Today’s guest says the pendulum has swung too far in the direction of superficial online communications.

He spotted the real-time marketing revolution in its infancy and wrote five books about it including “The New Rules of Marketing and PR,” with over 400,000 copies sold in English and also available in 29 languages from Albanian to Vietnamese.

In 2002, his entrepreneurial journey began when his ideas were a little too radical for his bosses so he started writing books, speaking at events, and advising emerging companies.

He recognizes how tech-weary and bot-wary people are hungry for true human connection. He developed a winning strategy, called a Fanocracy, helping organizations tap into the mindset that relationships with customers are more important than the products they sell to them.

Please join me in welcoming David Meerman Scott.  

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is a person who is able to see patterns that other people don’t see and is able to then articulate them in a way that inspires people to change.”
• his passion, you might even say obsession, for live music.
• how he took a job offer to move to Tokyo at 26 and where he has gone from there.
• his decision to not hire any employees and how he has managed at least 50 speaking gigs a year for 13 years without employees.
• why he values authentic connection and how he connects with others.
• his newest book, “Fanocracy,” which was written with his daughter.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 176

Today’s guest is an award-winning journalist who has interviewed them all, from k.d. lang, Jennifer Beals, Ruby Rose, to Martina Navratilova.

With a career spanning over a decade in broadcast radio, she has been featured on two breakfast shows in Australia and is currently a host on three podcasts. Most recently, she launched “The Ginni Show: Curry, Comedy, and Connectivity.” It invites listeners to follow the hilarious journey of a young Sri Lankan gay immigrant woman growing up in Australia.

She is the founder of a boutique podcast production company serving the vision of entrepreneurs, celebrities, and influential organizations around the world to help ensure voices are heard where they need to be.

Please join me in welcoming Ginni Saraswati.  

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “To me, there are two facets of leadership. One is understanding that you are the last of the line, everything falls to you, and that you have some accountability to the organization. The other part is knowing when you need to follow and trust. Leaders empower the people following them.”
• how she was called bossy as a kid but has refined her ego and leadership and shifted her mindset to understanding that she works for her team, instead of the other way around.
• the significant move from Sri Lanka to Melbourne, Australia and how that shaped her.
• the best friend she met in 9th grade and the influence her friend has had on her.
• how her radio journey started in the corporate landscape before she took on the entrepreneur world.
• her unique methods for networking which emphasizes care.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 175

Today’s guest has a soft spot for the under-served and under-represented in the high-tech community.

Founder of Carlton PR and Marketing, Innovation Nights, and Innovation Women, she has been called Boston’s Innovation Den Mother and the Startup Fairy Godmother. She has helped more than 1,400 new products launch and has connected more than 1,000 women to speaking engagements.

A speaker herself, she regularly presents on PR, social media, community building, product launches, public speaking, and women’s issues. Her work has been acknowledged by many institutions, including in 2017 when PR News called her a Gamechanger.

Please join me in welcoming Bobbie Carlton.  

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “I think leaders are actually community builders, focused on bringing people together to do more than they can on their own."
• how she came into her current role and why she doesn’t see herself as a leader.
• her views on being known for something in order to help your business grow.
• the need she saw, how she set up crowdfunding, and how that helped her grow.
• how she handles being an introvert who is social and see the value in engaging people.
• her unique way of connecting people, above and beyond most.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 174

Today’s guest is known as a communication connoisseur because he’s obsessed with all aspects of communication.

Whether it was CB radios and computer bulletin board systems when he was a kid, majoring in radio and television broadcasting in college, or majoring in business marketing in university - it’s always been about communication for him. Add in that he’s an improv performer who graduated from studying improv comedy with The Second City in Toronto... his top Strength’s Finder personality assessment theme is… you guessed it Communication.

It makes sense then that his mission is teaching fast-growing companies on how to improve communication to build strong cultures. He does this as a keynote speaker, author, and consultant.

He is the founder of Futureforth, a marketing communications firm and also Networking for Nice People, an online community and resource to improve professional networking efforts. He captured best practices in his book, “New Business Networking: How to Effectively Grow Your Business Network Using Online and Offline Methods.”

Please join me in welcoming Dave Delaney.  

