Health Care & Well-Being

Phil McKenzie on Identifying Sources of Strength and Struggle

In Chapter 20 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "At This Moment in Time, What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" McKenzie shares how friends give him strength by giving him a space of nonjudgment. He struggles with not having enough time and making sure to do the things that keep him physically and mentally healthy such as going to the gym, doing yoga, and practicing meditation.

Philip L. McKenzie is the Founder of Influencer Conference, a global content platform that brings together tastemakers in the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology to discuss influencer culture. Previously, he led an influencer marketing agency and was an equities trader at Goldman, Sachs & Co. He earned an MBA from Duke University and a BBA from Howard University.

Mike Germano: Having a Baby and Selling a Business in the Same Year

In Chapter 1 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "Since We Spoke a Year Ago, What Has Been the Most Exciting Thing to Happen in Your Life?"  In the year in between his last Capture Your Flag interview and this one, Year 5 in his career documentary, Germano shares what it was like starting a family - becoming a first-time father - and selling his business Carrot Creative to VICE Media in the same year. On top of it all, he and his business partner also invest in a pizza restaurant, Forino, giving him a place to celebrate all the positive news.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Asking for Advice Before Your First Baby is Born

In Chapter 2 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Did You Go About Seeking Advice as You Prepared for Parenthood?" Germano shares what he has learned by seeking new parent advice from his parents, in-laws and even old professors. As an entrepreneur, he gets insight on ways to carve out time with a newborn amidst a busy work travel schedule. He also benefits from a role model father who sets an example he can follow on his own parenting journey.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Setting Aspirations as a New Father

In Chapter 3 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "To What Do You Aspire as a Father?" Germano shares how he aspires to be a supportive, encouraging father who pushes his son, and hopefully future children, to be the best they can be. He builds upon the support received from his own parents to look for ways to get behind his child's passions and help them learn and grow.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on How Parents React to Becoming Grandparents

In Chapter 4 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Have Your Parents Transitioned into Becoming Grandparents?" The oldest of three siblings, Germano is the first child in his family to have a baby. His parents, both Italian-American, react with joy and pour their love into their new grandson.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Balancing Service and Self to Live a Fuller Life

In Chapter 5 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Are You Learning to Better Balance Service and Self in How You Live Your Life?" Germano shares just how much changed in his life when he learned his wife was pregnant with their first child. He notes how before it had been about serving others and then, with the baby on the way, it made him realize he needed to take care of himself. This meant putting family first and making time away from the office. It also meant putting a higher priority on eating healthier and exercising more regularly. He notes how selling his business helped give him financial freedom to better balance work and home and, with this, actually be able to give more at work each day.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Debunking the Business is a Family Myth

In Chapter 6 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Was Creating a Company Like Building a Family?" Germano often hears how building a company is like raising a family. He disagrees and debunks the "business as family" myth, noting that while you can pivot from a business model or stop a business you cannot stop a family.  He notes while you can fire employees you can never fire your kids. Germano notes that, yes, caring is a part of both, however family decisions and business decisions have very different contexts.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano: Building a Business Based on Trust

In Chapter 16 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Germano shares how he has built his business and his future based on trust. He finds he can identify whether or not someone is trustworthy in a short conversation. He looks for life examples and an overall sense of energy indicators in those three minutes. He also reminds himself that trust is mutual and that trusting someone else requires earning their trust as well.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Knowing When to Concede and When to Confront

In Chapter 18 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "What Has Experience Taught You About How to Better Manage Confrontation?" Germano shares how he is better at working through larger confrontations. He struggles with smaller confrontations, where he often gives in to appease the other side. Larger conflicts, however, motivate him to stand up for his team and work to win for his side. Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Jullien Gordon on Rethinking Career as an Expecting Father

In Chapter 1 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "Since We Last Spoke a Year Ago, What Has Been the Most Exciting Thing to Happen in Your Life?" Gordon shares the big news that he and his wife will be expecting their first baby in six months. Preparing to be a first-time father pushes Gordon to re-evaluate his life and the role he wants to play as a parent and working dad.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Shifting Priorities to Put Family First

In Chapter 2 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing As You Get Older?" Gordon shares how being married for over two years has taught him the importance of putting his wife first and prioritizing family over work. Building the bonds of marriage with his wife opens Gordon's eyes to be less independent and to serve his wife as a husband.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Learning to Leave Work at Work

In Chapter 4 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "What Have You Learned About Managing Expectations at Home While Building a Business?" Gordon shares how he decided to stop working from home and get an office. He shares how he uses the office space to create a boundary between work and home so he can be more present at night with his wife and focus on her and not work.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon: 3 Ways to Define and Measure Personal Achievement

In Chapter 5 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Do You Define and Measure Success in What You Do?" Gordon defines and measures success, personally and professionally, through his alignment of purpose, passion, and profit. He shares how tools such as a gratitude journal keep him aligned with purpose and self-aware of how he embraces his passion in his work. He measures profit by assessing not only financial statements but also how he stays in touch with friends.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on What It Means to Contribute at Work Each Day

In Chapter 7 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "On a Daily Basis, What Does It Mean to Contribute in the Work That You Do?" Gordon approaches making a daily contribution from the mindset of being a profitable employee who gives more than he or she takes. He looks for daily ways to make contributions with his clients and in his community. He finds little things you do can also go a long way to helping others and helping yourself.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Investing in Coaches to Improve Life and Career

In Chapter 8 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Gordon shares how investing in coaches has helped him personally and professionally. Professionally, Gordon hires a marketing coach to get clear on his audience and better understand their needs. Personally, Gordon and his wife invest in a relationship coach to help them identify, set and achieve goals and priorities as a married couple.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Committing to Help an Alcoholic Family Member

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Do You Measure the Quality of Relationships in Your Life?" Gordon shares how he measures relationships based on deep or frequent contact. He notes how he has reprioritized the relationship he has with his mother, a recovering alcoholic. Going through Al-Anon, a program for relatives of alcoholics, Gordon realizes he can do more than hand off responsibility to his mom's Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsor. He chooses to make a daily commitment to call his mom each day and be there for her on her recovery journey.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Jullien Gordon on Identifying Sources of Strength and Struggle

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "At This Moment in Time, What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" As an expecting father, Gordon shares how his wife is a source of strength for both business and family. Gordon struggles with the isolation and loneliness of entrepreneurship. He looks to how thought leaders such as Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Jay-Z have benefitted from the power of two. He turns his attention to finding a business partner who can provide accountability and motivation to raise his game and bring out his best.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Hammans Stallings on How to Handle Confrontation

In Chapter 11 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "What Has Experience Taught You About How to Better Manage Confrontation?" Stallings shares how handling confrontation is first about understanding the process is grey, not black and white. Second, it is about embracing the friction that comes with confrontation and using that to find a win-win outcome that makes the conflict worth addressing.

Hammans Stallings is a Principal Strategist at frog design. Previously Stallings worked in strategy at Dell and investment banking at Stephens. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, a MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas and a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia.