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Our guest is DAVE FERGUSON, Chicago based CEO of Exponential, one of the largest church planting movements and networks in the world. Dave is also the founding pastor of Community Christian Church in the Chicago area, and the author of multiple books, including his most recent Multiplier. We discuss connecting, the RPM'S for your life, why multiply matters, dealing with drift, how to finish well as a leader, and so much more. Plus check out 20 Young Leaders to know about and follow. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the full list and all the show notes. Share them with your team, repost the lists, and follow and subscribe. Thanks again to our partners for this episode: CONVOY OF HOPE - Please donate to help bring hope to those impacted by disasters at http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy is my trusted partner for delivering food and relief by responding to disasters in the US and all around the world. Right now, Convoy of Hope is responding to tornado impacts across the US, Texas Floods destruction, and providing basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, blankets, bedding, clothing and more. All through partnering with local Churches. Join me and please support their incredible work. To donate visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate. And GENERIS – one of the biggest challenges today is building a culture of generosity. But our friends at Generis have the proven giving strategies that will help accelerate generosity in your church, school, college or non-profit. For over 30 years Generis has helped thousands of churches and non profits develop a sustainable culture of generosity to fund their God-inspired vision. Get started at http://generis.com to schedule a conversation with one of their incredible consultants. It will be worth your time. Again, visit http://generis.com to get started. Generis has the experience and heart to inspire generosity, advance your mission, and grow your impact for the Kingdom.
On Episode 632 of Impact Boom, Assmaah Helal of Creating Chances discusses building youth leadership pathways through sport and social enterprise, why systems must be redesigned to unlock young people's potential, and what she hopes to explore at the Social Impact Summit around creating clearer pathways for youth participation and impact. If you are a changemaker wanting to learn actionable steps to grow your organisations or level up your impact, don't miss out on this episode! If you enjoyed this episode, then check out Episode 495 with Rubbi Bhogal-Wood and Reddy Lenge on helping the next generation of leaders develop purpose-led tech skills -> https://bit.ly/4flNeta The team who made this episode happen were: Host: Tom Allen Guest(s): Assmaah Helal Producer: Indio Myles We invite you to join our community on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram to stay up to date on the latest social innovation news and resources to help you turn ideas into impact. You'll also find us on all the major podcast streaming platforms, where you can also leave a review and provide feedback.
Hannah Augustine and Sarah Carroll share the hard-won lessons they wish they'd known when they started leading, as well as some of the biggest mistakes young leaders make in ministry. If you're a young leader, a kids pastor, or you're mentoring emerging leaders, this conversation will help you navigate the unique challenges of ministry leadership at any age and set you up for sustainable impact.Visit https://www.kidminroadmap.com/ to get started with their free, comprehensive discipleship strategy today.
An Olympic runner who won his country's first gold medal, an entrepreneur making cooking stoves safer and cleaner in Africa, and a campaigner for women's economic and human rights. What do all three have in common? They are among the new cohort of Young Global Leaders, a community of individuals working to solve some of the world's big challenges. Hosts: Robin Pomeroy, Ida Jeng Christensen, Head of the Forum of Young Global Leaders Guests: Charlot Magayi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mukuru Clean Stoves Kirani James, Olympic Athlete Trisha Shetty, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SheSays Links: The Forum of Young Global Leaders: https://www.younggloballeaders.org/home Blog: Next Generation Leadership for a World in Transformation: Driving Dialogue and Action: https://www.weforum.org/publications/next-generation-leadership-for-a-world-in-transformation-driving-dialogue-and-action/ Mukuru Clean Stoves: https://mukurustoves.org/ Earthshot Prize: https://earthshotprize.org/winners-finalists/mukuru-clean-stoves/ Kirani James: https://www.kiranijames.com/ SheSays: https://weareshesays.com/ Related podcasts: How leaders can fix focus and happiness in an AI Era: Psychologist Jonathan Haidt: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/jonathan-haidt-happiness-focus-habits-ai/ What women's sports reveals about building future leaders: Deloitte's Lara Abrash: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/womens-sports-leadership-skills-gender-gap/ Why one CEO sets 'non-goals' - and what ultramarathons taught him about focus and mental toughness: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/nicholas-thompson-focus-running-ground/ Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts: YouTube: - https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts Radio Davos - subscribe: https://pod.link/1504682164 Meet the Leader - subscribe: https://pod.link/1534915560 Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: https://pod.link/1574956552
Applications are now open for the Keep Texas Beautiful Young Texan Ambassador Program, a unique statewide opportunity for youth ages 15-25 to grow as environmental leaders. This nine-month youth environmental leadership program empowers youth to take action by organizing environmental efforts in their local communities. Applications are being accepted through Friday, June 5. For information and to apply, visit ktb.org/our-work/young-texan-ambassadors/. Article Link
Show Notes:First Assembly ChurchTehillah WorshipThe Pastorate's City MeetupsEpisode Notes:In today's episode, Ben Johnson joins Jason for a conversation on pastoral stewardship, generational legacy, and what it looks like to lead a nearly century-old church into its next chapter. Ben is the Lead Pastor of First Assembly Calgary, a Pentecostal church planted 97 years ago that has helped birth many other Pentecostal congregations across both Calgary and western Canada. Together they trace the story of First Assembly, the 35-year-old Tehillah Mondays gathering, and the heart that First Assembly has for worship, prayer, and the next generation. Jason and Ben also explore the joy and weight of fathering young leaders, the family legacy that traces Ben's grandfather's salvation back to First Assembly's downtown building decades ago, and the formative season of revival at Christian Life Assembly in 1998. The conversation closes with Ben sharing First Assembly's Vision 100, a stewardship-shaped initiative to double the impact of First Assembly in the next 100 years.Ben and Jason explore:The history and identity of First Assembly Calgary as a "mothering” and “fathering" church that has planted or helped plant many other Pentecostal churches in the city,The 35-year story of Tehillah Mondays and how a single worship gathering has continued to serve generation after generation in Calgary,What Ben learned by sitting with the saints of the church to discern God's specific purpose for a local congregation, and the role an eldership's fasting and prayer played in his transition,Why First Assembly is next-generation focused, and how that shapes worship, budgets, staffing, and Sunday gatherings without losing the honor due to senior saints,The cradle-to-college discipleship pathway, the Tehillah Schools for teenagers and adults, and how this has become the "farm team" for nearly all of First Assembly's staff,What young staff and leaders actually need from a lead pastor,First Assembly's Vision 100 and stewarding the church toward its 100-year anniversary with a strategy to reach, revitalize, and reproduce in Calgary.PartnersContact John Wright at Generis for help cultivating a culture of generosity in your church.We couldn't do the work we do at The Pastorate without your generous support. We invite you to pray, share, and give towards seeding a hope-filled future for the Canadian church.
Have you seen the purpose God has for your life? There is a scroll written of your life that God has destined for you to walk into. Come discover your purpose and see your scroll.Jesse serves as Young Adults Pastor at The Lighthouse Church, Manchester. With over 15 years in full-time ministry, he is passionate about helping young people pursue God's purpose for their lives.
Ore, Jesse and Shiv wrap up our stream with an audience Q&A.
God is doing something fresh among the younger generation. Hear what Al Gordon and SAINT are doing to encourage and equip young leaders.Al Is the leader of SAINT, a thriving church in East London. He's the founder of RENAISSANCE, a trustee of Alpha International, and the author of SPARK: Ignite Your God-Given Creativity
We'll explore how to lead well when you don't have all the answers, trusting in God's ongoing work on your leadership journey.Ore is Associate Pastor at City Gates Church, Ilford, with a passion for encouraging gospel-centred living.
Ore, Jesse and Shiv wrap up our stream with an audience Q&A.
God is doing something fresh among the younger generation. Hear what Al Gordon and SAINT are doing to encourage and equip young leaders.Al Is the leader of SAINT, a thriving church in East London. He's the founder of RENAISSANCE, a trustee of Alpha International, and the author of SPARK: Ignite Your God-Given Creativity
We'll explore how to lead well when you don't have all the answers, trusting in God's ongoing work on your leadership journey.Ore is Associate Pastor at City Gates Church, Ilford, with a passion for encouraging gospel-centred living.
Have you seen the purpose God has for your life? There is a scroll written of your life that God has destined for you to walk into. Come discover your purpose and see your scroll.Jesse serves as Young Adults Pastor at The Lighthouse Church, Manchester. With over 15 years in full-time ministry, he is passionate about helping young people pursue God's purpose for their lives.
The Next Generation of Trucking: Inside the PMTC Young Leaders Movement What is attracting the next generation to the trucking industry, and what do young professionals want to see from the future of transportation? Recorded at NRRS 2026 in Burlington, Ontario, this episode explores the growing impact of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada and the voices helping shape the future of trucking. From leadership opportunities and innovation to industry culture, mentorship, and professionalism, members of the PMTC Young Leaders Group share why they chose careers in transportation and what changes they hope to see moving forward. This conversation highlights the importance of engaging younger professionals in trucking while building an industry focused on leadership, technology, opportunity, and long-term sustainability. Whether you're a fleet owner, recruiter, professional driver, or industry supporter, this episode offers valuable insight into the future workforce of transportation. Discover what motivates the next generation of trucking leaders and why the future of the industry depends on attracting passionate, forward-thinking professionals. Learn about Transrep at www.Transrep.ca and PMTC at www.pmtc.ca At Bison – They Put Safety First! Bison's "Right to Decide" Policy gives every Driver their ultimate protection. Drivers make the final decision if it is safe to drive and Bison actively encourages Driver's use of this policy. You can learn more about Bison and the opportunities available at www.bisondriving.com or call 1-800-527-5781 @BisonTransport #bisontransport Improve the Compliance of Your Fleet With Compliance Mentorz Compliance Mentorz, a leading commercial safety consulting company, is proud to serve clients nationwide across Canada. But our commitment to safety and compliance doesn't stop at borders – we're excited to extend our support to clients throughout North America. Call 905-486-1666x215 or Learn more at www.compliancementorz.com Start Your Career on Solid Ground With Ontario Truck Driving School This episode is also sponsored by Ontario Truck Driving School which has a number of courses to help you be successful when starting a career in transportation from heavy equipment to over the road trucking. You can learn more about starting your career at www.otds.com About the Podcast The Lead Pedal Podcast for Truck Drivers helps truck drivers improve their truck driving careers, trucking businesses as owner operators, CDL skills, find trucking jobs, and offer trucking career tips. Learn about the trucking benefits and salaries as a professional truck driver through interviews and tips related to the North American Trucking Industry. The Lead Pedal Podcast is a Canadian based trucking podcast focused on trucking in Ontario, Canada. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST- The show is available at www.theleadpedalpodcast.com , Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartradio, and other popular podcast platforms. Thanks for listening! The Lead Pedal Podcast for Truck Drivers talks all things trucking for people in the transportation industry helping them improve their business and careers. Interviews with industry professionals and truck drivers, trucking equipment information, event coverage, and other features on the industry are meant to be helpful for truck drivers and those in transportation. The Lead Pedal Podcast for Truck Drivers has main episodes released every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday with bonus material on other days. You can learn more about the host and show on our website and make sure to SUBSCRIBE to the show on your favourite podcast platform. www.theleadpedalpodcast.com What does The Lead Pedal Podcast mean? The Lead (pronounced - Led) stands for acceleration or fast-track of your career or business. It is a play on words and we certainly are not here promoting speeding in the industry. We are hoping this information will help you become a professional driver faster than if you didn't know about many of these topics. Are you enjoying the show? If so we would appreciate you leaving us a rating and review on your favourite podcast platform. www.theleadpedalpodcast.com Join The Lead Pedal Fan Club where are loyal fans get first chance at specials, discounts on merchandise and much more.The club is free to join and you can learn more at www.theleadpedalfanclub.com LISTEN TO LEAD PEDAL RADIO with music and entertainment with a trucking theme at www.LeadPedalRadio.com
In this thought-provoking episode of the Developing the Leader Within Podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Sharlee Lyons, a best-selling author and ICF certified coach dedicated to equipping young leaders to transition from average to all-star. With her extensive background in higher education and personal development, Sharlee shares invaluable insights on the mindset traps that often hold young professionals back from reaching their full potential.Join us as Sharlee discusses the pervasive issue of comparison among emerging leaders and how it can stifle their growth. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing one's unique superpowers and utilizing them to solve problems and serve others. We also explore the challenges of navigating hard times and the significance of cultivating resilience in the pursuit of success.You will learn the following:1. The impact of comparison on young leaders and strategies to overcome it. 03:18 2. How to embrace challenges and develop resilience in the face of adversity. 09:01 3. The critical role of self-awareness in effective leadership and team dynamics. 12:13 4. Why investing in self-development is essential for long-term success. 14:155. The difference between seeking recognition and building genuine leadership credibility. 21:11To get in contact with Sharlee: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharleelyonsWebsite: https://sharleelyons.comBook: https://Amazon.comThis episode is sponsored by Triad Leadership Solutions Website: https://triadleadershipsolutions.my.canva.siteOur podcast is sponsored by The Global Trends MagazineWebsite: https://www.gc-bl.org/global-trendsThe Outlier Project Website: https://theoutlierproject.co Ascend MeditationsWebsite: https://www.ascendmeditations.appChop AiWebsite: https://www.chopai.appCastle and Compass AdventuresWebsite: https://castle-and-compass-adventures.comBonefrog Coffee CompanyWebsite: https://bonefrogcoffee.comCoupon code: DTLW BoomcasterWebsite: https://www.boomcaster.comSupaPassWebsite: https://supapass.comMake sure to Catch us streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire TV on the Purpose Place Network.Also catch our Exclusive Members only content “Going Deeper Within” on the Lions Guide Academy.https://www.lionsguide.com/gdw
