How to Find a Small Business Lawyer - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 3 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Should Small Business Owners Consider When Choosing a Lawyer?"  She begins by advising small business owners to avoid going to court due to personal and financial costs and stresses.  She recommends using online resources and personal recommendations to identify lawyers and check specialty, references, and rates.  Use this approach to find the right lawyer given the issues you need to address.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hiring a Talent Agent to Negotiate TV Show Terms - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 15 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Value Does an Agent Bring When Pitching a Television Show?"  Elliot notes the invaluable role her agent has played in negotiating talent fee, wardrobe, hair and makeup, travel, hotel, hours worked, etc.  She notes the importance of having someone on her side to ensure she can stay balanced between running her business and filming the show.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Stacie Bloom on How to Write a More Effective Grant Proposal

In Chapter 14 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Stacie Grossman Bloom answers "Through Your Experience, What Lessons Have You Learned About Writing More Effective Grant Proposals?" She finds the best grant proposals are the ones that tell the best stories. She notes grant writing is a skill that can be learned. Bloom notes the importance of using both resource centers as well as doing outreach to the grant organizations to assess fit in advance of writing the proposal. Grossman Bloom is the Executive Director at the NYU Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. Previously, she was VP and Scientific Director at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). She earned her PhD in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at Georgetown University and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York City. She earned her BA in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Delaware.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen: Through your experience, what lessons have you learned about writing more effective grant proposals?

Stacie Grossman Bloom: I would say that the best grant proposals are the ones that tell the best stories. And grant writing is a really important skill. You know, some people have it and some people don’t and if you don’t have it, you can absolutely learn it, but you should go out and learn it. You know, we have in New York City, and a lot of cities have a foundation center. We have one on lower Fifth Avenue. They’re amazing, they have free workshops that talk about how to write grants and there are a lot of good resources out there. Another thing that I’ve learned that is important about grant writing is not to be afraid to pick up the phone. So, often, you know, you’re submitting a grant, you are submitting it to someone somewhere, don’t be scared to call that person and say, “hey, look, I’m scoping this out, do you think this is a good fit for you?” Don’t waste your time writing a grant when someone is just going to say no. And, nine times out of ten the person on the other end of the phone is going to be really happy to talk to you, even if that person is at the National Science Foundation.

How to Evaluate Potential Investors - Slava Rubin

In Chapter 9 of 12 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, IndieGoGo co-founder and entrepreneur Slava Rubin answers "What Criteria Are You Using to Evaluate Potential Investors?" First, Rubin notes the importance of aligning ambition and goals. Second, he looks for more than money with investors. With finding money getting easier, Rubin looks for investors who have contacts, expertise, and experience that can help the company improve and grow. Rubin is co-founder and CEO of IndieGoGo.com, a crowdfunding startup whose platform helps individuals and groups finance their passions. Before IndieGoGo, Rubin worked in management consulting for Diamond Consulting, now a PWC company. Rubin founded and manages non-profit Music Against Myeloma to raise funds and awareness to fight cancer. He earned a BBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  What criteria are you using to evaluate potential investors?

Slava Rubin:  No matter who you’re trying to add in to the business, whether it be employees, or partners, or investors, it’s really important that it all has alignment as to what you’re trying to accomplish, right?  So you have a shared vision, you have a shared understanding as to what our goals are as a company.  Regarding investors, specifically, it’s a classic saying ‘you want to find more than just money’ or sometimes they call it ‘dumb money’ or ‘smart money’.  It’s becoming easier and easier to find the cash, whether it be credit cards, or loans, or IndieGoGo, or one off angels, or dentists, or lawyers, but really what you wanna find is folks that can give you advice based on their experience as running companies before, or maybe they have the right network for your industry to get you certain business development relationships, or certain distribution deals, or certain partnerships; or maybe they have expertise in areas that your founding team or your small team doesn’t have yet, whether it be in technology, or sales, or operations, or maybe scaling the company.  

So what we look for when we talk to investors is always about, you know, what is your participation going to be with us and how can we work together to make the company better.  It’s also – it’s just always very important as a default that we’re all on the same page as to what we’re starting to accomplish.  Some investors are looking in to only create billion-dollar companies, and some investors are looking to create ten-million-dollar companies and sell them.  So you just need to make sure that everybody is on the same page as to what we’re all trying to accomplish.

