use strategic deals to accelerate growth. From large mergers and acquisitions to capital raising, joint ventures, strategic alliances, real estate deals, and more, this show discusses the full spectrum of deal-driven growth strategies. Get the confidence to pursue deals that will help your company scale faster. Related Episodes Episode 191 - Jack Gibson: Achieving Financial Stability Through Real Estate Episode 183 - How To Invest In Real Estate with Kent Ritter: Explore different approaches to real estate investing and building investor relationships. Episode 353 - Build Community-Driven Real Estate Ventures with Ryan Andrews: Discover how community-focused approaches can enhance real estate investment strategies. Episode 185 - How To Raise Capital For Your Company with Maximilian Rast: Master the fundamentals of capital raising that apply across real estate and business ventures. Episode 352 - Proven Strategies for Scaling Companies Through Strategic Partnerships with Nahed Khairallah: Learn how strategic partnerships drive business growth beyond traditional capital raising. Episode 213 - A Discussion on Business Partnerships with Corey Kupfer: Understand the legal and strategic foundations of creating successful business partnerships. Social Media Follow DealQuest Podcast: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreykupfer/ Website: https://www.coreykupfer.com/ Follow Nick Jones: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickjonesrealestate/ Company: https://www.alakai-capital.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alakaicapital/ Keywords/Tags commercial real estate investing, capital raising strategies, real estate syndication, syndication vs funds, broker relationships, tenant due diligence, credit tenant analysis, angel investing, real estate investment strategy, property investment, commercial property management, real estate financing, investor relations, deal sourcing, off-market deals, real estate partnerships, building wealth through real estate, entrepreneurship, business growth strategies, dealmaking

HEADLINES:• Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's White House Visit• South Korea Joins UAE's Stargate AI Project in Strategic Partnership• Burj Khalifa Developer Mohamed Alabbar Targets Italy in Global Luxury Expansion  Newsletter: https://aug.us/4jqModrWhatsApp: https://aug.us/40FdYLUInstagram: https://aug.us/4ihltzQTiktok: https://aug.us/4lnV0D8Smashi Business Show (Mon-Friday): https://aug.us/3BTU2MY

What you'll learn in this episode: ● Why most agents waste time showing homes to buyers who never purchase—and how to prevent it● How to get hired before ever showing a home by treating the consultation like a listing appointment● The crucial role of video calls in setting expectations and gaining commitment● How to leverage lender partnerships to create certainty, trust, and stronger offers● How buyer psychology can help eliminate objections before they arise● Why focusing on consistent activity—not unpredictable outcomes—drives long-term success To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:Website: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan RochonTeach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

What if your customers can't care about your advanced features because you haven't satisfied their basic needs first? Just like humans need food before philosophy, marketers need specific data in a rigid order – and understanding this hierarchy transformed how Podscan onboards customers.This episode of The Bootstraped Founder is sponsored by Paddle.comYou'll find the Black Friday Guide here: https://www.paddle.com/learn/grow-beyond-black-fridayThe blog post: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligence/The podcast episode: https://tbf.fm/episodes/423-the-marketers-hierarchy-of-needs-a-framework-for-understanding-customer-intelligenceCheck out Podscan, the Podcast database that transcribes every podcast episode out there minutes after it gets released: https://podscan.fmSend me a voicemail on Podline: https://podline.fm/arvidYou'll find my weekly article on my blog: https://thebootstrappedfounder.comPodcast: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/podcastNewsletter: https://thebootstrappedfounder.com/newsletterMy book Zero to Sold: https://zerotosold.com/My book The Embedded Entrepreneur: https://embeddedentrepreneur.com/My course Find Your Following: https://findyourfollowing.comHere are a few tools I use. Using my affiliate links will support my work at no additional cost to you.- Notion (which I use to organize, write, coordinate, and archive my podcast + newsletter): https://affiliate.notion.so/465mv1536drx- Riverside.fm (that's what I recorded this episode with): https://riverside.fm/?via=arvid- TweetHunter (for speedy scheduling and writing Tweets): http://tweethunter.io/?via=arvid- HypeFury (for massive Twitter analytics and scheduling): https://hypefury.com/?via=arvid60- AudioPen (for taking voice notes and getting amazing summaries): https://audiopen.ai/?aff=PXErZ- Descript (for word-based video editing, subtitles, and clips): https://www.descript.com/?lmref=3cf39Q- ConvertKit (for email lists, newsletters, even finding sponsors): https://convertkit.com?lmref=bN9CZw