Marketing im Kopf - ein Podcast von Luis Binder In dieser Folge wird über verschiedene Unternehmen gesprochen, da Markennamen genannt werden, handelt es sich um UNBEZAHLTE WERBUNG!In dieser Folge: In der heutigen Podcast Folge von Marketing im Kopf ist Constantin Kaindl. Constantin ist Geschäftsführer und Mitgründer von wirdenkenlokal. Mit 16 hat er mit deinErlangen.de sein erstes Stadtmagazin aufgebaut. Er wurde als Young Leader 2025 und Top 30 under 30 der Nachwuchsjournalisten ausgezeichnet, auch, wenn er von sich sagt, dass er gar kein Journalist ist. Und mit Wirdenkenlokal arbeitet er für Kunden wie die NürnbergMesse, die FAU, imbus, BMW, FRANKEN BRUNNEN und viele weitere.In der heutigen Folge sprechen wir über regionales Marketing in der Metropolregion Nürnberg und was wirdenkenlokal anders macht als eine klassische Werbeagentur. Es geht darum was Running Clubs mit dem Aufbau von Real-Life-Communities zu tun haben, warum Regionalität im Marketing ein echter Vorteil ist und warum Constantin heute froh ist, eine geplante Expansion nicht gemacht zu haben.____________________________________________Hier kannst du Constantin erreichen: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantin-kaindl/____________________________________________Unternehmen: wirdenkenlokal Webseite: https://www.wirdenkenlokal.de____________________________________________Live-Aufnahme mit PodcastBrause: https://podcast-brause.de____________________________________________Über den Podcast: In dem Podcast Marketing im Kopf soll es um die Frage gehen, was notwendig ist, um ein Produkt oder eine Dienstleistung gut vermarkten zu können und was für grundsätzliche Strategien verfolgt und ganz leicht umgesetzt werden können. Egal, ob du selbst im Bereich Marketing arbeitest, oder, ob du dich einfach nur für das Thema interessierst, in diesem Marketing-Podcast lernst du alle Grundlagen und Strategien, die aktuell im Marketing verwendet werden. ____________________________________________Vernetz dich gerne auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisbinder/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingimkopf/Du hast Fragen, Anregungen oder Ideen? Melde dich unter: marketingimkopf@gmail.com Die Website zum Podcast findest du hier. [https://bit.ly/2WN7tH5]
Play Pure is a community-based initiative that aims to tackle drug and substance abuse among young people in Kampala's Acholi Quarter. Through football and netball sessions, the project seeks to promote social well-being, gender equality and healthy living. By offering safe, structured alternatives, Play Pure will provide a positive outlet for young people aged 6-25, helping to reduce crime, violence and dependency on drugs while building stronger, more resilient communities.Otim Ambrose is a football player from Kampala who has experienced first-hand the power of sport to change lives. Growing up in the streets of Kampala, he rose through the ranks to proudly represent Uganda at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup and as a Young Leader at Festival 24 in France. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Procurement and Logistics Management.As a newly appointed IOC Young Leader (2025-2028), Otim is passionate about using sport to create opportunities for children and young people in Kampala's slums. His vision is to harness football, netball and other team sports to promote healthier lifestyles, reduce vulnerability to drugs and substance abuse, and inspire youth to pursue positive paths.Links:IOC Young Leaders: https://www.olympics.com/ioc/young-leaders/otim-ambrosePlay Pure Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playpureug?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw%3D%3D UNODC: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/justice-and-prison-reform/cpcj-crime-prevention-Sport.html ---- Please subscribe to the Sports for Social Impact Podcast wherever you get your podcast! Leave us a review and a 5 star rating to help bring others in the world of sports into the conversation! The Sports for Social Impact podcast was nominated for a Sports Podcast Award and Canadian Podcast Award.Send us an email at sportsforsocialimpact@gmail.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/sportsforsocialimpactLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sports-for-social-impactFollow us on Instagram (@SportsSocImpact) Follow us on Substack: https://substack.com/@sportssocimpactJoin our bookclub: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfXiczKtPflGv4vaIEw9wJvGZ2RASB5_3-DIPRU0N-T8Io8Zg/viewform?usp=headerVisit our website at https://www.sportsforsocialimpact.com/
A young professional steps into leadership faster than expected and learns what really drives success. In this conversation, I sit down with Dana Prenger, a rising marketing manager at SmartSolve, who shares how growing up in a small town, competing in sports, and navigating college shaped her mindset around drive, resilience, and growth. You will hear how she turned uncertainty into clarity through programs like Life Design, how early career risks helped her step into leadership, and why she believes failure is simply a learning moment. We also explore SmartSolve's mission to create water-soluble packaging and reduce waste, showing how purpose-driven work can fuel motivation. This episode is a reminder that progress comes from consistent effort, not one defining moment, and that your mindset will shape how far you go. Highlights: 00:10 Discover how stepping into new opportunities before feeling ready builds real confidence 06:02 Learn how sports shape discipline, time management, and long-term success habits 10:00 Understand how exploring different paths helps you find the right career direction 20:00 See how real-world internships can define and accelerate your career path 34:36 Discover how early sales experience builds resilience and confidence under pressure 51:39 Learn how reframing failure as a learning opportunity changes how you grow and move forward Bottom of Form About the Guest: Dana Prenger is a Marketing Manager at SmartSolve, a zero-waste packaging technology company with a bold mission to make packaging no longer trash. In her mid-20s, Dana has quickly built a career in B2B marketing, contributing across content creation, social media, email campaigns, event marketing, video projects, website management, and brand storytelling. As SmartSolve celebrates its 10-year anniversary, she is grateful for the opportunity to wear many hats and help bring an innovative, sustainability-driven vision to life. She grew up in a small town in Ohio, where she learned the value of hard work, teamwork, and community. A three-sport athlete in high school, Dana was a member of the 2019 Ohio state basketball team and graduated as her class Salutatorian—experiences that shaped her competitive mindset and leadership style long before her professional career began. Dana earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing from Bowling Green State University. During her time at BGSU, she was a Dean's Scholar, recipient of the Women in Business Leadership Scholarship, and an active member of the American Marketing Association. She was selected for the inaugural Ohio Export Internship Program, where she was matched with SmartSolve—an experience that ultimately launched her career with the company. Driven by curiosity and connection, Dana thrives in fast-paced environments where creativity meets strategy and marketing feels intentional and human. Outside of work, she loves to travel and has visited more than ten countries and counting. She is motivated by meaningful work, strong relationships, and conversations around marketing, sustainability, packaging innovation, and career growth. Ways to connect with Dana: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-prenger/ SmartSolve website: https://smartsolve.com/ About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson 00:04 What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't what's in front of you, but rather what you believe Welcome to unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. I'm your host. Michael hingson, speaker, author and advocate for inclusion and possibilities. This podcast explores how the beliefs we carry shape the way we live, lead and connect with others. Each week, I talk with people who challenge assumptions, face adversity head on and show what's possible when we choose curiosity over fear, together, we focus on mindset resilience and the small shifts that lead to meaningful change. Let's get started. Hello everyone, and welcome once again to another episode of unstoppable mindset. I'm really excited to be here today. We've been waiting for this one for a while, and I'm glad we were finally able to do it. I found Dana Prenger online, and her boss and she decided to come on, and then we'll have to get her boss on, because then we want to find out the real truth about Dana. Dana Prenger 01:28 Yes, thanks, Michael, thanks. Michael Hingson 01:31 I'm such a big help, right? But Dana, Dana Prenger 01:35 I was debating on joining. I was like, we should have John, the president of smart solve, share about our story first, and I didn't feel worthy enough to share my story right away, but Michael was very reassuring, and it's like you got this let's give it a go. Michael Hingson 01:48 Yeah, you can tell us a little about smart solve. It's not going to affect having John on because he'll tell more of the story, and he'll tell it from his point of view. So I'm not too worried about that? Well, Dana. Dana is a marketing person. She graduated from Bowling Green State University. I didn't know it was a state university, Dana Prenger 02:10 yep, BGSU. A lot of people get confused with Bowling Green. They think of Kentucky, but northern Ohio, yeah, nice College in town. Oh, cool. Is it? How large is it? Pretty big. It's a d1 school. Michael Hingson 02:25 When I went to UC Irvine, out here in California, one of the reasons I went was that it was a small school. It was actually a new school. The year I was a freshman, was the first year they actually had a graduating class at UC Irvine, there were, like about 2500 2600 students. They had their first graduating class, and I went and visited it in 19, excuse me, in 2024 because when I left, they were just getting ready to start a phi, beta, Kappa chapter, and it was too late for me to become a member. And in 2023 the there was a, there's a magazine that generally is all about Sigma Pi Sigma, the physics honor society. And they discovered me, and they wanted to do an interview. And during the interview, as I love to put it, I shot off my mouth and said that, in fact, I was was going to the school when they were forming the phi, beta, Kappa chapter, but it was too late for me to join, because I was leaving. And one of the people who read that story was a physics professor who came to UC Irvine, basically the year I left, and she is still there. She's still a professor. And she called me and she said, I am the historian for the local mu chapter of Phi Beta, kappa, and we want you to come back and become an honorary member of Phi two. Well, a member of, I guess it'd be an honorary it's not an honorary member. I'm actually a member, but it's of later on, not at the time being a student. So anyway, I went back down and there are 32,000 undergrads at that campus. Now it's crazy. Dana Prenger 04:16 Wow. So cool to see the growth. Michael Hingson 04:18 Of course, UC Irvine or UCI, as they love to say. UCI actually stands for under construction indefinitely, because they're always building something there. Dana Prenger 04:30 It's crazy. Yeah, yeah. BGSU has around 4000 students, so it's cool that it's a big enough college, but they had really great professors and instructors where you didn't feel like just a number there, you got to know people by name. I was involved, yeah, and a lot of different student groups. One of the programs that was really cool was being a life design student ambassador. Michael Hingson 04:53 Ah, well, we'll have to talk about that. But I like, I like the size 4000 is plenty low. Large that's pretty cool. Well, tell us a little bit about you, the the the early Dana, growing up and all that. Where did you grow up? And tell us about some of that. Dana Prenger 05:10 Yeah, of course. I grew up in a small town, Minster, Ohio, so that town's a lot smaller than, Bg, about a square mile. Very good community. A lot of my family's from there. My mom's a school teacher at the school. So very great place to grow up, good traditions, and it's still close to Bowling Green, so it's an hour and a half drive away, so I still go home quite frequently and visit family and friends. Michael Hingson 05:36 So you went you went to school. What time were you Where did you come from? Where were you born? Dana Prenger 05:43 Yeah, born in a local hospital, right near Minster, Minster, Minster, Ohio. We have a lot of German heritage. We do a big Oktoberfest festival every year, which draws a lot of people to it. But besides that, a lot of corn fields. Grandpa's a farmer family. Michael Hingson 06:01 So are you a beer drinker? Dana Prenger 06:05 Yes, I am. I Michael Hingson 06:07 never did like the taste of beer, but that's okay. I did take three years of high school German, so maybe that counts for something. Yeah, there you go. Well, so you, you, you went to school. There you went to high school and all that, and then you decided to go to Bowling Green, huh? Dana Prenger 06:26 Yep, and that's the thing I liked about being in this from a small town, you got to do a lot of things. I was very much a multi tasker, or tried to be well rounded as I could be So, doing school, different clubs, sports. I was a three sport athlete, doing volleyball, basketball and track. So coming to BG, it was fun. I did like an intramural volleyball league. And, yeah, I chose BG. A lot of people, kind of from our area, went there. After being on campus, it did feel kind of like a second version of home. Michael Hingson 06:59 So Wow. So three sports, that's that's pretty cool. That kept you busy. Dana Prenger 07:05 Thanks, yes. And I graduated minster in 2021 so I'm not sure if you, I might be your youngest podcast guest you've had on, Michael. You might Michael Hingson 07:15 be well. You clearly have done well. So you graduated from school in minster in 2021 Dana Prenger 07:22 Yeah, I was born in 2000 to June of 2002 so yeah, nine months after 911 911 Michael Hingson 07:30 so for you, though you were at Bowling Green State four years, Dana Prenger 07:37 three years. Oh, you graduated a year early Michael Hingson 07:40 for you. Now, when you graduated, you were what second in your class? Dana Prenger 07:50 Yep, from Minster. Yep, I was a salutatorian, so had to give a speech at my high school graduation ceremony, Michael Hingson 07:57 and so, so what did you talk about as a as a speaker, as a salutatorian? Dana Prenger 08:05 I shared a story and equated kind of the grade schools reflecting on memories as a clock. So I was like, as the clock strikes one, and I would throw in a funny little memory from first grade to second to third, kind of going around until it was clock striking 12 as we're about to graduate. Michael Hingson 08:23 There you go. So you you had some experience at public speaking? Do you still do public speaking today? Dana Prenger 08:30 I've joined a few podcasts before, but being in marketing