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is about listening first and leading with empathy, and being accepting of new ideas.”
• how he founded and started two unconferences and two meetups to support the community and connect with people after moving to Nashville from Toronto.
• the through-line of all of his work and how he decided to leave the corporate world and launch Futureforth.
• his unique networking and marketing strategies that have significantly impacted his life along the way.
• his networking manifesto.
• the three key points of networking he teaches.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 173

Today’s guest is seasoned in leading difficult conversations on race, class, and gender, by doing so she helps build resilient, equitable, and inclusive organizations.

She has over 20 years of experience creating, leading and managing international, multicultural teams through major organizational changes in over 40 countries.

She designed and administered more than 150 global programs that directly engaged 500,000 people into action and almost one million people indirectly through the creation of global strategies. In addition, she also led one of the largest Humanitarian Grants programs in the country while working at Rotary International.

As a nonprofit consultant and facilitator, she believes that to create work of depth and meaning, leaders need to fully engage both their creativity and their intellect. Through her company, Adaway Group, she helps organizations make full use of both abilities to create strong narratives that showcase not just the data, but the story behind the data.

Please join me in welcoming Desiree Adaway.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is moving that which is on the margins to the center.”
• her early experiences in leadership and how she feels she was born with a natural ability and right to step up and lead.
• how she gave herself five years to get her business off the ground, and just celebrated her 9th anniversary as an entrepreneur.
• how networking helped her create a strong foundation of support before she started her own business.
• her work today around inclusion and diversity in the workplace.
• why she does not have employees on purpose.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 172

Today’s guest has over thirty years of experience in public speaking, yet used to be the shyest kid in her class. She is the CEO of ACE Public Speaking, which is an online & experiential platform for training in communication, presentation and public speaking skills both for adults & kids.

She is a multi-talented professional who consults with companies and organizations to help them generate revenue through business development and marketing. She also owns a couture fine jewelry company and her jewelry has been worn by royalty and celebrities and is sold in luxury stores like Neiman Marcus. Prior to this, she worked at IBM, KPMG & Cartier.

Philanthropically, she has been involved with organizations such as UN Women, The Resolution Project, and is currently on the executive committee of the Gender Equality Foundation.

Please join me in welcoming Jyoti Singhvi.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Having a vision for a certain type of scenario and being able to mobilize yourself and those around you to achieve that goal.”
• how she was very shy until 4th grade when her principal asked her to audition for a play.
• how she has taken her transformation from shyness and now helps other people overcome their shyness as well.
• her jewelry business and how she brought something different to it through storytelling.
• the confidence she has in reaching out to other people, no matter their title, and some of the success stories that have come from that.
• her public speaking programs that build into relationship-building programs.

 Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 171

Today’s guest has dedicated his life to the idea that escapism is one of the single most important elements of what makes us human.

As an award-winning veteran of the music industry, his expertise ranges from being a drummer and producer to an artist development and label founder. In his ground-breaking music tech consulting business, he worked with Aerosmith, the Stones, Ringo Starr, Elton John, and Sting.

He is the author of three books, the Founder of Audio One, and the CEO of Frangioni Media and All Access IDA. He recently became the Publisher of Modern Drummer Magazine, the world’s number one drumming publication.

Please join me in welcoming David Frangioni.  

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “The definition of leadership is taking charge, taking responsibility for all of the steps and being what you want to see in the rest of the team.”
• how having supportive, giving, and hard-working parents helped him not only go through some traumatic experiences but also inspired him into success.
• his journey into building Audio One, which began with him learning how to drum at 8 years old.
• his methods for staying in touch with people through a myriad of ways, but always focusing on serving others.
• where his business is now, including mentoring people.
• how he has taken over as publisher for Modern Drumming and what he expects to accomplish over the next year.

 Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 170

Today’s guest teaches people how to make first impressions count.

As a keynote speaker and corporate trainer, she helps individuals and organizations discover how people make up their minds very quickly and empowers them to influence the success of their own careers.

She uses her extensive expertise and multicultural background to work for companies, professionals, and politicians whose first impressions are important. She uses a cutting-edge approach and a competitive mindset to take her audiences on an entertaining journey to reveal how the world sees them and how to leverage it for their success.