Under our Constitution, the federal government and the states have distinct powers — especially when it comes to elections. But the Trump administration has repeatedly tried to interfere with how states run elections, pushing unlawful policies that undermine faith in safe, secure and accurate elections.Host Simone Leeper sits down with Catie Kelley, Senior Director of Policy and Strategic Partnerships at Campaign Legal Center, and Jonathan Diaz, CLC's Director of Voting Advocacy and Partnerships, to examine how the Trump administration has attempted to federalize elections, impose unconstitutional voter restrictions and silence Americans.They unpack CLC's major court victory against the administration's unlawful election executive order; explain how new proof-of-citizenship requirements could disenfranchise millions of voters; and discuss lawsuits defending states' rights and voters' privacy against federal overreach. They also explore broader threats—from troubling legislation and to presidential attacks on mail-in voting—and what Campaign Legal Center is doing to preserve checks and balances, protect election integrity and defend every American's freedom to vote.Timestamps:(00:00) — What does “federalism” mean, and why is it under attack?(02:50) — How is the Trump administration overstepping its authority on elections?(06:44) — What lawsuits has CLC filed to stop the president's election overreach?(07:58) — Why are proof-of-citizenship rules so dangerous for voters?(11:28) — How are military families impacted by new voting restrictions?(14:50) — Why is the DOJ demanding states' voter data—and why is it alarming?(17:56) — How are states pushing back to defend their power and voters' privacy?(19:10) — What is the SAVE Act, and how could it silence millions of voters?(25:16) — Why is mail-in voting under attack again?(28:41) — How does misinformation from the president erode trust in elections?(30:51) — What lessons from 2024 should shape the 2026 midterms?(34:04) — What can states do to strengthen confidence in elections?(36:24) — What should voters remember heading into 2026 and beyond?(40:17) — How can Americans hold the line for democracy?Host and Guests:Simone Leeper litigates a wide range of redistricting-related cases at Campaign Legal Center, challenging gerrymanders and advocating for election systems that guarantee all voters an equal opportunity to influence our democracy. Prior to arriving at CLC, Simone was a law clerk in the office of Senator Ed Markey and at the Library of Congress, Office of General Counsel. She received her J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 2019 and a bachelor's degree in political science from Columbia University in 2016.Catie Kelley is Senior Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships at Campaign Legal Center. Catie oversees CLC's policy work at the federal, state and local levels. She is leading CLC's work to address the emerging threats of election sabotage. Previously, Catie built and ran CLC's state campaign finance program. In that capacity, she worked with state and local stakeholders and policymakers to advance innovative policies designed to decrease the influence of money in the political process. She began her legal career in the Federal Election Commission's Office of General Counsel.Jonathan Diaz is Director of Voting Advocacy and Partnerships at Campaign Legal Center. Jonathan advocates for laws and policies that expand the freedom to vote for all Americans; leads CLC's work on combatting election sabotage; and coordinates CLC's relationships with national, state and local voting rights partners.Jonathan manages CLC's work to protect election results and defend against election sabotage, and he works directly with CLC's litigation, communications and policy teams to help set organizational strategy on voting rights and elections advocacy. He also works directly with election officials at the state and local level to improve election administration processes, and he represents CLC in democracy reform coalitions to coordinate legal, advocacy and messaging strategies with partner organizations across the country.Jonathan has also litigated voting rights cases in federal courts across the country, including LULAC v. Executive Office of the President (challenging the President's unconstitutional executive order on voting); LUCHA v. Fontes (challenging Arizona's burdensome and discriminatory proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration); VoteAmerica v. Raffensperger (challenging Georgia's restrictions on the distribution of absentee ballot applications); and Raysor v. Lee (challenging Florida's conditioning of rights restoration for voters with past felony convictions on the payment of legal financial obligations).Links:Victory! Anti-Voter Executive Order Halted in Court  – CLCVoting Is an American Freedom. The President Can't Change That – CLCHow CLC Is Pushing Back on the Trump Administration's Anti-Voter Actions – CLCTaking Action Against Presidential Abuses of Power  – CLCWhat You Need to Know About the SAVE Act  – CLCVote-By-Mail: A Secure and Accessible Way to Cast Your Ballot  – CLCA Raging Battle for Democracy One Year from the Midterms – Trevor Potter's newsletterAbout CLC:Democracy Decoded is a production of Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to solving the wide range of challenges facing American democracy. Campaign Legal Center fights for every American's freedom to vote and participate meaningfully in the democratic process. Learn more about us.Democracy Decoded is part of The Democracy Group, a network of podcasts that examines what's broken in our democracy and how we can work together to fix it. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