too, when students come or groups visit, smart solve, I'll do some speaking there, but not near as much speaking engagements or experience that you have well. Michael Hingson 08:48 So you, you went right into Bowling Green, and you decided right up front you were going to do marketing. Or what did you major in at first? Or did you always stick to one? Dana Prenger 08:59 I was debating between two things. So yeah, I liked marketing, like the business element. I had an older brother who went to BGSU as well. He was in the College of Business. But I also liked design. And in high school, I was on the yearbook committee. So I liked to take pictures, like to design the pages. So I tried out a few different classes before officially declaring my major. VCT is the program visual communication technology. I took a few classes in that but ultimately, after my first year, decided to go on with business and marketing as my specialization. Michael Hingson 09:37 Well. But even so, VCT is, in a sense, related to marketing, although I understand it's a specialty as well, correct? Dana Prenger 09:48 Yep, very much related into it work hand in hand. I'm actually hiring for a digital content coordinator right now, so it's cool to have somebody that I'm looking for. With more of that specialized experience Michael Hingson 10:04 and and are we looking at people from Bowling Green? Dana Prenger 10:08 Yep, it's a in person position. So looking at people around the area or willing to commute? Michael Hingson 10:15 Yeah, because otherwise, bringing somebody in from out of state or from a long way away, and paying moving expenses and all that. That's a bigger challenge. Dana Prenger 10:25 Yeah, and one of the things I was involved at at BGSU that I really loved this program, it was a new program they were implementing called Life Design. So basically, it's based off of the book and research that the Stanford Bill Burnett and Dave Evans did, designing your life, but basically saying that a lot of students come and come to college and don't know their major and are undecided and trying to figure out classes. So it's just a way to build community along the way, and it's a class for first year students to help them prototype different pathways and different avenues for their life. Michael Hingson 11:05 And so do they get a chance to look at different kinds of curriculum, different disciplines and so on? Dana Prenger 11:11 Yep, different curriculum, different careers, thinking, planning out your years. If you would go in this major, join this major, do this club, basically just getting people to think outside of the box, and prototype is a big word that they used in design different pathways that work for you. How's that working? Yeah, it was really great program. I was one of the first people to come as a freshman, to have that class, and then the class evolved and grew. My second year at BG, when I became the life design ambassador, I joined the class and was helping the first year students out, and the program continued to grow, continued to grow. We actually had a new building dedication, Jeffrey, Jeff and Jan, rad, Bill center for life design, so I got to be a part of the whole new building opening, grand ribbon cutting ceremony. And just cool to see something build up. Michael Hingson 12:10 Is it still going on? Dana Prenger 12:12 Yeah, still going on. And it's a big kind of differentiator of what BGSU has compared to other colleges across Yes, Michael Hingson 12:20 I can imagine that is pretty unique, but it really sounds like a great tool, because I think a lot of people aren't necessarily as ready, and I don't know whether as ready as is the right way to put it, but as ready to make a commitment as to what major or maybe this Is that people want to really look at options before they make a decision. But either way, it's great to have that kind of a program, Dana Prenger 12:47 and being a student ambassador just helped students get adjusted. Like this is the first time a lot of kids are living off on their own, and so just being there as a reference and resource for them some things they don't feel comfortable asking a professor even just about living in a dorm or college life. I was there for a group of students. Michael Hingson 13:08 Yeah, well, I remember going down to UC Irvine and starting and I didn't know a lot about a lot of the different things that would go on. But for us back in the day, as it were, you were just kind of thrust into it and you you could learn it and but again, I think that's one of the reasons I really liked the fact that it was a fairly small college or university at the time, and I remember I was put in the dorm with all of The athletes for the campus not being an athlete, but they had World Champion water polo team and other things like that. And people would occasionally pray play pranks on me, until the day came when I got to play a prank on them. Gained a lot of respect for that. So I was pretty cool. Dana Prenger 14:00 Are you going to share the prank or keep it a secret? Michael Hingson 14:03 Well, what happened was my my guide dog, my first guide dog, Squire, who's a golden retriever with a wicked sense of humor. Squire was in my room and I was next door with another freshman. We were trying to solve a physics problem. My master's is in physics. I went back into my room and there was no squire. Well, it turns out that they had stolen squire, and they hid him and and I kind of figured that part out, but I went through the dorm looking and of course, everybody was snickering and watching me. I went into the restroom and called him, and he didn't respond. He you know, I didn't hear him anywhere. I even opened the showers, and there was no response. And finally, one of the students who had seen all this happen came over and he said, Look, Squire is in the shower. Or and we went in and opened the door, and Squire comes right out, bouncing and having a good old time, having put it all over on me, as it were. But what we did was they didn't, you know, most all the students weren't paying attention to the fact that this guy was showing me where Squire was. We hit squire again, and I went out and got really ticked, saying, What did you guys do with my dog? I'm sure you took the dog, and everybody was laughing, always in the shower, and they went in the shower, and there's no dog because we hit him elsewhere. So, you know, we got back at him. It was kind of fun. And Squire made no noise when I was looking for him, what a horrible sense of humor. Dana Prenger 15:44 Golden Retrievers are great dogs. Michael Hingson 15:46 They are. Well, it was fun. I mean, you know, it was all in it was all in good fun, but still not the best thing to do to a guide dog. But that's okay. But the the jocks were, were were, were the major players of the campus. Actually, there's a great story. Every room had a phone in the dorm. And so in one of the women's dorms, one day, one of the women started getting some obscene phone calls from somebody, and she told her boyfriend about it, who was one of the jocks, and they, one day, they they told her, if you get him on the phone, this guy calls back, try to keep him on the phone and get somebody to let us know. And they, when this guy called, One day, she got word to her, her boyfriend, and all of the other jocks. They went through the entire phone book on campus in 10 minutes, dialing every number. Found three numbers that were busy, two of which were clearly not the right ones, because they were offices and all that. And so there was this one, and they all went over, knocked on this guy's door. Can you imagine all these big water polo and football players and all that went over and knocked on his door and they said, Hang up the phone and don't you ever do it again. It was great. I mean, teamwork, what? What teamwork? So, you know, they were all pretty neat guys. I gotta Dana Prenger 17:19 say, Yeah, being part of a team is just so good, and for building your character, like growing up being on basketball team, volleyball team, my basketball team actually made it to state in the year 2019, so you really do form a nice bond with them. And even now, as I'm in a different phase of life, your work, team, workplace, just really important, Michael Hingson 17:47 just really important too. Yeah. Well, if you were to describe your hometown with one word or whatever, how would you describe it? Dana Prenger 17:55 Ooh, that's a good one. I would say tradition, just because we do have so many traditions that bring the community together, or minster school motto is tradition of excellence. So that's what I would use. Michael Hingson 18:09 So that's pretty cool, though. But you had, you've had parents who who honored you, but who also, I'm sure, did a lot to teach you things and and help you grow up in the right way. Dana Prenger 18:26 Yes, yeah, a lot of thanks to both my parents, yeah, Mark and Jody. And then I had two siblings, two brothers, siblings and one sister. So family of six, wow, the second oldest, so I had older brother kind of paving the way me younger sister, and then a younger brother, who's a senior right now, and he's debating on where to go for college, and I think he's also going to be going to BGSU Michael Hingson 18:56 well, and I'll bet Older brother especially made sure that sister was treated well, Yep, yeah, brothers do that, right, what? That was fair. That's okay. Well, so you, you worked pretty hard at it all and, and, and had a lot of fun. So tell me more about your your whole time at college, getting marketing degrees and and what all that was like, and then how you ended up going to work and going to work for somebody close by. That must have been a joy. Dana Prenger 19:34 Yeah. So yeah, I loved marketing. And as I said, VCT, I was considering that, and I could have graduated like I did in three years with just marketing, or I could have stayed longer and did an international business specialization. I love traveling. I've been to 10 plus countries, and yeah, thought about doing a study abroad because that older brother of mine, he did do a study abroad in Strasbourg. Of France, and loved it, but instead, I came across this program called the Ohio export internship program. So basically, it's a program designed for small to mid size companies in the state of Ohio, and the state helps them out by going through the whole interview process for candidate, all the screening, teaching them adequate coursework, and then they'll pay for half of the interns wages for the summer. So in the spring, I did a three credit hour course. Had a group of 20 students in my cohort, and then all different colleges in the state of Ohio participated in this too. But then I could have been matched up with the business anywhere in the state of Ohio for my summer internship, summer of 2023 and I just so happened to get matched up with smart solve and that's how I came to know about them Michael Hingson 20:57 cool well, so having been a three sport person and all that. What do you find today from all of your sports experiences that helps you in your career and and how is that all stuck with you? Dana Prenger 21:15 Yeah, definitely the hard work and the grit and drive being able to focus your energy and really go when you have to go, yeah and yeah, managing your time effectively, like when I was in sports, you still had school, you still had other things you had to do in the evening. So being able to manage your time and get a lot of things done. Michael Hingson 21:42 So you you learned a lot about time management, having to juggle three sports and everything else that you were doing. And so how did all that work when you got to Bowling Green, though, did you? Did you have as many different kinds of activities you weren't doing three sports at Bowling Green, I presume? Yeah, no Dana Prenger 22:01 less sports and more trying to focus the academics and, like I said, what I wanted to do with my life. So, yeah, I spent a lot of time being the ambassador for life design. Still did sports just for enjoyment, fun. I did an intramural volleyball League. Yeah, I was involved in the American Marketing Association. Once I found out my true passion, I really liked marketing. Was involved with that, and I was also involved in through the College of Business Dakota Dean's Advisory Council on diversity and inclusion. Michael Hingson 22:37 What did you think about that? Dana Prenger 22:42 Yeah, it was really good for me to be a part of and opened my eyes to a lot of things, because my small hometown, though I love it, and we have great tradition, we are kind of a little bubble of not a ton of diversity. So being opened up to new, new perspectives and new things that was really beneficial. Michael Hingson 23:06 Well, certainly there were other small colleges around. Why did you specifically choose Bowling Green? Dana Prenger 23:13 Yeah, I think I wanted it was a perfect distance. I still wanted to be close to my family and close to home, but also I wanted to go out and experience on my own. If I chose a school too close to home, I would just be driving home, coming, eating dinner with my parents, and not really fully immersing into my independence. Michael Hingson 23:34 So so it was kind of just the ideal distance, if you will. Dana Prenger 23:42 And being like I said, a bigger college, so there is more opportunities sporting events and games, but they had it at an affordable price too, like going to football games my friends and I love to go watch and cheer on the Falcons, but it wasn't like a big school where we had to pay a lot for the tickets as well. Students got free tickets to all sporting events. So I enjoyed that. Michael Hingson 24:06 Oh, that's cool. How big was the stadium? Dana Prenger 24:10 Pretty big. I don't know the exact size, but yeah, it's right off the highway too. So as you drive on 75 through Ohio, you'll see the stadium in the road Michael Hingson 24:24 well, but you, but you enjoyed it. Do you still do any work or activities at Bowling Green? Dana Prenger 24:32 Yeah, so I'm living in BG right now, as I work at Smart solve, they do have a program called the regional network leaders, which tries to keep alumni engaged. So I joined that, and I'm on a team with seven other individuals just helping keep the alumni connected to the university. How's that working? It's good. It's good. Great to meet. With people, and just gives me something else to do besides work in the evenings. But it's not a huge time commitment. We meet about once a month, Michael Hingson 25:10 but it works out pretty well. Well, so you worked, you worked as a life design ambassador. Do you still do anything with that program today? Dana Prenger 25:24 No, not as much as I would like to. I think they are also in the progress, because I was one of the first people to graduate with having to keep us engaged and involved. I still am connected with a lot of them on LinkedIn, and sometimes one of the life design coaches will message me if a student has questions or wants to just have a quick prototype call or conversation to learn more about marketing or their field. Michael Hingson 25:53 You're you're available to help. Which is cool. It's neat to be able to to be a part of all of that. Yeah. Which is cool. So anyway, you you were part of the export internship program and so on, and that eventually got you connected with smart solve. What attracted you to specifically to smart solve? Why did you decide that that's what you, at least were were willing to explore? Dana Prenger 26:20 Yeah, I really liked smart solve. How strong we are with our core values and vision, mission and purpose statement. Most companies say these are our core values, but they're just words on the wall, and they don't get lived out each and every day. But here at Smart solve, we do something called the daily word of inspiration. So we have about 20 full time employees on our team, and we'll just have a calendar we rotate whose day it is for inspiration, and it's just a brief 15 minute meeting, how we start our day every day. And you can share a personal life story. You can share a Bible verse, any watch a video, motivational video, anything you want to give for your inspiration. And then we start our day with word of prayer, optional. Word of prayer. Michael Hingson 27:13 Well, that's pretty cool, and certainly that's a lot of commitment. I was going to ask, why you feel that the whole idea of smart solving what it's doing generates so many important values, but it's pretty clear why that's the case. Dana Prenger 27:31 Yeah, the core values are character, drive, innovation, joy, humility and growth. All right, it's really cool to hear those lived out, and you can see our team members each embody it smart. Solve is a faith based company, but we don't discriminate or only hire people of the same faith. In fact, not everybody's Christian that works here, but we are open about it because we want people to be comfortable about it, or be knowing that we do have that optional daily prayer every day Michael Hingson 28:07 well, and I think there's value in that. I mean, it's, I think, important to recognize that there are a lot of different religions in the world. And the fact is, if you really study most religions, they all pretty much essentially end up going to the same place, and they all believe in the same basic rules anyway, which is, which is pretty important, which is, which is kind of good. Well, where did the term or the title of the company, smart solves come from? Dana Prenger 28:38 Yeah. So John, he's our current CEO, co founder of smart solve. He smart solve. He calls himself intrapreneur, because smart solve was under CMC group, which is they had a bunch of different businesses. One of their main things was supplying labels, any and all kind of labels. And this is kind of the evolution story of smart salt, water salt. One of the customers was like, our labels are great, but it would be nice if they could just dissolve or wash away, because it was an application in the back of a kitchen. How you have, like, containers, the plastic containers you have to label food days of the week and expiration dates for food safety loss. But when they were putting the containers in the dishwasher, after trying to, like, peel or scrub the labels off, there would still be adhesive, sticky residue on it. Yeah. So, so, yeah, they developed water soluble label. And so, yeah, a label that can dissolve and wash away. So day mark still sells water soluble labels to food rotation business, but John was an intern at that time and was like, I think there's a much bigger. Market for water soluble materials, besides just label for food rotation so he can, they allowed him to take that idea and run with it. So smart solve is specifically water soluble materials. We sell just water soluble paper that dissolves the labels and then also pioneering water soluble, flexible packaging, so power stock applications Michael Hingson 30:27 I remember many years ago, and I still don't know how they knew it, but I got a package in the mail and it had popcorn in it, you know, the shipping stuff, and somebody said, Oh, this is that water soluble popcorn. If you put it in water, it'll it'll melt. And I was going, No. And sure enough, it was, I don't know what visually was the clue that that was water soluble, but it was, Dana Prenger 30:58 yeah, so our company, smart solves vision is to make packaging no longer trash. We realize the increased amount of plastic packaging, or just any packaging unnecessary consumption going on in the world today. So having an avenue or a smart solution of how to solve the problem, Michael Hingson 31:21 well, you can always come up with a new kind of straw that everybody can use, that they if they throw it away, it's not going to fill the world full of plastic. That's another story. Dana Prenger 31:35 Yeah. But in microplastics, to the increasing research and studies how microplastics are impacting human health and the environment. One of the fun facts we like to share is, well, not fun fact, but sad fact that by 2050 they project that plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish in the ocean. Michael Hingson 32:04 I hadn't heard that one, but I'm not surprised which it's so unfortunate. Dana Prenger 32:09 Yeah, great garbage patches of just waste forming out in the ocean. Michael Hingson 32:15 Is there a way, has anybody looked at the fact that, yeah, there's a lot of trash out there and so on, and it's great to come up with trash that won't be trash that will dissolve. But what do you do with all the stuff that's there? Has anybody been working at all on finding ways to dissolve that stuff as well? Dana Prenger 32:35 Yeah, I think that's harder, because it's already all out in the ocean, but there are efforts and people who go out and try to collect it, but then it's like, once we take it out of the ocean, where do we put it, just into massive landfill areas? Well, that's Michael Hingson 32:51 why I was wondering if there is some sort of a chemical process that could be introduced that would dissolve a lot of that material, rather than trying to collect it and take it somewhere, but I realize it's a much more of a significant challenge to do, because you don't want to hurt the fish and you don't want to hurt the ocean. But nobody has come up with a way to just dissolve all that plastic Dana Prenger 33:15 and stuff yet. Yeah, and our material is non toxic to fish, so it's we don't want people to we wouldn't say, just throw it in the ocean, but if it would end up litter becoming there, it would dissolve. Be safer fish. There's multiple end of life avenues for smart solves packaging, which is, yeah, flushable too. So some customers of ours are like toilet bowl cleaner cleaners or feminine care tampon packages that is flushable, so you can just flush the packaging down the toilet Michael Hingson 33:49 right, which, you know, and all of that is very important, but it still seems to me that hopefully somebody someday will figure out a way to dissolve All the stuff that's out in the ocean, yeah? Because I think collecting it is never going to happen as fast as it gets thrown in the ocean in the first place, Dana Prenger 34:09 yeah, especially in different countries around the world where there's not as adequate systems set up for landfills or recycling and waste is just much more incremental. Michael Hingson 34:22 So when you graduated and you started at Smart solves full time, what did you do? Dana Prenger 34:31 Yeah, so, actually, so the Ohio export internship program, I was a full time intern for the summer of 2023, okay, and then I was finishing my final year at school at BGSU, but they offered me to stay working part time. So I did work part time at Smart solve. My senior year of BGSU, I was a sales development rep, so business development, I had to do a lot of cold calling, so you just pick up the phone try to call people. So tell them about smart solve and so, yeah, I did that until I graduated in May, and then they kind of knew that they wanted more marketing support, and I liked marketing better than the sales prospecting. Sales, yeah, so they created a position for me, marketing coordinator, what was Michael Hingson 35:22 it like selling smart solve did you find that there were a lot of people who were very pessimistic or skeptical about what it could do? Or were you able to demonstrate pretty, pretty easily that in reality, sports fans it works? Dana Prenger 35:38 Yeah, I think smart solve products were easier than most things to sell and communicate about because, like we said, it really is a product that is better for people, better for the planet. I said our core values earlier in our vision, but our mission statement is enabling people to better care for the planet by pioneering Zero Waste packaging technologies, so smart solves. Big slogan is zero waste, zero hassle, zero hassle in the consumer. So it's cool to share that with prospects, and they would be more receptive, I feel like, than selling products that people don't necessarily need or want, but still in any industry, no matter how cool the product you have, when you're cold calling people on the phone, you're going to get some of those people that are like, how did you get my number? Or I don't want to talk, or just denies and ends the phone on you. So yeah. Well, that happened a lot of character building, doing that. Michael Hingson 36:38 I experience it oftentimes today, looking for speaking opportunities, even so, same concept, yep, and I've been selling my whole life, so I'm I'm fine when there are objections, when I at least there's a lot of truth to the to the fact when I at least get an objection, at least I can then go off and deal with it, but the people who just shut you down and you don't even get the opportunity to deal with the objection. That's a different story. Dana Prenger 37:06 Yeah, it really does. Michael Hingson 37:07 So was John a chemist? Or how did he develop Dana Prenger 37:11 all of this? Yeah, so John had a team of like, independent contractors that he would work with, and also just some of the knowledge with the water soluble label coming from CMC, but yeah, we have a lot of different team members now, research chemist employees that helped bring this product to life. And one of the cool things is doing a new product launch. So all of our typical water soluble materials we have today you can still buy, but we just now launched a new product called Pure nil zero, which is a completely plastic free, 100% bio based packaging substrate solution Michael Hingson 37:58 is packaging constructed like that, more are less stringent or sturdy than the more traditional kinds of packaging. Or is that something that you've been able to overcome and it's not any less durable? Dana Prenger 38:16 Yeah, it depends. It all depends on what you're trying to package in it. Yeah, it won't be as strong as plastic, but a lot of customers will use it for, like, powdered solutions. So obviously, if you have, like, liquid hand soap, you can't put that in our package, or it will start to break apart. But there's a lot of like, travel and convenience powdered packets that work great in our material. And the thing about pure no which is this new product, it is approved for direct food contact. So our other packaging is more agricultural, personal care, laundry, dish, a lot of those applications, this new product is approved for direct food packaging. So say you would have a powder drink, pack, mix, instant coffee, and eventually we want to get into more snack packaging, but there becomes certain limitations with oxygen and moisture barrier, Michael Hingson 39:12 yeah, well, you know, but that's still, it's it is really fascinating to hear about this, though, because there's, there's so much that that goes into it, it's really kind of fascinating to to see. Do you have customers all over or mainly in Ohio or what? Dana Prenger 39:33 Yeah, we do have customers all over the world. In fact, a lot in the European, European union, union that area, a few customers in the UK, since sustainability, new laws are happening all over. Michael Hingson 39:49 So you recently became the marketing manager. Tell us about that. Yeah. Dana Prenger 39:54 So yeah. I was very, very rapid upward marketing coordinator. For a while, and then just the end of this year, I got the promotion to Marketing Manager, which is great because I yeah, thank you. Get to manage content creators, to have somebody that creates blogs for us, somebody that helps with video support, especially because the water soluble material, it is so cool to see it, dissolve yourself. So yeah, doing a lot of video creation, and then, as I mentioned earlier, we're hiring for a digital content coordinator, a full time in office role. Michael Hingson 40:34 So are other companies doing the same kinds of things that smart solve does? Dana Prenger 40:39 There's a few, not a ton, but there's other bio based solutions. So for example, one company is using seaweed to make packaging, and there's other bio based materials, but not many water soluble packaging. Michael Hingson 40:57 So what makes smart solve unique? Dana Prenger 41:00 Yeah, we are unique for the ability to help you come to market with it. Our materials printable too. So some of the other like plastic PVA based, say laundry packs or dish packs, it's that plastic ours. You can print on it so you can have certain branding or safety warning instructions. Remember the challenge few years back when kids were trying to eat Tide Pods? We say, how different would it be if you could have had a big warning logo or image on the pod itself for them not to consume? Michael Hingson 41:38 Yeah, well, that's of course, the issue is, will they really pay attention to it or not? Dana Prenger 41:45 Yeah, also true, but we do think there's a good branding perspective too. Just to have brand on it, have instructions. We get. Our packaging is a little bit more expensive than just plastic and traditional uses, but we try to show our benefit by being better for the planet, better for the environment, and you do get a lot of good marketing. ROI, some of our customers have said using the materials and videos and being able to make a lot of sustainable claims has helped their company Michael Hingson 42:21 as a whole. So what kind of goals do you basically have as the marketing manager at Smart solve for what you're looking to do over the next few years? Dana Prenger 42:31 Yeah, one of my big grows goals is just growing, growing our followers, growing our reach. I feel like not a lot of people know about smart solve or know about our materials. So we have a LinkedIn page, since we are a B to B business, we also have Facebook and Instagram, but LinkedIn is our primary social that I'm looking to grow. So I think I shared with you smart solves LinkedIn profile, if you want to include that, or if any of the listeners today want to give us a follow, I'd really appreciate it. Michael Hingson 43:03 Well, absolutely that makes sense to do. Dana Prenger 43:07 Well also just increasing website. I help add new pages on our website, increasing our web visitors, new traffic, and creating more leads and sales qualified opportunities for our sales team, Michael Hingson 43:21 so dealing with diversity and and such, what do you do to make sure that your materials are accessible for people who don't necessarily read the print or who aren't going to be able to see pictures on the websites and so on. Do you have you all done a lot with that yet? Dana Prenger 43:42 Yeah, we're getting into improving and open to recommendations and suggestions. A lot of with the package itself, we leave up to the individual brands who sure have the product, because we're just the packaging supplier, not actually the end brand that uses it, but yeah, our website, I we use a site to do that, trying to become more accessible. There's so many ways to learn and do it, so, yeah, Michael Hingson 44:15 well, but it makes sense to do so with all the sports and stuff background that you've had, and we talked about this a little bit already, but what lessons from sports and leadership and all of your experiences have translated most into what you're doing today? Dana Prenger 44:37 Yes, I would say I'll tie it back to drive that one of our core values at Smart solve, and just as an athlete, having to really drive, whether that be your mental state, getting in the right mindset before a game or big competition meet, you. And just putting your effort into your skill to perfect it Michael Hingson 45:06 well, and an important thing to do by any standard. So, you know, a lot of people have jobs, they have worked in various places, they've matured and so on, but a lot of times there's kind of a defining moment that shows them that what they're doing is really what they wanted to do and so on. Do you have a defining moment like that that said this is really it? Dana Prenger 45:37 Yeah, that's a good question. And I think life is a journey, and there's always going to be small moments throughout I haven't had one big knock me off my feet moment that's shaped everything, but more kind of collectively built up small moments, small hurdles, small challenges that's got me where I am Today, any specific challenge that comes to mind, yeah, I would say. I would say, just going through college and yeah, figuring out my path and different setbacks along the way, throughout, trying to figure out my major and things and one of a small, funny setback, but not that big of one. I mentioned it as I was 16 years old, going to get my driver's license from sports. I had an injury and sprained my ankle, so I couldn't walk at the time, but I really