Jason Anello on Three Ways to Have a More Memorable Meal With Friends

In Chapter 2 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and marketing agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Are Your Favorite Ways to Share Food Adventures and Meals With Friends?" In his culinary adventures, Anello has found three ways to have a more memorable meal with friends. First is having courage to order crazy items on the menu for the table. Second is getting more people involved in the group so more food can be tried and more reactions can be observed. Third is to be spontaneous and less rigid about making dinner plans.

Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at Manifold Partners, an award-winning marketing agency. Previously, Anello worked in creative leadership roles at Yahoo!, Ogilvy & Mather, and Digitas. Passionate about food, friendship and travel, Anello also runs the Forking Tasty food blog. He earned a BFA from University at Albany. 

Cathy Erway on How to Manage Serving Others and Serving Yourself

In Chapter 15 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, author and food writer Cathy Erway answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage Serving Others and Serving Yourself in How You Live Your Life?" Erway shares how service is an important topic to keep in mind. She notes how where you choose to serve often depends on where you are in life. In her case, as a single woman with no dependents, she focuses her energy on serving others by doing things that demonstrate her caring and appreciation for the relationships.

Cathy Erway is an author, food writer, freelance copywriter, radio show host and teacher focused on healthy food advocacy. Her second book, "The Food of Taiwan: Recipes From the Beautiful Island" is a cookbook featuring Taiwanese recipes ranging from homestyle dishes to street food favorites. Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  Erway earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College. 

Phil McKenzie on Why Accountability is a Two-Step Process

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Approaches Do You Use to Hold Others Accountable For Their Actions?" McKenzie shares how he has learned from experience that accountability is a two-step process. First, it is his responsibility to clearly define project objectives and communicate this to his team. The second step is to provide space and structure to measure performance against those goals within a given timeframe. This helps keep his team on track as they work on a project and helps McKenzie provide coaching and support to make changes if things do not go as planned.

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 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 Deciding What Timeframe to Focus on at Work

In Chapter 15 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "As a Business Owner, How Do You Decide What Time Horizon to Focus on in Your Work?" Germano finds his environment dictates how he chooses to focus his time. Managing quickly changing time demands, Germano finds getting out of the office is an effective way to work through longer-term strategic goals.

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 Being Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations

In Chapter 17 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Have You Learned to Be More Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations?" Germano shares how getting comfortable being uncomfortable is something he embraces. Knowing others may see this scenario as a negative thing, Germano sees it as an opportunity where he can be at his best. He cites Robert Duvall's character Lt. Bill Kilgore from Apocalypse Now, who embraced discomfort enough to surf amidst a firefight.

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 New Career Goals Working at VICE Media

In Chapter 23 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "What Goals Are You Setting as You Look to What Comes Next in Your Career?" Germano shares how after nine years building Carrot Creative he is now shifting his attention to help VICE become a world leader in digital media and news reporting.

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 Buying a Home as a Newlywed Couple

In Chapter 3 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Did You and Your Spouse Go About the Decision to Buy Your First Home?" Gordon shares how he and his wife decided to become first-time homeowners. He notes the myth of American Dream home ownership, given the bank owns most of the home given the loans needed for financing. He and his wife look for creative ways to maintain financial freedom and buy a three-family home that can also be used as a rental property to offset mortgage costs.

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 Setting Business Goals in a Fast-Changing World

In Chapter 9 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "As a Business Owner, How Do You Decide What Time Horizon to Focus on in Your Work?" Gordon notes the challenge of planning goals in a fast-changing world where the target moves constantly. He chooses to focus his small business planning on one-year increments. Within a one-year framework, he then works on making a series of good decisions to create better outcomes.

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 Building Advanced Public Speaking Skills

In Chapter 15 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Are You Improving Your Public Speaking Skills as You Gain Experience?" After taking storytelling classes and comedy classes to improve public speaking skills, Gordon improves more by researching his audience before speaking to them. By understanding audience experience, values, needs and expectations, Gordon can tailor a presentation, speech or talk that best resonates with listeners.

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 Finding Better Ways to Help Others Learn

In Chapter 5 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "How Are You Finding Better Ways to Help Others Learn?" Teaching a class for the first time makes Stallings realize the hard work that goes into and the opporunity that comes out of designing an original class syllabus. He learns that there are ways to "chunk" the course material to make a learning connection across different types of students.

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.

Hammans Stallings: Presentation Preparation Advice for Storytellers

In Chapter 9 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "How Are You Learning to Give More Effective Presentations?" Stallings shares how making a presentation more effective starts with preparing your story so that the basic elements you are trying to share are clearly communicated. From here, Stallings finds a sincere excitement about the material elevate the storytelling process.  Doing these two things well increases the probability the audience will embrace the material, find themselves in the story, and share the message.

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.

Matt Curtis on Making a Difference by Helping Clients Solve Problems

In Chapter 11 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "On a Daily Basis, What Does It Mean to Contribute in the Work That You Do?" Curtis shares how each day his work is about helping clients around the world solve problems and preparing resources to help clients solve problems in the future. By constantly communicating with clients, he is able to address issues as they come up and gain insights on how to prepare strategies and case studies to assist them in the future.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Make Your Talk a Class You Can Teach

In Chapter 13 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How Did You Learn to Translate a Keynote Talk into a Class or Workshop?" Goswami shares how he treats his audience as co-learners going on a learning journey together with him. He builds on this by turning a one-way talk into a conversation. Working with Siminars.com, Goswami finds motivating audience members or students to do work and be active, not passive, is the start of translating talk to class or workshop. From there he adds the element of time to plan out a more formal learning journey.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Audrey French on The Best Advice to Prepare Yourself for Parenthood

In Chapter 2 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Did You Go About Seeking Advice as You Prepared for Parenthood?" French shares how after doing a lot of research she finds the best advice simply observing her best friend and how she raises her three children.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on Having a Baby at a Birthing Center and Not a Hospital

In Chapter 5 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Made You Choose to Have Your Baby at a Birthing Center and Not a Hospital?" While pregnant, French and her husband research options and decide to give birth at a birthing center instead of a hospital. She decides to have a natural birth without drugs and then she and her husband prepare for the moment by reading and taking classes.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University.