How to Expand Business Operations Internationally - Richard Moross

In Chapter 12 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Moo.com CEO and London entrepreneur Richard Moross answers "What Criteria Did You Use When Considering an International Expansion?" Moross notes an early relationship with Flickr enabled a global presence, setting the stage for international operations expansion. Driving factors include developing a local presence for improved customer service, environmental factors, cost efficiencies, and having the right people in place to do the job. Moross is founder and CEO of Moo.com. Before starting Moo.com, an award-winning online print business, Moross was a senior design strategist at Imagination, the world's largest independent design company. He graduated from the University of Sussex, where he majored in philosophy and politics.

How Educator Plans Career Aspirations - Lauren Serota

In Chapter 1 of 18 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, interaction designer and researcher Lauren Serota shares her aspirations. She always wanted to live in Austin and be an educator, but learns that to be a great educator it is critical to be a practitioner as well. She pursues her goals that then allow her to move to Austin to work and teach in design. Serota is an interaction designer at frog design - http://frogdesign.com - and a professor at the Austin Center for Design - http://ac4d.com . She earned her bachelors degree in industrial design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Why Patience is Important to Startup Success - Dan Street

In Chapter 4 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why patience is important when measuring success. Street discounts myths that startups become billion dollar companies overnight. He believes patience is about sticking to your vision, developing ideas over time, and finding support to help execute that vision. Street is the founder and CEO of Austin, Texas based Loku, previously named Borrowed Sugar, which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

When is Convertible Debt Preferable to Equity Financing a Startup - Dan Street

In Chapter 10 of 20 of his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, software entrepreneur and Loku founder and CEO Dan Street shares why he chose to raise convertible debt financing over equity. He shares the pros and cons of each. Convertible debt benefits include structure flexibility and faster time to close. Convertible debt does not provide investor assurance they will own a piece of the company. Street notes the next time he approaches fundraising he would be more open going the equity route. Street is the founder and CEO of Loku (previously named Borrowed Sugar) which develops Internet software to strengthen local communities. Previously, Street worked in private equity at Kohlberg, Kravis, and Roberts (KKR) and management consulting at Bain & Co. He earned a BA in music and business from Rice University.

How to Search for an Executive Sales and Marketing Job - Geoff Hamm

In Chapter 4 of 16 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, online media sales executive Geoff Hamm shares the job search process he uses to find great jobs. To identify an opportunity, Hamm looks for great product and compatible culture. Once he identifies these, Hamm then qualifies each using his business and personal network. This provides him honest insight, feedback, and introductions that further the matchmaking process. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois - http://illinois.edu/ - and is now SVP of Sales at at Scribd http://www.scribd.com/ in Silicon Valley. Previously he held online sales management positions at Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC, and Excite.

How to Hire a High Performance Sales Team - Geoff Hamm

In Chapter 5 of 16 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, online media sales executive Geoff Hamm details his approach to interviewing, hiring, and building teams. After meeting the candidate, Hamm asks himself whether he could sit next to the person on a cross-country flight. Hamm continues by going through more traditional elements, including interest in the position, past accomplishments, and business networks or Rolodex. If a second interview occurs, Hamm applies lessons learned in sales and management training at previous companies to gauge strengths and personality using standardized tests, namely Gallup Strengthsfinder. This helps Hamm better understand fit between individual, the role, and the team. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois - http://illinois.edu/ - and is now SVP of Sales at at Scribd http://www.scribd.com/ in Silicon Valley. Previously he held online sales management positions at Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC, and Excite.

How Creativity Improves a Real Estate Negotiation - Brett Goldman

In Chapter 8 of 10 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, real estate development acquisitions director Brett Goldman shares why creativity matters when crafting a great real estate deal. Goldman highlights how commercial real estate deals have increasingly included more parties and understanding Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities - http://www.triangleequities.com/ - in New York City. Goldman holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan - http://www.umich.edu/ - and a masters in real estate development from Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation - http://www.arch.columbia.edu/ .