wanted to get my driver's license, and it was my left foot, so not my right foot. So I my parents, the car that we had was a minivan with all my siblings, so Driver's Ed test, I'm pull up in this minivan, and I didn't want to let that setback delay me from passing my driver's test, so I had my crutches, crutched out, put my crutch in the back of the car, and then drove, using my right foot to pass my driver's test. Michael Hingson 47:10 And you passed your test, huh? Yes, and you did well on the written part as well, yep. Well, all I have to say is I think you should come out here to Victorville and spend a little bit of time the way people drive out here is crazy. I still submit that they ought to let me have a license, because I am sure that the way I would drive is every bit as good as the way people drive in Victorville right now. Wow, I don't see the problem myself. Dana Prenger 47:40 Yeah, and it's crazy. With innovation, the new things coming up, like nowadays, the autonomous vehicles, I'm curious to see in the next years how that will impact driving. When I am older and have children, when will they have to get their driver's test like that? Or there's some bold suggestions that say in many years to come, you won't have to drive a car. Michael Hingson 48:07 Well, I, in all seriousness, am really of the opinion that it will be great when autonomous vehicles are really as stable and as foolproof as they ought to be, because I think that we really do need to take driving out of the hands of drivers. It's just too many people to do too many crazy things on the road. The reality is that for blind people, and it's not going to be in prime time, certainly in the very near future, but the National Federation of the Blind challenged private universities and companies to develop a car a blind person could drive, and I don't mean an autonomous vehicle, but literally one that would provide the information so that a blind person could drive it just like a sighted person. And if you really look at driving, what is driving and why is it that blind people can't do it well, the answer is, because we don't have a way to get the information in as timely and as functional a way as sighted drivers do with eyesight. And the the people who realize that actually developed a vehicle that a blind person could drive. If you go visit the website of the National Federation of the Blind nfb.org, and search for Blind Driver Challenge, you can actually see a video of a blind man driving a vehicle around the Daytona Speedway right before the 2011 Rolex 24 race. Wow, and he wasn't driving it with people communicating with him through walkie talkies or anything like that, the car was literally transmitting the information to him that allowed him to drive the vehicle, drive through obstacle courses and do a variety of other things, pass a vehicle and so many other things. Because the fact is, today, the technology exists to provide that information to blind people, but it's not ready for prime time, and probably won't be, but autonomous vehicles are coming, and I really am looking forward to the time that they really work and work well, because they're going to make life a whole lot better for everyone. And I'm serious when I say taking the hand, the driving out of the hands of drivers, is pretty important to look at, yeah, so it'll be interesting to see how all that goes. So we've been talking about drive why other why? Else wise, did you really want to use Drive and make that kind of a theme for what we're talking about today? Dana Prenger 50:48 Yeah, I think drive just reflects the path that people have for life. And drive you always want to keep going being a goal oriented, focused person. There's a lot of things, and other people do experience many setbacks. And what I've learned from your story as well. When trouble would come your way, you didn't just stop. You kept moving, kept driving in a direction. Sometimes you might not always get from point A to point B. You might have to do a little bit of a detour in the journey of the drive, but yeah, that's kind of why I thought drive would be a good conversation topic word for today's podcast. Michael Hingson 51:29 But the reality is that that you can succeed. I tell people all the time that I reject the concept of the term fail, because if you fail, that's kind of an end all. You just, you just screwed up. Well, you didn't screw up. The issue isn't failure. The issue is what do you learn from it? And the issue is how you you move forward. And so I've learned that in reality, when things don't go right, I'm my own best teacher. I'm the one that has to take that information and internalize it and figure out how to move forward, people can suggest people can help. And I think that's important. But for me, personally, and for every individual on the planet, ultimately, we have to internalize it and make it succeed, which is, I think, so very important. Dana Prenger 52:19 Yeah, connecting some of those points is what we would talk about in life design too, because students would come and if they wouldn't pass a certain class or wouldn't do a certain thing, they would see it as a failure. And it's reframing failure and redefining it that, yeah, it's not, in fact, a failure, but a learning opportunity and experience Michael Hingson 52:41 it is. It's a growth opportunity by any standard, and that is something that we all really need to work on, because failure just isn't isn't fair and it isn't right, and we've got to get away from thinking that it is, Dana Prenger 52:56 and even reframing your experiences or statements you choose to say and think and believe about yourself like I could. I'm, as I said, one of a younger professional. Sometimes it can be intimidating or room full of people that know more than you. I could be down on myself. And look at it and say, Oh, I'm the youngest here. I am most inexperienced. I don't have as much skills or sets, or I could reframe it and think of it in a positive light and say, I am young, I do. I offer a new mindset. I bring new skills, new things that aren't already established. So kind of having that confidence and positive outlook to be able to reframe Michael Hingson 53:42 the other part of that. The other part of that, though, is that, yeah, you're young and all of that. But clearly some people have thought that you have a lot to contribute, and you're already doing that. And so obviously life is, is a is a place where we can learn, and we do need to continue to learn, but, but the reality is that we can always find learning as an end, as an adventure, and something that we need to do. And I think that that's exactly what we should we should be doing regularly, because it's always all about learning, yep, which really makes a lot of sense. So for you, what's next? For you? Do you have any notion? Dana Prenger 54:32 Yeah, I think I'm excited to continue developing this role, this new marketing manager role at Smart solve. I do like to travel. As I said, I've been to a lot of different countries, so wanting to further learn more about the world, new people, new places. Yeah, I want to have a family. I have a boyfriend that we're getting kind of serious. So looking for. To that next phase of my life and how well of a role model my mom was for me, I do want to be a mom as well someday. Cool. What countries have you been to? Yeah, I've been to Mexico, been to Portugal, been to Spain, one of the recent family trips. We just got back from Costa Rica. It was gorgeous there. We left right after Christmas and got back January 7 of this year. So that's why I'm still a little tan from the trip for you. But yeah, it was a good mix of adventure, zip lining, rock climbing, hiking, and then also just getting to relax and be in warm weather by a beach. Michael Hingson 55:46 What are what other countries, Dana Prenger 55:49 other countries that I've been to, went to Punta Cana, that was a very nice one, that Dominican Republic as the country, yeah. Michael Hingson 56:02 Cool. So the whole family went, Dana Prenger 56:07 yeah, all six of us. Wow. It works out nice because I have one sister and two brothers, and then my mom and dad. So it's kind of perfect, three and three, three girls, three boys. Michael Hingson 56:18 Yeah, that's, that's pretty cool. I'm glad that you you get a chance to have some of those experiences. What have you learned by going to other countries? Dana Prenger 56:29 Yeah, I've learned a lot just the way of life, the way they do things. Speaking of since we just got back from Costa Rica, one of the sayings they say all the time is Pura Vida, just pure life and kind of a more, not as upbeat, fast, hard paced environment as the US more free, yeah. But also it depends on the trip too. I've done some local mission trips. I wanted to do an international mission trip. I had it scheduled, but then that's when covid happened, so I had to cancel that. So bucket list coming up soon, I'm going to do a international mission trip. But it is different when you're traveling for just enjoyment vacation versus other purposes. Michael Hingson 57:19 You find that a lot of places where you visited, don't tend to take, and I don't mean this in a negative way at all, but don't take life as seriously as we tend to try to do here. Yeah, yeah. And it's, and it makes a lot of sense to lighten up a little bit, and then ought to do more of that. Well, if people want to reach out to you, how do they do that? Dana Prenger 57:42 Yeah, they can message me on LinkedIn if they have a LinkedIn profile, or they can go to smart solve website, contact us through there. What's your LinkedIn name to me? Yeah, Dana, just my name. You can search it. Dana pranger. Dana, D, a n, a pranger, P R, E N, G, E R, Michael Hingson 58:04 okay, well, I hope people will do that. This has been fun, and you've got a lot of good insights that you've offered, and we're going to have to after you your marketing for a while, we'll have to have you come back and tell us Dana Prenger 58:19 more stories. Yeah, that would be wonderful. And, yeah, thank you for having me as a guest. Super fun. Yeah, we'll see you, John. Yeah. Now we'll get John on and he can, I gave you a little warm up to smart solve. He can get into more of the details. Michael Hingson 58:36 Well, I want to thank you, and I want to thank everyone for being here today. We really appreciate it. Love it. If you'd give us a five star rating wherever you are, and also, even more important than a rating, please give us a very positive review. We really love your reviews. People will and do monitor and read and watch these podcasts more when people review them. So we'd love you to voice your thoughts. If you'd like to reach out to me. I would love to hear from you, and especially if you might know and Dana you as well. If anyone else, in addition to John, who ought to come out on on unstoppable mindset podcast, feel free to email me, and we're changing the address so it's easy. It's speaker, S, P, E, A, K, E, R, at Michael hingson, M, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, s, O, n.com. Love to hear from you. Love to get your thoughts. And we'll we'll value them a lot. And if you know people who ought to come on, please introduce us. But again, Dana, I want to thank you for being here. This has been absolutely a lot of fun, and hopefully we'll get to do it some more in the future. Dana Prenger 59:48 So thank you. Yes, this was great. Thank you, Michael, Michael Hingson 59:55 thank you for being here with me on unstoppable mindset. I hope to. Day's conversation left you with a fresh perspective, a new insight, or at least something worth thinking about if you're ready to go deeper into the ideas that shape how we see ourselves and others, I have a free gift for you. Head over to Michael hingson.com and download my free ebook blinded by fear, it explores the invisible beliefs that hold us back and shows you how to reframe them so you can move forward with clarity and confidence. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast, leave a review and share this show with someone who can use a reminder that growth starts with mindset. When people think differently, we all move forward together. Thanks again for listening, keep learning, keep questioning and keep choosing to live with an unstoppable mindset. You you.
Marketing im Kopf - ein Podcast von Luis Binder In dieser Folge wird über verschiedene Unternehmen gesprochen, da Markennamen genannt werden, handelt es sich um UNBEZAHLTE WERBUNG!In dieser Folge: In der heutigen Podcast Folge von Marketing im Kopf ist Constantin Kaindl. Constantin ist Geschäftsführer und Mitgründer von wirdenkenlokal. Mit 16 hat er mit deinErlangen.de sein erstes Stadtmagazin aufgebaut. Er wurde als Young Leader 2025 und Top 30 under 30 der Nachwunchsjournalisten ausgezeichnet, auch, wenn er von sich sagt, dass er gar kein Journalist ist. Und mit Wirdenkenlokal arbeitet er für Kunden wie die NürnbergMesse, die FAU, imbus, BMW, Franken Brunnen und viele weitere.In der heutigen Folge sprechen wir darüber, was ein Hybridmodell aus Agentur und Medienhaus bringt, wie man einen Großteil der Menschen in der Metropolregion Nürnberg erreicht, und warum eine spitze Zielgruppe von tausend Geschäftsführern wertvoller ist als hunderttausend anonyme Fans. Außerdem erklärt Constantin, wie LinkedIn ihm Kunden bringt und warum einer davon sein Auto in der Tiefgarage einfach stehen gelassen hat.____________________________________________Hier kannst du Constantin erreichen: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/constantin-kaindl/____________________________________________Unternehmen: wirdenkenlokal Webseite: https://www.wirdenkenlokal.de____________________________________________Live-Aufnahme mit PodcastBrause: https://podcast-brause.de____________________________________________Über den Podcast: In dem Podcast Marketing im Kopf soll es um die Frage gehen, was notwendig ist, um ein Produkt oder eine Dienstleistung gut vermarkten zu können und was für grundsätzliche Strategien verfolgt und ganz leicht umgesetzt werden können. Egal, ob du selbst im Bereich Marketing arbeitest, oder, ob du dich einfach nur für das Thema interessierst, in diesem Marketing-Podcast lernst du alle Grundlagen und Strategien, die aktuell im Marketing verwendet werden. ____________________________________________Vernetz dich gerne auf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisbinder/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketingimkopf/Du hast Fragen, Anregungen oder Ideen? Melde dich unter: marketingimkopf@gmail.com Die Website zum Podcast findest du hier. [https://bit.ly/2WN7tH5]
Send us Fan MailKids don't wake up one day and magically know how to lead. They practice leadership in the messy places first: the toddler who insists on doing it “my way,” the grade-schooler who wants to run the game, the teen who's testing independence while still needing structure. We dig into what healthy leadership looks like at different ages and how brain-based parenting helps us guide that drive without turning every moment into a power struggle. We spend time on skills that make leadership sustainable: listening, empathy, teamwork, and conflict resolution. That includes the hard parenting choice to let kids work some conflicts out on their own when it's safe, then processing what helped and what didn't. We also tackle resilience and responsibility, including why kids need chances to fail successfully, push through when something stops being fun, and learn that finishing matters. And we close with a reminder that hits home: our job isn't to create a better version of us, it's to help our kids become a strong, grounded version of themselves. Subscribe to Brain-Based Parenting, share this with another parent, and leave a five-star review so more families can find these tools. What's one leadership skill you want your child to grow next?Contact:podcasts@calfarley.org To Donate: https://secure.calfarley.org/site/Donation2?3358.donation=form1&df_id=3358&mfc_pref=TTo Apply:https://apply.workable.com/cal-farleys-boys-ranch/j/25E1226091/For More Information about Cal Farley's Boys Ranch:https://www.calfarley.org/Music:"Shine" -NewsboysCCS License No. 9402
UIS student leaders take their stories to the Capitol, lobbying lawmakers for higher ed funding — and learning advocacy starts with using your voice.