As a social species we as humans are wired to seek connection with one another throughout our lives be it through romantic relationships, friendships, or family bonds.  What may not feel as natural to us is cultivating partnerships professionally or networking with others because of the perception of it feeling like a transactional relationship.  Today's guest, Madeline Reeves, Founder & CEO of Fearless Foundry, sits down with Danielle and Kristy to discuss the topic of Meaningful Strategic Partnership and how to remove some of the negativity or icky feelings you may have when networking or building out professional associations; she shares some of the ways she has created deeper connections in her professional life as an entrepreneur; and offers tips on  some of the simple ways you can do it too. **Get the new Big Talk Questions – Starter Pack** Guest's Website: https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/ Podcast: https://www.fearlessfoundry.com/findingfearless  Work with Danielle: If you are ready to start working with a life coach or just want to learn more about the impact that coaching can have in your life, visit Danielle's website at www.daniellemccombs.com and schedule a complimentary exploratory session.  Work with Kristy: You can work with Kristy one-on-one or hire her to speak with your team to improve workplace communication. Visit Kristy's website at www.kristyolinger.com  and find her work journal at Work Journal — Kristy Olinger. Connect with us at theoppositeofsmalltalkpodcast@gmail.com

Jason Cass sits down with Dana Coates, CEO and Director of Strategic Partnerships at UWIB Risk & Insurance Solutions, for an Executive Session recorded live at Accelerate to discuss mentorship, generational leadership, and the importance of letting new leaders grow through experience. Together, they explore how patience, trust, and lifelong learning shape success in the insurance industry. Key Topics: Transitioning agency ownership and leadership to the next generation Mentoring younger leaders through patience, trust, and restraint Lessons from building UWIB across multiple states and generations The importance of allowing others to learn through mistakes and challenges Balancing family, faith, and professional growth through leadership change The evolving role of mentorship in shaping agency culture and vision How resilience and lived experience create lasting impact in leadership Maintaining a lifelong learning mindset through every stage of a career Humanizing executives and preserving authenticity in leadership transitions Reach out to: Dana Coates Jason Cass Visit Website: UWIB Risk & Insurance Solutions Agency Intelligence Produced by PodSquad.fm

 What you'll learn in this episode:Why consistency is the single most important factor in lead generationThe “commit or quit” mindset shift every salesperson needsHow to choose between marketing, prospecting, and networkingThe real costs of generating leads (time, money, or both)Why 18 months is the magic number for predictable successHow to scale and diversify your lead sources as your business grows   To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:Website: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan RochonTeach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

  What you'll learn in this episode:Why prospecting is the lifeline of predictable incomeHow to use cold outreach effectively (without breaking compliance rules)The overlooked power of referrals and testimonialsHow local events and sponsorships expand visibilityWhy reviews and customer feedback are powerful sales toolsHow to create strategic alliances that consistently feed new clientsWhy committing to prospecting is the only way to avoid broke months  To find out more about Dan Rochon and the CPI Community, you can check these links:Website: No Broke MonthsPodcast: No Broke Months for Salespeople PodcastInstagram: @donrochonxFacebook: Dan RochonLinkedIn: Dan RochonTeach to Sell Preorder: Teach to Sell: Why Top Performers Never Sell – And What They Do Instead

Stephen Grootes speaks to Ayabonga Cawe, Chief Commissioner of ITAC, about South Africa’s plan to ban cash sales of scrap steel. Three major recycling bodies have rejected ITAC’s amendments to the Price Preference System for scrap metal, calling them unfair and damaging to the recycling industry. They argue that the changes, including cutting the ferrous scrap discount from 30% to 25%, favour mini-mills and undermine fair trade. In other interviews, Nhlanhla Nene, Chairman of TEHA Africa and former finance minister, discusses Southern Africa’s untapped economic potential and the importance of building long-term partnerships across business communities to overcome structural bottlenecks, fiscal vulnerabilities, infrastructure gaps, weak external demand, and climate-related challenges. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Money Show Listen live Primedia+ weekdays from 18:00 and 20:00 (SA Time) to The Money Show with Stephen Grootes broadcast on 702 https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj and CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show, go to https://buff.ly/7QpH0jY or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/PlhvUVe Subscribe to The Money Show Daily Newsletter and the Weekly Business Wrap here https://buff.ly/v5mfetc The Money Show is brought to you by Absa     Follow us on social media   702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 702 on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk 702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702   CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/Radio702 CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What you'll learn in this episode:Why consistency is the single most important factor in lead generationThe “commit or quit” mindset shift every salesperson needsHow to choose between marketing, prospecting, and networkingThe real costs of generating leads (time, money, or both)Why 18 months is the magic number for predictable successHow to scale and diversify your lead sources as your business grows 