How Female Biologist Earns Peer Respect in Male Dominated Industry - Alayne Cotterill

In Chapter 11 of 13 in her 2010 interview with Capture Your Flag Host Erik Michielsen, wildlife biologist Alayne Cotterill shares how she developed peer respect and support working in a male dominated African conservation biologist world. She prioritizes not becoming masculine and quietly asserts herself, staying tough and refraining from showing weakness. Over time, the quiet confidence earns Cotterill support. Often isolated from human interaction, Cotterill turns to humor and writing to engage her family support network and help her through difficult times. Learn more about Alayne's work at http://www.lionconservation.org.

Why There is No One Right Answer When Making Life Decisions - Maurizio de Franciscis

In Chapter 18 of 19 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, education entrepreneur and Global Campus (www.globalcampus.com) founder Maurizio de Franciscis shares why trial and error is the best approach not only in entrepreneurship, but also in life in general. De Franciscis highlights there is no one right answer in life. He notes the only answer that exists is the one you give and the only way to learn is to sense your way through making the decisions shaping our lives. Before founding Global Campus, de Franciscis worked at General Electric. He graduated from Universita degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza - and earned his MBA from INSEAD.

How GE Teaches Employee to Take Ideas to Action - Maurizio de Franciscis

In Chapter 10 of 19 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, education entrepreneur and Global Campus (www.globalcampus.com) founder Maurizio de Franciscis shares what he learned about taking ideas to action while working at General Electric (GE). An analytical thinker and trained economist, de Franciscis becomes immersed in GE's action and execution based culture that rewards practical problem solving. De Franciscis graduated from Universita degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza - and earned his MBA from INSEAD.

How Practical and Theoretical Problem Solving Approaches Differ - Maurizio de Franciscis

In Chapter 9 of 19 in his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, education entrepreneur and Global Campus (www.globalcampus.com) founder Maurizio de Franciscis learns practical problem solving approaches working at General Electric (GE). At GE, de Franciscis finds a culture built on execution and delivery. Solving problems requires taking action and executing on the plan. This contrasts with his previous experience working in consulting, which focuses more on theoretical problem solving. De Franciscis graduated from Universita degli Studi di Roma - La Sapienza - and earned his MBA from INSEAD.

How to Find a Teaching Job in the Right School for You - Yoav Gonen

Yoav Gonen returns to Capture Your Flag to build upon his 2009 interview with a 2010 conversation with host Erik Michielsen. In Chapter 14 of 17, Gonen, a New York Post education reporter, provides insight into the free Department of Education (www.ed.gov) online resources experienced and prospective teachers can use to identify opportunities and research schools. Gonen recognizes teachers seek schools where they are comfortable and where they get along with school leaders. He highlights how the Obama Administration has made student performance and school surveys available, ranging from parent feedback to teacher and administrative rankings, that provide visibility into school performance and management. For example, Gonen highlights how the surveys show management effectiveness and trust between teachers and administration. The surveys and information may be found at the Department of Education website. Before starting his New York City newspaper reporting career, Gonen earned his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his Masters in Journalism from New York University.

What Journalism School Skill is Most Useful in a Reporting Career - Yoav Gonen

Yoav Gonen returns to Capture Your Flag to build upon his 2009 interview with a 2010 conversation with host Erik Michielsen. In Chapter 7 of 17, New York Post newspaper education reporter Yoav Gonen shares the most useful skill learned in Journalism School. He highlights persistence, as he commonly faces challenges getting someone to respond and participate in a story. Gonen prefers to confront a potential source in person. He finds 9 times out of 10 the person contributes. It is not always easy. Gonen shares that he often will have to find out where the person will be after hours, for example at a dinner benefit, and then track them down for a quote. Gonen earned his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his Masters in Journalism from New York University.

How to Assess Kenya Mobile Health Care Project Viability - Michael Olsen

In Chapter 14 of 16 in his 2010 Cature Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur and technology consultant Michael Olsen walks through the Kilifi Kids non-profit decision making process for its mobile health (mhealth) project. First, Olsen and his team confirm there is community-based support within Kilifi to provide project resources. Two, his team identifies senior public health support, specifically at the Kenya Ministry of Health (MOH). Third, Olsen reviews at technology capability, ease of use, cost, and scalability and confirms technology, developed by organizations such as UNICEF, available and ready. Lastly, Olsen then confirms there is a story and an investment pitch that will resonate with project funders. Only after working through these decision inputs does Olsen green light and initiate the mobile health project.