Volunteer Leaders are so crucial to a healthy youth ministry. But as you recruit, should you focus more on older leaders? Or younger leaders? In this debate style episode we have two leaders make their case on both sides of the aisle! Let's dive in, together! [FREE] HYBRID STRATEGY GUIDE https://www.patreon.com/posts/complete-guide-142500019?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
Send us Fan MailWhat does it really take to lead one of the most dynamic school districts in Michigan? In this episode of the MotivateMe313 Podcast, we sit down with Lamis Srour, Interim Superintendent of Dearborn Public Schools, to talk about the realities of leadership in education today.From tackling post-pandemic bullying and chronic absenteeism to the harsh realities of funding and aging school buildings, we aren't holding back. Whether you're a parent, a teacher battling burnout, or just a Metro Detroit resident who cares about the future of our youth, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what happens inside the Superintendent's office. Lamis also shares her unique journey from 1998 to today, and why she chose to be a "bridge" for the district rather than taking the permanent job.If you care about the future of the 313, hit that SUBSCRIBE button and join the conversation in the comments! Episode Chapters: 0:00 - The Reality of Dearborn Public Schools 1:45 - Stepping Up: The Journey to Interim Superintendent 5:10 - Why She Didn't Want the Permanent Job 9:30 - From Top-Ranked Principal to District Administration 14:15 - The "Open-Door" Policy vs. Tough Executive Decisions 20:00 - How Dearborn is Tackling Bullying & Absenteeism 26:45 - The Hard Truth About Tax Levies & Aging Buildings 32:20 - The Biggest Misconception About the Superintendent 38:10 - The Educator Burnout Crisis & Advice for Young Leaders 44:00 - Final Word: The Legacy Left Behind Follow OZ Media Website: Ozmedia313.comFollow us on social media:- Instagram: @motivateme313 or @ozmedia313- Website: ozmedia313.com- Facebook: ozmedia313-TikTok: @ozmedia313-Apple Podcast: ozmedia-Spotify Podcast: ozmediaThis show was sponsored by:-The Family Doc https://thefamilydocmi.com/-Juice Box Juiceboxblend.com-Holy Bowly http://www.myholybowly.com-Wingfellas thewingfellas.com-Hanley International Academy https://www.hanleyacademy.com-Malek Al-Kabob malekalkabob.com-Bayt Al Mocha https://baytalmocha.com/-Chill Box https://www.chillboxstore.com/-Royal Kabob https://www.royalkabob.com/-GEE Preparatory Academy https://www.gee-edu.com/schools/geepreparatory/index#LamisSrour #Dearborn Public Schools #DetroitEducation #MotivateMe313 #EducationalLeadership#DearbornMichigan #Podcast
This podcast is centered on the importance of intentional living, nurturing compassion in children, and addressing period poverty through initiatives like Return Gifts to promote equality and empathy in communities. Learn more about the initiative here: https://returngifts.org/ Guest Speakers: Evanka Parekh, President of Return Gifts, Eashan Parekh, Chapter President of Mission San Jose High School
Texas House Representative Brian Harrison, a Republican from House District 10 and former Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under President Trump, joins Hearts of Oak. Brian discusses his background, his reasons for entering state politics, and his assessment of government operations in Texas under Republican leadership. He examines state spending levels, property taxes, regulatory policies, and funding decisions in education and other areas. The conversation also covers legislative responses to the growing presence of Islamic organizations and Sharia-related issues in the state, as well as Brian's perspective on protecting individual liberties and aligning policy with conservative principles. During the Trump Administration, Brian served as Chief of Staff at HHS, leading over 85,000 employees at the world's largest agency (budget exceeding $1.4 trillion).Under his leadership, HHS advanced pro-life policies, border security, private insurance options, cost reductions, patient protections, transparency, free-market reforms, and COVID-19 response. He drove historic deregulation—sunsetting ~20,000 regulations, ending unfair taxes, eliminating harmful programs, creating accountability measures, and imposing term limits—projected to save billions. Brian held roles at DoD (sensitive intelligence), the Vice President's office (domestic and global operations), and SSA (Commissioner's office).He worked in family-run small businesses in Texas, as an independent consultant, and as a director at a public affairs firm overseeing healthcare. He is an alum of the American Council on Germany's Young Leaders program. A frequent national TV guest with publications in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Newsweek, and others, Brian is known for bold conservative leadership. He fought COVID vaccine mandates, ended Texas funding for the American Library Association, expanded education in Ellis County, and opposed federal overreach. A Texas A&M graduate (B.S. Economics, 2004; studies in Business and Political Science), Brian is an instrument-rated private pilot. He lives in Ellis County, TX, with wife Tara and their four children. THE SWAMP REALLY HATES BRIAN... and are trying harder than ever to take him out! Donate today so Brian Harrison can fight for YOU! https://secure.anedot.com/texans-for-brian-harrison/donatetoday Connect with Brian... X @brianeharrison https://x.com/brianeharrison Connect with Hearts of Oak...
A special episode focused on Leading Gen Z. Including a new version of the Young Influencers LIst, with 50 young leaders to know. As well as 20 organizations that are gathering, resourcing, connecting and equipping Gen Z and the next generation. And the Top Weekly Leadership Links, with a special emphasis on Gen Z, including recommendations on podcasts and books. And a special Leadership Nugget segment with 7 keys to leading young leaders. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access all the show notes. Thanks again to our partner for this episode: CONVOY OF HOPE - Please donate to help bring hope to those impacted by disasters at http://convoyofhope.org/donate. Convoy is my trusted partner for delivering food and relief by responding to disasters in the US and all around the world. Right now, Convoy of Hope is responding to the Jamaica hurricane, Texas Floods destruction, the LA fires rebuilding efforts, providing basic needs like food, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, blankets, bedding, clothing and more. All through partnering with local Churches. Join me and please support their incredible work. To donate visit http://convoyofhope.org/donate. And SUBSPLASH – engage your congregation through Subsplash. Schedule your free demo at http://subsplash.com/brad. Subsplash is the platform made to help maximize your church's giving, growth, and engagement. The go to for mobile apps, messaging, and streaming, along with building websites, groups, giving and more, Subsplash puts today's most innovative church technology into your hands so you can focus completely on ministry. Visit http://subsplash.com/brad and join more than 20,000 churches and ministries who partner with Subsplash. Again, visit http://subsplash.com/brad to schedule a quick, no obligation demo.
Why are so many churches struggling to find their next youth pastor, worship leader, or ministry staff member? In this episode, Zach sits down with Dave Miller to talk about the church's leadership pipeline problem, why Gen Z gives real reason for hope, and how residency programs can help churches raise up leaders from within. If you care about mentoring young leaders, staffing the future Church, and building a healthier ministry pipeline, this conversation is for you. To access the show notes, please visit www.redletterpodcast.com.
Jordan Glaubinger shares his insights on new development research, NYC's historic inventory crunch, and what developers must understand to succeed in today's market. The Crexi Podcast connects commercial real estate (CRE) professionals with industry insights built for smart decision-making. In each episode, we explore the latest trends, innovations and opportunities shaping commercial real estate, because we believe knowledge should move at the speed of ambition and every conversation should empower professionals to act with greater clarity and confidence. In this episode, host Shanti Ryle sits down with Jordan Glaubinger, Research Director at Corcoran Sunshine, to discuss the latest trends, insights, and strategies shaping New York City's new development market. They explore Jordan's journey from a GW real estate club internship to leading market intelligence at one of NYC's most prominent new development sales and marketing firms. They also delve into how Corcoran Sunshine advises developers from site acquisition through final sellout, the unprecedented inventory shortage gripping Manhattan, and the growing role of AI in real estate research and marketing. Jordan shares his contrarian take that low inventory won't immediately spike prices — and why the City of Yes policy has him optimistic about NYC's development future. Introduction to The Crexi Podcast Guest Introduction: Jordan Glaubinger Growing Up in NYC and Getting Into Real Estate The GW Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis Landing a New Development Internship Choosing Research as a Career Path Projects That Shaped the NYC Skyline Working with Silverstein Properties and the Financial District Behind the Curtain: Pre-Development Research Unit Mix and Pricing as the Two Biggest Questions How Corcoran Sunshine Built Its Reputation Why Market Share Creates Better Data State of the NYC Market in Early 2026 Manhattan's Historic Inventory Shortage & Causes Office-to-Residential Conversions Comparing NYC and South Florida Markets What Developers Are Most Focused On Right Now Strategic Pricing and Building Sales Momentum Maintaining Momentum Over a Long Sales Cycle How AI and Technology Have Transformed Research The Corcoran Sunshine Innovation Award Breaking Down Silos Across Departments Advice for Early-Career Real Estate Professionals Rapid Fire: Investment Picks, Worst Advice, and Contrarian Takes What Makes Jordan Optimistic About NYC Development About Jordan Glaubinger: Jordan C. Glaubinger, Research Director at Corcoran Sunshine, plays a central role in shaping the firm's market intelligence and strategic advisory work. With more than a decade of experience in new development real estate, including seven years at Corcoran Sunshine, he collaborates with project teams from early property planning through final sellout, delivering insights that inform design, positioning, pricing, and sales strategy. Jordan's analyses support many of the firm's most significant projects across New York City and South Florida, and his team's reporting is widely regarded as the industry benchmark and is relied upon by leading developers, financial institutions, the brokerage community, and the press. Jordan was honored with the Corcoran Sunshine Innovation Award in 2021 and is recognized as a Young Leader of The George Washington University Center for Real Estate & Urban Analysis. He is an active member of REBNY and a licensed real estate salesperson in New York. A native of New York City's West Village, Jordan holds a B.A. from The George Washington University. Outside the office, he enjoys spending time at his home on Fire Island. For show notes, past guests, and more CRE content, please check out Crexi's blog.Looking to stay ahead in commercial real estate? Visit Crexi to explore properties, analyze markets, and connect with opportunities nationwide. Follow Crexi:https://www.crexi.com/ https://www.crexi.com/instagram https://www.crexi.com/facebook https://www.crexi.com/twitter https://www.crexi.com/linkedin https://www.youtube.com/crexi About Crexi:Crexi is reimagining commercial real estate with an AI-powered platform built to deliver smarter, more efficient solutions at every stage of the deal lifecycle. From real-time data and market insights with Crexi Intelligence, to targeted property marketing and seamless deal management through Crexi PRO, and a transparent, time-bound bidding experience with Crexi Auction— Crexi enables users to evaluate opportunities, maximize exposure, and close with speed and confidence. To date, Crexi has subsidized over $2.74 trillion in property value, 26 billion square feet listed, and supports a growing community of more than 23 million yearly users.
In this episode of the Man Within podcast, Sathya Sam engages with Steve Long, a seasoned leader in church ministry, to explore the intricacies of leadership. They discuss Steve's journey into leadership, the transformative experience of the Toronto Blessing Revival, and the importance of character and maturity in effective leadership. The conversation emphasizes the need for mentorship, the balance of opportunities for young leaders, and the values that define great leaders. In this conversation, the speakers delve into the significance of leadership, particularly focusing on the impact of home life on leadership effectiveness. They discuss the importance of integrity, accountability, and the challenges leaders face, including moral failures and the struggle with issues like pornography. The dialogue emphasizes the need for transparency and communication within leadership roles, as well as the cultural shifts affecting how leaders are perceived and held accountable. The speakers also highlight the ripple effects of personal integrity on families and communities, advocating for a supportive environment for leaders to grow and overcome their struggles.