“When we combine our skills and expertise with (credit unions') ability to service members, it's a very synergistic relationship.” - Mitch Pangretic Thank you for tuning in to The CUInsight Network, with your host, Robbie Young, Vice President of Strategic Growth at CUInsight. In The CUInsight Network, we take a deeper dive with the thought leaders who support the credit union community. We discuss issues and challenges facing credit unions and identify best practices to learn and grow together.My guest on today's show is Mitch Pangretic, SVP and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Elan Credit Card. He joins me to discuss his career journey and the value that Elan brings to credit unions as well as so much more, such as how he initially wanted to be an astronaut but ended up in the payments industry, working at companies like Discover, American Express, and US Bank before joining Elan in 2007.In our conversation, Mitch explains Elan's "agent issuing" model where they act as the credit card department and servicing team for credit union partners, allowing credit unions to offer robust credit card products and features without the complications of managing it all themselves. Elan provides the technology, risk management, marketing, rewards programs, and more! Mitch also highlights how Elan can help credit unions ensure that their members have access to the right credit card products, whether that's travel rewards, cash back, or even options to help build/rebuild credit. He discusses valuable member-facing features such as the Elan mobile app, which provides free credit scores, budgeting tools, and the new "Extend Pay" installment lending feature.Mitch notes Elan's expertise and how it can complement the deep member relationships of credit unions. By combining Elan's credit knowledge with the credit union's understanding of their members, they can help provide the best financial guidance and education to help members improve their credit. Mitch also looks ahead and shares Elan's focus on continuing to enhance the integrated technology and user experience for both credit union partners and their members.As we wrap up the episode, Mitch talks about the leader who most influenced him, his vacation bucket list, and how he loves visiting California. Enjoy my conversation with Mitch Pangretic!Find the full show notes on cuinsight.com.Connect with Mark:Mitch Pangretic, SVP and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Elan Credit Cardelanfinancialservices.com Mitch: LinkedInElan Credit Card: LinkedInBook mentioned: Four Friends by William D. Cohan

In this episode, we explore OpenAI's groundbreaking partnership with AMD and discuss how this collaboration could transform the AI hardware landscape. We examine the potential impacts on model training, cost-efficiency, and the broader AI industry.Get the top 40+ AI Models for $20 at AI Box: https://aibox.ai Conor's AI Course: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/courses Conor's AI Newsletter: https://www.ai-mindset.ai/ Jaeden's AI Hustle Community: https://www.skool.com/aihustle

Watch the YouTube version of this episode HEREAre you a law firm owner looking to learn more about AI? In this episode of Maximum Lawyer, Tyson interviews Eric, founder of Arrow Effect Marketing and Meet Gabbi. Eric shares his entrepreneurial journey, the inspiration behind his company names, and how his passion for storytelling evolved into innovative legal marketing solutions. Eric speaks to the challenges of lead intake within legal firms. Law firms with weak intake processes usually suffer from a lack of personnel or certain databases or technology that are not up to date. Eric shares how intake is an important aspect of a successful law firm and how Meet Gabbi is used to improve it. For Eric's clients, the use of Meet Gabbi has led to 20-30% more conversion of cases. The AI tool can be used by potential clients who might need some more guidance before they connect with a lawyer. It can also be used between client and lawyer once a case gets going to schedule appointments and collect payments.Tyson and Eric talk about the legal system's cautious approach to AI and where that hesitancy stems from. It stems from the creation of hallucinated cases that are not real and taking time away from people who really need help. But, the use of AI can give the legal space an advantage over other industries. It can allow those in the space to maximize their time and focus on winning cases instead of completing administrative tasks that can take hours in day.Listen in to learn more!2:44 Managing Two Companies4:39 Hiring and Talent in Legal Tech11:09 Adapting to AI and Human Roles14:44 Strategic Partnerships and Legal Credibility25:15 Storytelling in Marketing37:50 Recommended Tools for Law FirmsTune in to today's episode and checkout the full show notes here. Connect with Erik:ARO Effect:ARO Effect Website LinkedIn Instagram  Facebook Meet Gabbi:Meet Gabbi Website LinkedIn 

HEADLINE: Strategic Partnership: Russia Barters Advanced Military Technology, Including Nuclear Submarine Capabilities, for North Korean Munitions GUEST NAME: Professor Bruce Bechtol SUMMARY: Professor Bruce Bechtol details the North Korea-Russia strategic partnership. Russia pays for North Korean munitions with military technology, including nuclear submarine capability, while their special operations forces fought fiercely in Ukraine.1955 KIM IL-SUNG

HEADLINE: Strategic Partnership: Russia Barters Advanced Military Technology, Including Nuclear Submarine Capabilities, for North Korean Munitions GUEST NAME: Professor Bruce Bechtol SUMMARY: Professor Bruce Bechtol details the North Korea-Russia strategic partnership. Russia pays for North Korean munitions with military technology, including nuclear submarine capability, while their special operations forces fought fiercely in Ukraine.