She is the author of “Image of Leadership,” the creator of How You Impress, and the co-owner of the Studio for Image Professionals.

Please join me in welcoming Sylvie di Giusto.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “In addition to kindness and care, which should be basic traits, respect is the most crucial aspect of leadership to bring to the table. Respect for yourself, for others, and for the responsibility that is given to you.”
• how she recognized the importance of self-care first because “the moment you take care of yourself, people believe you have the ability to take care of them too.”
• what it means to be a second role leader and why it is valuable.
• how she knew she wanted to move to the United States when she was 5 years old and the incredible story of how that happened for her.
• the greatest gift she has ever received, in the form of words from a leader.
• the unique way she starts her speeches and the science behind it.

 Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 169

Today’s guest doesn’t waste time, doesn’t mess around, and doesn’t quit until her clients get results.

TV show host and author of “Mingle to Millions” and “Lead or be Led,” she is an all-around business building guerilla marketer and business strategist.

Her entrepreneur journey began when she was eight years old and she has a unique position on how purpose-driven marketing helps her provide clients with a way to win in all markets, including the ultra-competitive ones.

She is an international keynote speaker and has delivered over 1,000 presentations to audiences as large as 30,000 and she loves to share the experience she’s gained working with thousands of people to help them attract clients instead of chasing them. She built her business the exact same way she teaches others to build theirs.

Please join me in welcoming Cami Baker.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “To me, there are four pillars of leadership. You have to know how to lead yourself first. Then, you have to lead the movement. Then, lead the room. And lastly, lead the conversation.”
• how her leadership skills began when she was 8 years old and started selling gum at school.
• her tips for standing out in huge industries using simple and thoughtful methods.
• the common phrase that makes people appear average, normal, and forgettable, and why you should not use it anymore.
• the archetypes of people at a networking event.
• how to get other people to share your content using a passion they can get behind.
• her shift on sponsorship and how she wants to make an impact with it over the next year.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 168

Today’s guest is known as The Pitch Whisperer because he helps sales teams become revenue rock stars. After hearing him speak, they know how to form an emotional connection and a compelling sales story with their clients.

In his keynote speeches, he shares lessons learned from his award-winning sales career at Conde Nast. His TEDx talk “Be The Lifeguard of Your Own Life!” has over a million views.

He is the author of “The Successful Pitch: Conversations About Going from Invisible to Investable” and recently released “Better Selling Through Storytelling: The Essential Roadmap to Becoming a Revenue Rockstar.”

He is host of The Successful Pitch podcast, heard in over 60 countries. His listeners love him because they know he has been in their shoes.

He is also Co-Founder and CMO of QuantmRE, a blockchain real estate company.

Please join me in welcoming John Livesay.  

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “I see leadership as someone who can rally people around a single vision. For me, leadership is the ability to tell stories that draw people in because they are able to understand your story.”
• how his sales experience started in Silicon Valley and then moved to Conde Nast.
• how he started his entrepreneurial journey after winning Salesperson of the Year while at Conde Nast and where he has gone with this.
• his methods of staying connected with people by sharing articles.
• how important storytelling is in sales and networking.
• the four parts to a story, to help you tell stories that draw people in.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 167

Today’s guest is a skilled and passionate community advocate.

She is a breast cancer survivor turned advocate who launched the Asian Breast Cancer Project in 2010. The ABC Project gives Asian women access to resources, education, and support during and after traumatic and difficult cancer treatments.

Motivated to lead through her own cancer experience, she continues to participate in local and national efforts on health policy affecting the Asian community. She founded Asian Women for Health, a peer-led, community-based network in 2012. Her remarkable passion for supporting her community has changed the healthcare landscape for Asian women and created a pipeline of future leaders and peer health educators.

Her efforts have been recognized numerous times, including being named one of the most influential people of color in Life Science and Healthcare in 2017 and receiving The Laurel of Community Service Award from the Cancer Prevention Foundation in 2019.

Please join me in welcoming Chien-Chi Huang.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “A great leader should have the ability to bring people together and move them toward common goals. See from your head, speak from your heart, and support others with your whole being.”
• how she was a natural leader even in childhood, organizing the neighborhood kids.
• her experience with breast cancer and how it catapulted her into the work she does now.
• some of the hurdles she faced when starting a nonprofit.
• how her name became known in her network as a verb meaning “to connect people.”
• her role as someone who bridges the gap between the Asian community and others, and what that means to her.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 166

For today’s guest, the joy in real estate sales is forging genuine relationships with her clients.

Since 2010, she’s worked closely with home buyers and sellers of all stages of life, guiding them to intelligent, winning decisions. She’s closed over $100 million in sales in nine years and 85% percent of her business is from referrals or repeat clients.

I’ve mentioned more than once on this show how I have had less than stellar encounters with pushy real estate professionals whose marketing strategies can best be described as spray and pray. Their whole focus giving me their business card and getting mine so they can send me spam email. That’s why I’m thrilled to interview today’s guest because she exemplifies what is possible in real estate when the focus is relationship-building and not the sale.

Please join me in welcoming Melony Swasey.  

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “What makes someone a leader is their ability to listen and pay attention. The way I think about it and appreciate it best is to listen deeply.”
• what it was like being the 7th out of 8 siblings and how taking care of her younger brother gave her a sense of responsibility from a young age.
• how she came to value quality because of her parents and how quality and leadership go together.
• how she built a highly successful real estate business during “the worst possible time” in 2008.
• some of the struggles she has faced in developing a business without a blueprint.
• her incredible networking strategies and mindsets.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 165

Today’s guest has been talking about Social Business before it even had a name and views social media as an excellent way to tear down silos, build strong communities, and connect people face-to-face.

He is the founder of a digital strategy agency, called From the Future. As a recognized expert strategist, he helps his clients see frameworks rather than supplying them with templates, scripts, and tactics.

He engages audiences as a keynote speaker, cutting through BS and not pulling punches. Everything he talks about puts an intense focus on business applications designed to ensure that everyone wins.

He is also the host of Shareable, a popular podcast about people and technology. He explores the pivotal moments in people’s lives where a person or technology had a profound impact on them, forever shifting the direction of their career and life.

His forthcoming book, which discusses his loveable leader framework, is called “The Loveable Leader.”

Please join me in welcoming Jeff Gibbard.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership at its very core is just the ability for someone to follow you. It’s an amoral framework at its core. What makes a great leader is how you see yourself in the context of the people you work with.”
• advice he received from his dad that helped him when he was thinking about careers.
• his goals as a leader, including providing an inclusive environment that supports people exactly as they are.
• how everything for him, in terms of building networks, starts and ends with generosity.
• his desire to help connect people to each other and his belief that all efforts will be reciprocal in some manner.
• how he values networking and what his habits are.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 164

Today’s guest helps people unleash their creativity by banishing their inner critic and hacking their creative brains.

She is a keynote speaker, author, and creativity evangelist who consults with companies worldwide. As the founder and CEO of The Creative Dose, she uses research-backed data, vivid storytelling, and experiential exercises to give people an injection of inspiration and immediately applicable tools to help them do their best work.

Author of “Banish Your Inner Critic,” a premier handbook on silencing fears to unleash creativity,  she has presented at organizations like Google, Facebook, GitHub, the BBC, and TEDxRheinMain.

In her previous life, she was in the Web Design and Development industry and is the author of “The CSS Detective Guide.”

Please join me in welcoming Denise Jacobs.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Being a leader and leadership is about having a vision, seeing what needs to be done, and understanding how to go about it. You won’t always have all the answers but leaders have the clarity of seeing the path.”
• how she embraced being a leader when she was in high school and ran for student council.
• her experience with seeing women in leadership roles in college, and how that helped shape her view of leaders.
• how she got into computers and technology, learned them, and then discovered her passion for helping others.
• the journey that took her to establish herself as a sought-after speaker.
• how speaking has influenced her life, including giving her the opportunity to speak in place of Brené Brown.
• her methods for maintaining connections, using strategic serendipity.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 163

Today’s guest is an immigrant who went from incredible poverty to founding a multi-million dollar business.