The Tennessee Young Farmers and Ranchers, in partnership with the Tennessee Council of Cooperatives, recently hosted their annual Young Leaders Conference—an inspiring event dedicated to shaping the future of agriculture. Designed to equip the next generation of agricultural professionals, the conference empowers young leaders with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to make a lasting impact in their farms, businesses, and communities.
What is it like to navigate the infrastructure industry as a young professional? Finding footing in any field is challenging. Entrants are faced with rapidly changing technologies and processes, hybrid working environments, impostor syndrome, and breaking into existing tight-knit communities. Organizations like Young Leaders in Infrastructure (YLI) strive to help people entering the industry learn, grow, and connect. In this episode of Navigating Major Programmes, Riccardo and Shormilla speak with three members of the Toronto chapter: Mariam Faizal, Ursula Kenkel, and Iris Templo. The trio details their experiences with the YLI tenets: developing confidence, capability, and community in the industry. They praise beneficial quarterly events, mentorships, and AI advancement, but raise a unanimous call to action for more accessibility. Their unique and unjaded perspectives highlight where expansion and improvement could elevate infrastructure as younger generations continue to transform Canada's built environment and the organizations that build it.Key Takeaways:How organizations like YLI assist those entering the industry in finding their place;The community-minded motivation that draws graduates from all sectors to public service;The need for more accessibility into the clique of established infrastructure professionals;A fresh perspective on the ever-growing implementation of AI;The ambition of continued collaboration across sectors and specialties.Quote:“[YLI provides] a good way of relating to my peers…but also having a good example of where my career can take me.” - Iris TemploThe conversation doesn't stop here—connect and converse with our community via LinkedIn:Learn more about Young Leaders in Infrastructure: https://www.pppcouncil.ca/what-do-we-do/fostering-next-generation/yli Follow Navigating Major Programmes: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigating-major-programmes/ Read Riccardo's latest at www.riccardocosentino.com Follow Riccardo Cosentino: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cosentinoriccardo/ Follow Shormila Chatterjee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shormilac/ Follow Mariam Faizal - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariam-faizal-003335157/Follow Ursula Kenkel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-kenkel-2b6397173/Follow Iris Templo - https://www.linkedin.com/in/iristemplo/
Leadership isn't about having it all figured out — it's about staying relevant, embracing the mess, and protecting culture as you grow. In this episode, Carrie Willetts shares hard-earned lessons on leading at scale, integrating with empathy, and why confidence and community matter more than ever in healthcare.This is Brand Story, a podcast celebrating the stories of real people who are making an impact on brands, business, and the world around them. Episodes feature guests from a variety of backgrounds who bring their own unique perspectives to the conversation.Brand Story is created and produced by Gravity Group, a full-service brand and marketing agency, and is hosted by Gravity Group President, Steve Gilman.Links and Information From the Episode Here: https://www.gravitygroup.com/podcast/creating-relevance/Continue the conversation on social:For more of Brand Story, check out our LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/gravitygroupmarketing), where we'll post previews and highlights of shows, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, plus other marketing news you can use.We're also on:Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/gravitygroupFacebook — https://www.facebook.com/gravitygroupmarketing(00:00) Introduction to Carrie Willetts(02:00) The Evolution of Leadership and Culture(05:05) The Importance of Local Presence in Healthcare(09:44) Embracing the Messiness of Leadership(16:09) Advice for Young Leaders(21:11) Communication and Clarity in Leadership(26:15) The Complexity of Integration in Healthcare(31:30) Carrie's Leadership Purpose and Growth(36:45) How to Find Clarity(39:06) Defining Success in Leadership (42:22) A Season of Community(48:45) Working on Communication(51:48) Advice to Your Younger Self
Pine Tree Elementary School's Kindness CertificationThe Kindness Boomerang
February 12, 2026 - Young Leaders in Action facilitator Temethia Joyner joined Byers & Co to announce the grants the YLIA students chose to award to improve student dignity. Listen to the podcast now! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Check out the list of 20 Young Leaders to Know. These are influencers in music, sports, business, entertainment, and the Church. Plus, the top weekly leadership links as well. Make sure to visit http://h3leadership.com to access the full list and all the show notes. Share them with your team, repost the lists, and follow and subscribe. Thanks again to our partners for this episode: COME and SEE FOUNDATION – reaching a billion people with the story of Jesus. Visit http://comeandseefoundation.org. Come and See Foundation is on a mission to ensure that all 7 seasons of The Chosen are produced, translated into 600 languages, globally distributed, and kept FREE for all. From Michigan to Madagascar, people are encountering Jesus through The Chosen, Join Come and See in inviting a billion people to find and follow Jesus. You can play a supporting role in introducing the world to Jesus. Lean more and get involved at http://comeandseefoundation.org. And SUBSPLASH – engage your congregation through Subsplash. Schedule your free demo at http://subsplash.com/brad. Subsplash is the platform made to help maximize your church's giving, growth, and engagement. The go to for mobile apps, messaging, and streaming, along with building websites, groups, giving and more, Subsplash puts today's most innovative church technology into your hands so you can focus completely on ministry. Visit http://subsplash.com/brad and join more than 20,000 churches and ministries who partner with Subsplash. Again, visit http://subsplash.com/brad to schedule a quick, no obligation demo.
What if we stopped underestimating children and started listening to them as leaders?In this episode, Ashley sits down with Leah Ellis, founder of the Society of Child Entrepreneurs, for a powerful conversation about youth empowerment, creativity, and what true intergenerational leadership actually looks like.Leah challenges the belief that children should wait their turn to lead. Instead, she shows what happens when kids are trusted with real responsibility, real decision-making power, and real-world learning through entrepreneurship. This conversation is for parents, educators, nonprofit leaders, and anyone rethinking how we prepare the next generation to lead with confidence, curiosity, and courage.Share with a FriendKnow a parent, educator, or leader rethinking how we empower young people? Share this episode. It might change how they see leadership - at every age.Guest Appearing in This EpisodeLeah Ellis: https://societyofchildentrepreneurs.org/ Founder, Society of Child Entrepreneurs and championing youth-driven leadership, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy for the next generation.
In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Mike “C-Roc” sits down with Ashley Gonor, host of the Uncover Your Magic Podcast and a mindset coach for teens and parents, to explore what it truly means to live with intention, intuition, and purpose. Ashley shares her personal journey of raising two daughters through the lens of energy, gratitude, and “mind over matter,” revealing how years of personal development, spiritual study, and disciplined self-growth shaped both her family and her mission. From building a thriving spa business in her 30s to launching her podcast in 2020 without missing a single week, Ashley opens up about following full-body yes moments, trusting the process, and embracing imperfection as a path to growth. Together, Mike "C-Roc" and Ashley dive into the power of programming our children's beliefs, breaking generational patterns, and helping young people—and their parents—understand their potential, confidence, and inner “I Am.” This conversation is a deep, inspiring look at parenting, mindset, and the courage to create a life driven by awareness, energy, and authentic purpose.Website-www.ashleygonor.com Social Media Links/Handles:https://www.facebook.com/ashleyerholmgonor https://www.instagram.com/ashleygonor/
Here's links to 8 Books: The Bible Simplified (Zach Windahl) Zach is one of my favorite authors - he has an ability to teach scripture in a profound yet simple way! (https://amzn.to/49lsy0S) Breaking Free From Broke (George Kamel) Our conversation with George on the youngadultstoday podcast was LIFE - CHANGING. Working in ministry can be challenging when it comes to personal finances. Catch that conversation here! (https://amzn.to/4sH2V2c) Practicing The Way (John Mark Comer) Whether you're a completive type or just desiring to know and grow more in your faith this one is a great place to start! Comer is one of the timeless authors of our generation! (https://amzn.to/4jFdO0h) Emotionally Healthy Spirituality (Peter Scazzero) Every leader struggles with hurts, hurdles, and hangups from the past. Be willing to look in the mirror and do the hard work and allow the Holy Spirit to break chains and help you get past your past! (https://amzn.to/49nmTYj) Gradually Then Suddenly (Mark Batterson) This has been my favorite recent read - Batterson is another favorite author of mine and this is his newest release. The same way you go broke is the same way you get out of debt, the same way you get in shape is the same way you get out of shape - first it's gradually, then it's suddenly! (https://amzn.to/49nmTYj) Winning the War in Your Mind (Craig Groeschel) One of the battles every young leader faces is their own thought life and mental health. Break out of insecurity, imposter syndrome, and find inner peace here! (https://amzn.to/3Lgjhy5) Welcoming The Future Church (JP Pokluda) Jesus is our passion. Young adults are our burden. Few voices resonate more prophetically in the next generation than JP! This one is a must read for Christian young leaders and those wanting to see faith passed down to future generations! (https://amzn.to/3Lgjhy5) At Your Best (Carey Nieuwhof) Avoiding burnout is possible! This book helps. It seems like a trend is young leaders strive to impress in their 20s and 30s and burn out by 40. What if there was another way. PS - Carey is a genius when it comes to time management! You can catch our interview with him on the youngadultstoday podcast here! (https://amzn.to/4bAuCU5) More about us: Kick off the year with us at our free digital conference for young adult ministry leaders on Wednesday, January 21 at 11:00am Central (on Zoom). Register here: https://youngadults.today/digital-conference (link as mentioned in the episode) Join us in AZ February 12th: https://www.youngadults.today/arizona-leaders-gathering-gcu Or in Minneapolis March 13-14th www.youngadults.today/conference Book Bundles: https://www.youngadults.today/book/3-book-bundle
Tight end Theo Johnson speaks to the media Monday following the conclusion of the 2025 season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this episode of The Steward Chair, Producer Thomas Mastrototaro and Lead Editor Daniel Mastrototaro reflect on the past year of conversations with business leaders who exemplify stewardship in action, exploring how choosing care over convenience drives meaningful, long-term success. They discuss key themes that emerged across the year, including why care in leadership costs something, how patience and time shape healthy organizations, and the importance of finding meaning in work while empowering people and communities. These reflections provide practical insight and encouragement for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and lasting impact. Key Takeaways Care over convenience is a common theme among leaders. Care costs something; it requires sacrifice. Care builds people, and places. Join the ConversationThe Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn: Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
2025 marks the 10th anniversary of one of the most significant resolutions on youth and peace ever adopted by the UN Security Council.Resolution 2250 led to widespread changes in the ways that the voices of young people are not just heard but also incorporated into peace plans and policies.In this episode of our flagship podcast, The Lid is On, Conor Lennon speaks to some of the young leaders who were at UN Headquarters this month to celebrate the progress made so far, and reflect on what more needs to be done.Speakers:Aishworya Shrestha, founder of Heart of NepalAdelin Pierre, Haitian youth environmental activist and peacebuilderNila Ibrahimi, founder of HerStoryMary Maker, UNHCR Goodwill AmbassadorCheryl Pierce, Acting Military Advisor at UN PeacekeepingAnes Demirović, Founder of Hadje TogetherElizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary-General for PeacebuildingPeace Circle at UNGA80: Hear Us. Act Now for a Peaceful World - SDG Media Zone, 80th Session of the UN General Assembly | UN Web TVActions for a peaceful world | United NationsMusic: Ketsa
On episode 1 of Doing Well with Diabetes Season 2 Rob opens with a global nutritionist panel featuring three voices from three continents—Ravi Subramanian (India/Australia), Sally Anne Shirto (Zimbabwe/South Africa), and Marina Cavalin (Brazil). Each shares how diabetes shaped their lives, their careers, and the way they support others in their communities. The episode tracks the realities of type 1 and type 2 diabetes across vastly different health systems, highlighting gaps in education, access to insulin and supplies, food insecurity, misinformation, cultural nutrition challenges, and the emotional and physical toll of the condition worldwide. Through personal stories—from childhood polo matches with royalty to managing a teen's diabetes in an under-resourced setting—the conversation reinforces a central theme: education, movement, and community support remain the strongest levers for improving global health and wellbeing for people with diabetes. Chapters 01:23 – Meet Ravi: Pilot Dreams to Type 2 Diagnosis 02:05 – Two Decades of Uncontrolled Diabetes & Complications 06:11 – Going Back to School: Becoming a Nutritionist 08:49 – Carbs, Fats, and the Omega-6:3 Problem in Indian Diets 11:39 – Portion Control, Festivals, and Insulin as a Double-Edged Sword 16:15 – Walking, Sweat, and Safe Exercise for Blood Pressure 19:14 – Resistance Training as Medicine 20:35 – Polo with Prince Charles: Childhood, Horses, and Loss of Function 23:03 – Meet Sally Anne: Mom, Coach, and Advocate in Zimbabwe & South Africa 24:08 – Learning Diabetes From Zero as a Parent 27:02 – The Affordability Crisis: Insulin, Strips, and Food 31:11 – Education Gaps: Fixed Doses, Hypers vs Hypos, and No Corrections 33:09 – Doing the Most With Very Little: Education as the First Line of Care 39:19 – Tackling Stigma at School and on the Netball Court 39:55 – Glucobuddies: Building Community in Under-Resourced Settings 42:08 – The Missing Link: Diabetes Educators, Not Just Dietitians 47:11 – Fighting Misinformation About “Healthy” Foods 50:42 – Meet Marina: Insulin Girl from Brazil 54:38 – Living With Type 1 in Brazil: Access and Inequality 58:46 – Brazilian Food Culture and the Carb-Counting Gap 1:02:54 – Learning to Count Carbs and Choosing Nutrition as a Career 1:05:24 – Mental Health, Burnout, and the Role of Exercise 1:11:42 – Young Leaders in Diabetes and Impact at Human Scale 1:15:40 – Self-Acceptance, Complications, and Redefining “Doing Well” Resources: https://www.instagram.com/guriadainsulina/ ravismani@gmail.com - Ravi Subramanian's email Blue Circle Voices IDF Glucose Buddy Sally Anne Shirto LinkedIn
She became one of the world's youngest leaders... and now her story is hitting the big screen. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opens up in a new documentary, Prime Minister, Melanie Jones, with the Women's Leadership Institute, joins the show to discuss this story, and a special screening of the movie.
