Today’s guest has been recognized as one of Europe’s Leading Business Networking Strategists by The Financial Times and as a master of networking by The Independent.

He believes networking is a vital tool in business, from sales generation to career development, but that it is not treated with the same strategic consideration as other business methods.

As a business networking strategist, his solution is to help companies understand why they are networking, what they want to achieve, and how to use those answers to plan accordingly and get great, measurable responses.

He is an experienced international speaker, the author of three books on networking (with another to be published next year), and has been quoted in a number of other business books. He is a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association and one of just 23 recipients of their ‘Award of Excellence’. He is also a Fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute and a Master of the Institute of Sales Management.

Please join me in welcoming Andy Lopata.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership means making a very clear distinction between managing people, teams, or projects and leading people by giving them inspiration and guidance.”
• how he learned the importance of knowing when and how to ask for help.
• his method for determining what kind of help to give other people.
• how he has made it a point to give feedback when he appreciates the things he learns from others.
• his 24-7-30 rule for connecting with people after he first meets them.
• how he values diversity for learning new ideas and meeting new people.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 106

Today’s guest helps her clients make wise decisions, prioritize leadership actions, and prepare for higher level responsibilities through customized executive education and coaching. She shows senior corporate, military, government, and nonprofit leaders how to create cultures that grow leaders, build organizations, and deliver dynamic organizational results.

As a clinical psychologist and former active duty Army officer, she brings her unique experiences and perspectives to the leadership conversation. She shares her insights in her book, “Lead Yourself First! The Senior Leaders Guide to Engaging Your People for Greater Performance and Impact.” As she says, “You are the instrument of your leadership, so tune up and play the music only you can play.”

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Karen Wilson-Starks.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about building influence. It is about influencing people around you to move or act.”
• how her leadership qualities existed from a very young age, beginning with her teaching her younger brother how to break out of his crib as a toddler.
• her deep appreciation for seeing leaders and teams discover their unique gifts and learn to leverage them in their business.
• how her mom’s illness and her husband’s out-of-state work gave her the final push to leave the corporate world and start her own business, and how she has grown since then.
• her method for ensuring she has plenty of self-care and travel, no matter how busy her work-life is.
• how she has worked to always continue learning, growing, and exploring the world and different cultures, and how that desire led her to a living room in Saudi Arabia.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 105

Today’s guest is a globally recognized expert on executive presence and communicative leadership.

During her first career as an award-winning broadcast journalist, she interviewed top influencers and developed a keen interest in discovering the qualities of successful leaders. She channeled that energy to bring together a team that today is at the forefront of innovation in executive and leadership development.

Her firm is distinguished for its ground breaking research and model of executive presence, which global organizations use to help leaders make a bigger impact.

She is the author of several books, including her bestselling business book “Speak Like a CEO: Secrets for Commanding Attention and Getting Results.” She is the past president of the New England Chapter of the National Speakers Association and a Certified Speaking Professional, a professional designation held by fewer than 12 percent of speakers worldwide.

Please join me in welcoming Suzanne Bates.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is rallying people to achieve a vision.”
• how her leadership skills began with admiration of her dad and his ability to lead as a community leader, especially during hard times.
• how she learned it was time to leave journalism and how she found the courage to start her own career.
• her belief that people are only capable of growing to the place they believe they can be, and how she helps people go from where they are to where they believe they can be.
• her first experience teaching a class in person, after twenty years behind a camera, and how she learned to challenge herself to grow.
• how she has learned her own biorhythm and has learned to utilize it to shape how she spends her personal and professional time.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 104

Today’s guest has many different titles and roles, which include: speaker, podcast host, software developer, engineer, developer, strategist, startup advisor, and entrepreneur.

He is the co-founder and CEO of Contactually, the top CRM that empowers professionals in real estate, consulting, and other professional industries to build authentic relationships. He has lead Contactually to 12 million dollars in venture backing, 75 employees, and tens of thousands of customers, including 8 of the top 20 real estate brokerages in the country.

Named a finalist for Ernst and Youngs Entrepreneur of the Year, he hosts the Real Relationships podcast and has interviewed hundreds of leaders on how they build relationships that move their businesses and careers to higher levels.

Please join me in welcoming Zvi Band.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is establishing a culture of expectations that exist mainly when you are not involved.”
• how he became a leader by being thrust into leadership roles, without realizing his capabilities.
• his unique views on negative customer feedback, which he sees as a positive because it means they are engaged and loving his app, but that they are frustrated with something that could work for them better, which gives him ideas for what to improve.
• how hot sauce is a part of how he weaves his personality into growing relationships with others.
• his beliefs that diverse networks are necessary for learning new things, finding fresh ideas, and understanding how businesses are successful for many years.
• how he has been working to change his business mindset from survival mode to stability mode so he can focus on different aspects of his business.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 103

Today’s guest was named one of the Top 100 Speakers for 2018 by Inc. Magazine and was selected by Marshall Goldsmith to be in his 100 Coaches project.

She is an executive coach who helps senior executives and high potential leaders create permanent positive shifts in their leadership impact and the results they achieve, and also works with founders and CEOs to help them lead for scale.

She is a member of the Cornell Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, and is on the faculty of the “Runway” program, an accelerator which helps post-docs commercialize their research and build companies. She is an angel investor in and advisor to a number of start-ups in the US and developing countries.

Please join me in welcoming Alisa Cohn.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is all about helping people move forward and create momentum. It is not just about giving them steps toward their goal but also helping them gain the confidence to take those steps.”
• her strategies for meeting people at conferences, having the confidence to do so, and following up with them afterward.
• how working with people who are motivated and who learn how to take leaps are what motivates and inspires her.
• how her belief in herself and her confidence in her ability to figure things out are what guides her.
• her methods for networking that include listening for ways to help, and then doing the small things that make a huge difference to other people.
• her thoughts on diversity and the importance of exposing yourself to different mindsets.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 102