She was born in an orphanage in Mexico and her first shot out of poverty was an opportunity to play basketball for the Mexican National Team - a shot she missed because she had broken her collarbone. Undeterred, she managed to immigrate to the United States on a basketball scholarship.

With a college degree in hand, but no job to be found, she found herself living on the streets during a snowy winter. A condition so familiar that she didn’t realize she was homeless. A friend saw her and gave her a place to stay.

Weeks later, she entered a Fresh Salsa competition, won unanimously, and received $800 to start a natural salsa and dips company. Which she grew into a multi-million dollar business within four years, with products distributed across 38 states to major supermarkets like Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, Whole Foods, and many more.

At the height of its success in 2015, she sold her company to Campbell’s and then went to Mexico and rescued 31 orphaned children from a drug cartel.

Please join me in welcoming Magie Cook.

Would you leave an honest rating and review on Apple Podcast? Or Stitcher? They are extremely helpful and I read each and every one of them. Thanks for the inspiration!

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “The secret to great leadership is great empathy. When you can be empathetic over people and really care about them, they really respond differently.”
• some of her experiences growing up in an orphanage in Mexico, and how a basketball scholarship to the United States began her journey to a new life.
• her experience with homelessness and how winning $800 in a random salsa competition catapulted her to significant business success.
• the mindsets she has adopted that make her an incredible inspiration.
• the aha moment she experienced in her salsa business.
• how she built her business on her own and now helps other people, even competitors because she values collaboration.
• how she got into speaking, what she has learned, and where she is going with it.
• the correlation between sex trafficking, supply and demand, forgiveness, and collaboration.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 162

Today’s guest is the world’s first Humor Engineer, teaching people how to get better results while using humor and having more fun.

While working in the corporate world, he observed how using humor at work helped him be more effective with the hardest thing he had to manage: fellow human beings. He discovered that research shows that people who use humor well get promoted, make more money, are more productive, and enjoy their work more. He left the corporate position and started his own company, Humor That Works.

He has worked with thousands of people at over 250 organizations, including P&G, Microsoft, and the International Association of Canine Professionals. He is a best-selling author, has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and FastCompany, and his TEDx talk on humor has been viewed more than 4 million times.

Please join me in welcoming Andrew Tarvin.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not a position or title you have but rather an attitude in action. It’s you actually out there doing something.”
• how he got into improv.
• his analytical and conscious process for moving away from PNG and into his own business.
• his three steps for having a conversation with anyone.
• how he follows up with people to keep relationships strong.
• the tools he has gained for being an introvert who enjoys connecting to other people.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 161

Today’s guest is helping humanity prepare for an increasingly tech-driven future by helping businesses make better human experiences.

With over twenty years of experience helping some of the world’s leading companies innovate, launch, grow, and matter to the people they serve, she is a consultant NS keynote speaker.

She speaks on how data and emerging technologies are shaping the future of human experiences and has written several books, her most recent was “Tech Humanist: How You Can Make Technology Better for Business and Better for Humans.”

Among her prior roles, she was one of the first 100 employees at Netflix and she led one of the first digital strategy and analytics agencies.

Please join me in welcoming Kate O’Neill.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is doing what’s needed and fulfilling the obligation of the moment. It’s knowing there is a responsibility that needs to be taken or a direction that needs to be set and then just doing it.”
• how her love of business and networking started early when she helped her mom at Chamber of Commerce events.
• how her love of programming and her love of writing were apparent from a very young age. She won a programming contest and a writing contest in first grade.
• her thoughts on failure and the purpose it serves.
• a reframe she offers on what most people would deem an overuse of technology.
• her love of augmented reality, serendipity, and meaning and how it all intersects.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 160

Today’s guest has been called the best-connected Silicon Valley figure you’ve never heard of.

She is a veteran editor, curator, content strategist, and connector of people and ideas. Her passion for all forms of communication has carried her for over thirty years in the technology business as a writer, editor, and communications pro, with long stints at Google and Twitter.

Her avocation is connecting people, which led her to write, “Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert’s Guide to Making Connections Count.”  True to her introvert nature, she’s more likely to be connecting from the comfort of her laptop than working a room at conferences.