As a young person, how to ensure decision-makers would hear our perspectives? How to spark real changes to the issues we care about? How to get on to the global stage to share our ideas? Join us for #GlobalSouthNextGen: Voices and Visions, to discover how young people around the world make their voices heard and shape the future. Guests: -Hannah Hopper, the Chair of the South African Youth for International Diplomacy (SAYID). -Himadrish Suwan, Chairman of the Confederation of Young Leaders of India -Azizuddin Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Asian Youth Council
200,000+ leaders have become unbeatable with my elite leadership operating system, will you be the next? Join The Unbeatable Leader Challenge Today: https://www.unbeatableleader.comIn this episode of the Mark Divine Show, host Mark Divine welcomes Rafael McMaster, a visionary creative director and youth mental health advocate. McMaster discusses the shortcomings of the education system in promoting creativity and self-awareness, and shares practical tools for emotional resilience. His non-profit, Indivisible Arts, helps youth cultivate mindfulness and creativity through art. The conversation covers the importance of integrating art into education, the development of a Creative Consciousness community center, and the upcoming online platform to extend these tools nationwide. McMaster's insights emphasize the need for awareness, acceptance, and intention to foster mental well-being in young people.Key Takeaways: -Art as the Language of the Soul and a Tool for PresenceThe absence of art and creative expression in early education leads to a lack of soulful presence and self-connection later in life.-The Mental Health Crisis Among Youth and the Power of Consciousness ToolsTeaching youth to become the "aware observer" of their thoughts (mind watching) and providing them with practical tools like awareness, acceptance, intention, gratitude, compassion, forgiveness, and connection can build emotional resilience and self-regulation.-Community, Co-Creation, and the Ripple EffectBuilding a movement of conscious youth and empowering them to teach each other creates a ripple effect, spreading positive change far beyond the initial group.BUBS Naturals: I use BUBS Naturals daily for focus, recovery, and hydration—all built on a mission to honor a fallen Navy SEAL. Use code UNBEATABLE for 20% off any one time purchase or subscription at www.bubsnaturals.comGuest Links:Website: https://www.indivisiblearts.org/ & https://www.rafaelmcmaster.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcmaster.peace/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rafael-mcmaster-ba573531/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVP8eNYx58zbFZuBSZj6b8wFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rafaelmcmasterart/Mark Links: Website: https://unbeatableleader.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@markdivineofficial/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markdivineofficialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markdivine/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdivineofficial/Subscribe to https://www.youtube.com/@markdivineofficial for more inspiring conversations on leadership, growth, and impact.Rate and review the show to help us reach more listeners.Share your thoughts and takeaways in the comments!Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Defining Art and Its Importance00:41 Welcome to the Mark Divine Show01:23 Introducing Rafael McMaster: Visionary and Advocate02:21 The Power of Art in Everyday Life04:40 The Crisis in Arts Education08:16 Mental Health and Youth: A Growing Concern10:23 Teaching Consciousness and Emotional Resilience16:44 Innovative Approaches to Youth Education26:06 The Heart of Service26:29 Overcoming Homework Hurdles27:45 The Impact of Phones on Youth29:40 A Movement for Conscious Youth30:21 Tools for Overcoming Challenges31:54 The Neurology of Addiction33:56 Mental Health Epidemic43:03 Creative Consciousness Community Centers48:00 Conclusion and Call to Action#leadership #mental toughness #mindset #peakperformance #NavySEAL #executivecoaching #resilience #selfimprovement #growthmindset #unbeatablemind #highperformance #mindfulness #personaldevelopment #warriormindset #stoicleadershipSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Go to www.LearningLeader.com for full show notes The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: Dave Berke is a retired US Marine Corps Officer, TOPGUN Instructor, and now a leadership instructor and speaker with Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Development Officer. As a F/A-18 pilot, he deployed twice from the USS John C Stennis in support of combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He spent three years as an Instructor Pilot at TOPGUN where he served as the Training Officer, the senior staff pilot responsible for the conduct of the TOPGUN course. Notes: July 2001: Plans Don't Survive Contact - Dave's Top Gun graduation exercise as flight lead. Wingman yells, "Showtime one-one break right!" - an F-5 snuck into formation. Dave was staring at the radar instead of looking out, had to fall out of formation, and ended up at the back instead of leading from the front. Mission successful, but nothing like he planned. Dave: "The outcome was still really good... except it was nothing like I thought it was going to be." Lesson: You're planning for the success of the outcome, not how you're going to do it. The most important attribute in a leader is humility. To be effective, you must be able to listen, learn, be flexible, and admit you're wrong sometimes. One of the biggest issues they deal with when working with leaders is ego and/or the inability to be humble. As leaders, we need to be self-aware enough to realize when our ego is getting the best of us. And surrounding ourselves with people who will help us know when that is happening as well. Be Fluid with Plans, Deliberate with Outcomes - Be really fluid and loose with plans, but deliberate about aligning the team on outcomes. Dave grew up as a control freak, OCD planner. Dave: "In life, it's just not how life works... If you can align on the mission and outcome, and you are very open-minded that there are a lot of different ways to get there, you're far more likely to be successful." The military saying, "The enemy gets a vote." Ryan's quarterback coach after an interception: "He's on scholarship too, you know?" Process: How You Create It Matters Most - Process is important, but how you create it matters most. If you agree on the outcome, the conversation should be less about agreement, more about "When you talk about step one, what are you thinking? How does this lead to step two?" The process has to be organic. When you create it, you're more likely to maneuver around challenges. Book Dedication: Chris and Kat - Book dedicated to Corporal Chris Leon and his mother, Kat. Chris was a radio operator on Dave's 13-man Anglo team. June 20, 2006, Chris was killed by an enemy sniper in Iraq - first Anglican Marine killed there. Dave's son is Matthew Leon Burke - took Chris's last name. Chris's mom Kat is Aunt Kat to Dave's family. Dave: "I always say I really deep down wish I didn't know Kat, because that would've meant Chris came home and life just went on. But that's not what happened." Chris taught bravery. Kat taught strength. Top Gun Reality: It's About the Team - 1986 Top Gun most impactful movie on Dave's life at 14. But the movie depicts a lone wolf. Marine Corps teaches: Your contribution to the team matters most. A really good pilot who's self-centered will do more damage than a slightly less capable pilot who's a real team player. Dave: "If there's ever a team sport, it's going into combat... It's not about you. It's about the team." Trust: Action, Not Description - Echelon codifies relationships: Trust, respect, listening, influence. Trust is the cornerstone. Dave: "If you don't trust me, I could be good at so many things. If there is a trust gap, there's going to be a problem in the relationship and team." Trust is action you take. Ego: The Universal Challenge - When Echelon works with companies, challenges are almost always connected to ego. Dave: "Our egos tend to wreak havoc at each level of organization." From birth, the ego drives us down the wrong path. When debating plans, ego says, "You're right, he's wrong." Building good leadership is managing egos. Dave: "Humility is the most important attribute in a leader. All the attributes, humility is number one, and we don't waffle on that." Humility Enables Everything Else - Dave worked with the biggest, toughest SEALs. Attribute most critical to success: humility. Ability to listen, learn, be flexible, change, admit you're wrong, and go with someone else's plan. It even affects fitness. Humility touches everything. Doesn't diminish other attributes, but allows you to strengthen them. Teaching Humility: Subordinate Your Ego - You can't tell someone with a big ego to be humble. Dave: "The biggest challenge with someone else's ego is not their ego. It's your ego's response to it." Most counterintuitive thing: If you clash with Ryan, Dave has to subordinate his ego to Ryan's. Lower your ego: "Hey Ryan, I've been pushing back hard, I realize I'm not listening." Natural reaction: Ryan's ego starts to drop. Over time, collaborate more. You connect success to the ability to control the ego. Dave: "Humility is the measurement of how much control you have over your ego." What you give is usually what you get. It's reciprocal. Care About Team More Than Yourself - When your people see you working hard to clear paths or block an egomaniac boss, they'll run through walls for you. Outcome of a good relationship: You care about the team, the team cares about you. That selfless act shows you care about them more than yourself. Dave: "That's how you show that you care about them more than yourself, and that's what a leader's job is, to care about the team more than you care about yourself. That's parenting, that's marriage." Extreme Ownership - Book Extreme Ownership changed Dave's understanding. When you take ownership, take ownership of everything. Caveat: Not things you literally don't control. But you have ownership over everything, even just how you react. After Chris was killed, Dave said, "That's war, nothing we can do." Problem: When he embraced it wasn't his responsibility, it meant he didn't have as much to change. Should have asked: "What is everything we can do to make sure this doesn't happen again?" The tendency is to undershoot ownership. Try to take it to the extreme. If you can take ownership of everything you can control, you get more influence over the outcome. Detachment: A Superpower - Dave: "Detachment is a superpower" - (1) almost nobody can do it, and (2) if you can, it's massively influential. Detachment is being in control of emotions. When overwhelmed with priorities and pressures, you tend to get emotional. When you react emotionally, you make bad decisions. Learn the skill of detaching - not to be devoid of emotion (we're human), but don't let emotions dictate. Get Away from Problems to See What's Causing It - When a problem occurs at work, you tend to focus on it, go into it. It seems good but is often wrong. You should get away from it, detach. Getting away lets you look around and see what's really causing it. Military example: The enemy is shooting at you; the tendency is to focus on that. Usually bad because they're hoping you do - then they send a flanking maneuver. If you detach, step back, you'll see the flanking maneuver coming. Be able to see the future - that's the superpower. Know Your Red Flags - Intervene Early - You have to understand where you are escalating your emotions. Know your personal red flags. Most people don't go zero to 100. Long day, flight delayed, bad meeting - little things tick up, so zero is actually 4 or 5, which means dirty dishes put you to 7. When Dave gets frustrated, traps tighten up. Some people's nose turns red. If you're at level 8 and someone says, "calm down," it makes it worse. But if at level 1 or 2 and you intervene, you're in control. What an adult does: "I'm an emotional guy, but I have awareness of where I am. If I'm a 4, I gotta intervene then." If at level 10, detaching is not gonna happen. That's the difference between kids and adults. Dave: "You are much more likely to have a hard time controlling your emotions, ironically, with people you care about the most." Quotes: "You're planning for the success of the outcome, not how you're going to go about doing that, because things get in the way." "Humility is the most important attribute in a leader. All the attributes. Humility is number one, and we don't waffle on that." "The biggest challenge with someone else's ego is not their ego. It's your ego's response to it." "Detachment is a superpower." "You are much more likely to have a hard time controlling your emotions, ironically, with people you care about the most." 01:16 Introducing Dave Burke 02:21 Dave Burke's Top Gun Experience 05:23 Lessons Learned from Military to Everyday Life 07:56 The Importance of Flexibility in Leadership 13:07 The Need to Lead: Dedication and Personal Stories 16:58 The Realities of Teamwork in Combat and Business 21:03 Building Trust and Relationships in Teams 26:04 The Role of Humility in Effective Leadership 31:03 Understanding Ego and Humility 31:50 Subordinating Your Ego 33:38 Challenges of Teaching Humility 34:07 Personal Experiences with Ego 39:20 The Power of Ownership 42:57 Detachment as a Superpower 52:58 Advice for Young Leaders 57:26 Conclusion and Key Takeaways
The Bible provides timeless wisdom and guidance for young leaders. Jeff Cavins draws from the Letter of James to reveal what true Christian leadership looks like— leadership rooted in wisdom, humility, justice, and prayer. Email us with comments or questions at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get Jeff's shownotes delivered straight to your email! Or visit https://media.ascensionpress.com/?s=&page=2&category%5B0%5D=Ascension%20Podcasts&category%5B1%5D=The%20Jeff%20Cavins%20Show for full shownotes!