Please join me in welcoming Karen Wickre.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is someone of good counsel. Someone who knows how to counsel in a good way.”
• how she was the informer in her friend group.
• her willingness to take big leaps and how that got her started in the technology industry.
• some of her experiences in Silicon Valley, especially through career changes.
• her thoughts about networking, and her natural ability to connect with others.
• what it looks like for her to be a convener.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 159

Today’s guest is a sought-after speaker who has shared the platform with everyone from today’s business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.

A prolific author of books on sales, marketing, and influence, for years he was best known for his book “Endless Referrals” - that is until he released “The Go-Giver” a business parable he co-authored. It joined The Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Bestseller lists, sold over 850,000 copies, has been translated into 28 languages, and inspired a book series. The most recent parable in the Go-Giver Series is The Go-Giver Influencer.

The American Management Association named him one of the Top 30 Leaders in Business and he was named one of the Top 200 Most Influential Authors in the World by Richtopia.

Please join me in welcoming Bob Burg.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is indeed moving people to the desired action but doing so in a way that you tie your goal into theirs.”
• how he handled learning his first role in sales, and then his first role in leadership.
• the emphasis he and many other leaders place on pull instead of push.
• his view on how we are responsible to people but not responsible for people.
• the difference between manipulation and persuasion.
• three different surprises he has experienced with reciprocity.
• his tips for what does work for networking at events.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 158

Today’s guest helps people shift the way they perceive and respond to change and adversity, helping them to see opportunities instead of obstacles.

After a devastating accident that left her a quadriplegic and dependent on a wheelchair at 12 years old, she learned the true meaning of resilience. Instead of slowing down, she has used her life experience and personal philosophies to become Australia’s leading keynote speaker and facilitator on resilience. She helps corporate leaders be their best in challenging times.

She is the author of “How To Be Resilient” and is frequently featured in national media for her insights on resilience in the workplace.

Her “say yes and figure out how later” approach to life has helped her achieve remarkable feats like starring in a feature film with no acting experience, competing at a national level in para-athletics after 22 years on the sidelines, and running for parliament.

Please join me in welcoming Stacey Copas.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is being energy rather than a title. It is creating a space to strike a balance between meeting big picture objectives while also helping to facilitate the growth and aspirations of a team.”
• how she worked through significant adversity and “little old me” syndrome to become who she is today.
• her proverbial “fork in the road” moment.
• how she has naturally networked, doing things like hosting a monthly barbeque and how LinkedIn has been central to her business growth.
• her thoughts about diversity and its importance.
• how gratitude has been a central part of her business and what she is doing to help others find it.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 157

Today’s guest has comedy, storytelling, and strategy in her DNA.

When she was eight years old, her first oral presentation was about Harold Lloyd, Hollywood’s premier comic stuntman and director of the silent film era. Even better, she admits that she mimed and her comedy and storytelling nerd superpowers were visible from space.

She is a keynote speaker, strategist, comedian, and author of several books including, “Stop Boring Me! How to Create Kick-Ass Marketing Content, Products and Ideas Through the Power of Improv.” She is the founder of Keeping it Human, Inc.

Believing we are all wired for creativity, she is passionate about helping teams, leaders, and brands tell human stories, banishes boring marketing, develops great culture, and unleash their creativity for big ideas and results.

Please join me in welcoming Kathy Klotz-Guest.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to evolve your own thinking, whether you have a team or not. I think there is a self-management aspect of it.”
• how business storytelling and comedy are alike.
• her experience with being selected for the debate team in high school and having a mom to advocate for her leadership capabilities.
• when she decided to leave for the corporate world to pursue comedy.
• how she gained referrals to help get rid of any blind spots she had in her business.
• her love of networking and how she leans into serendipitous meetings at networking events.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 156

Today’s guest understands the importance of referrals and networking.

His company, Referral Coach International, helps people and businesses who want to acquire more clients and customers through word of mouth, referrals, and personal introduction. His goal is to help people increase their revenue without having to increase their marketing expenses.

After building and selling two successful businesses, he has turned his attention to relationship marketing strategies and is a founding member of the Million Dollar Speakers Group. He is the author of three books, “Get More Referrals Now,” “Don’t Keep Me a Secret,” and “Beyond Referrals,” and he is working on his fourth book, called “Radical Relevance.”

When he’s not busy at work he enjoys adventure and has trekked through the Himalayas, reached the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, and has camped in the Arctic Circle.

Please join me in welcoming Bill Cates.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “True leadership comes from confidence, being controlling comes from a place of insecurity.”
• how he views leadership as a balance between giving and supporting, a term he calls leadership and followership.
• his natural leading abilities and the realizations around ego and personal growth that has shaped his leadership capabilities.
• limiting beliefs he overcame to find success.
• his habits for staying connected and networking with others.
• how he builds a culture of referrals, introductions, and connections.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 155

Today’s guest says if you had asked her former lawyer self if she imagined herself in the career she has today, the likely response would have been: “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”

Speaker and author of the “Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships in a Hyper-Connected World,” she has been lauded from Forbes to Fast Company for her networking skills and Twitter acumen.

Her entire career story is a networked one, from her first career as a lawyer to being invited to join non-profit and startup boards, to dine with Malala, and then to writing her book and so much more.

She believes success is not simply a question of what you know, how hard you work, or even who you have the good fortune of bumping into. Instead, she believes success in a hyper-connected world comes down to who knows what you know.

Please join me in welcoming J. Kelly Hoey.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is not being afraid of other people’s success and helping others reach their potential.”
• her first mentor when she began practicing law, and how he lead in a way that ingrained in her a desire to excel, to be better, and created fierce loyalty.
• how she has always been career focused but is finally in the career she loves now.
• the benefit of handing out name tags at an event.
• her emphasis on showing up and being engaged while also maintaining diverse networks.
• how she shows people what she does instead of just telling them.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 154

Today’s guest is an Emergency Crisis & International Trauma Recovery Coach.

She has over three decades of experience in trauma-informed care working with families, institutions, and organizations in the aftermath of crisis situations and traumatic life events. She provides emergency crisis, international trauma recovery, behavioral management, and executive coaching.

She is the Founder and CEO of Eyes of Power, a certified minority and woman-owned company dedicated to creating visions that help others take leaps in their personal and professional lives.

Her personal history with trauma inspired her to create culturally-competent tools that meet her clients where they are. In addition to being a contributing author to several books, she is writing a book to share her story and make these tools available to more people.

Please join me in welcoming Desheen L. Evans.

In this episode we discuss:

• her thoughts on leadership: “I look at leadership like it’s a banana, you have to peel it back to eat it. There are actual steps you have to take to get to leadership.”
• her belief that there is no such thing as a one-person leader.
• all of her work with trauma-informed care and meeting people exactly where they are.
• her new training program, The Lens of Trauma, and how she is working to help people view trauma differently.
• how she has a habit of purposely making one person smile every day.
• her insights on connecting with others and the go-getter part of her personality that has helped her make significant professional advancements.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 153

Today’s guest is on a mission to fix the way we work at work. He specializes in helping organizations apply behavioral science to strengthen the way leaders train, support, and empower their teams for success.

An award-winning educational leader and researcher, he has earned accolades from Fortune 500 executives to NFL coaches for his forward-thinking approach to improving organizational culture and effectiveness.

The author of “The Feedback Fix,” he offers a radical alternative to traditional feedback techniques and performance management practices. He distills vast bodies of research-based practice into actionable insights that make an immediate difference in how people work, learn, and lead. His work has caught the attention of Marshall Goldsmith and Adam Grant, the latter called him a “breath of fresh air.”

Please join me in welcoming Joe Hirsch.

In this episode we discuss:

• his thoughts on leadership: “Leadership is the ability to listen and learn. Those two qualities define the way leaders interact with everyone around them and they also define relationships and the tone of the organization as a whole.”
• how he learned the value of listening and learning when you are a leader.
• the importance of leaders holding up mirrors and creating a space for people to learn who they are.
• why he values being a learn-it-all over being a know-it-all.
• his favorite role in his work, where he gets to see the light bulb click for people.
• his method of networking and how he has incorporated a spreadsheet to help him keep in touch.

Listen, subscribe and read show notes at www.OnTheSchmooze.com - episode 152