Courtney Spence on Performing Under Pressure and Facing Fear

In Chapter 9 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" For Spence, performing under pressure starts with believing in the mission for the work that you do. Believing in her mission is fundamental and mission confidence will enable performance even in the face of adversity or fear. If the performance pressure is more personal, then she finds it needs to be addressed quickly or it will hinder her performance. Social entrepreneur and storyteller Courtney Spence founded 501c3 nonprofit Students of the World (SOW) to shine a light on progress and celebrate the world's problem solvers. She is building a movement of next-generation storytellers and creative activists through the SOW program The Creative Activist Network. Spence is a graduate of Duke University.

How to Turn Self-Confidence into Confident Leadership

In Chapter 18 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" To Spence projecting confidence is everything. By being confident in her work, her mission, her self, she is able to fully embrace her knowledge and skills and maximize what she can do with them pitching ideas, selling donors, and inspiring staff. Social entrepreneur and storyteller Courtney Spence founded 501c3 nonprofit Students of the World (SOW) to shine a light on progress and celebrate the world's problem solvers. She is building a movement of next-generation storytellers and creative activists through the SOW program The Creative Activist Network. Spence is a graduate of Duke University.

Audrey French on How to Find the Right Mentor at the Right Time

In Chapter 6 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Have Mentors Helped to Motivate You to Do Your Best Work?" French shares how different mentors have been valuable at different stages of her career. Out of college, French works for a female small business owner who inspires her own entrepreneurial leap. Later, after leaving the business world, French finds a female mentor that helps her come to terms with her new life after the company and her motherhood aspirations. Audrey Parker French is an entrepreneur who 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 currently volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and teaches children's choir. She graduated from Wake Forest University and lives with her husband in Austin, Texas.

Audrey French on Making a Business to Teaching Job Transition

In Chapter 17 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" French shares her experience going from managing an energy efficiency and utility consulting business to teaching choir to a roomful of 6- and 7-year old children. Interacting with kids is something she finds new and, ultimately, exciting and rewarding. Audrey Parker French is an entrepreneur who 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 currently volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and teaches children's choir. She graduated from Wake Forest University and lives with her husband in Austin, Texas.

Bijoy Goswami on How Emigrating from India Builds Family Bonds

In Chapter 4 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" After Goswami, his parents and his two brothers moved from India to Taiwan and then Hong Kong, Goswami finds his parents create a sharing environment where expressiveness is valued and expected. Goswami finds the resulting family dynamic an anchor of encouragement and security as he lives his life. 

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.

Bijoy Goswami on When to Avoid Projecting Confidence

In Chapter 7 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" Goswami notes that by not projecting confidence in cases where he does not have the answers or know the material, he is better able to embrace ways others can teach or instruct him.

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.

Bijoy Goswami on Why Not to Set Goals and Measure Outcomes

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "What Goals are You Setting as You Look to What Comes Next in Your Career?" Goswami shares why he does not use goals and milestones to assess performance and motivate progress. He finds goals to be limiting and instead focuses on a journey focused neither on safety nor outcome.

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.

Brett Goldman on Ways Parents Support Real Estate Career Choices

In Chapter 1 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?"  Goldman notes how he has always wanted to work in real estate.  All the while, Goldman gets support from his parents through their continuous appreciation, encouragement and interest. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Learning to Reflect More and Get to Know Yourself Better

In Chapter 5 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What Role Has Reflection Played in Shaping Your Personal Growth?" Goldman shares how he reflects more as he gets older. Reflecting helps him better understand why and how he makes decisions and improves how he learns from decisions and even mistakes. Reflecting helps him be more comfortable with who he is, what he chooses to do and when he chooses to do things.

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

How Deal Due Diligence Improves Investing Confidence

In Chapter 10 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work that You Do?" For Goldman, confidence is fundamental in making real estate deals. He builds confidence in the preparatory due diligence research work he does understanding the property, market, location, terms and other elements of a real estate deal.

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City. He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

How to Relate to People Different Than You at Work

In Chapter 16 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" Working on real estate projects, Goldman constantly meets people working different jobs, including contractors, tradesmen, and construction workers. He learns being curious and asking sincere questions allow him to relate to people better and gain acceptance and respect.

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City. He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

How Turning 40 Boosts Career Confidence

In Chapter 17 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What is on Your Mind as You Turn 40 This Year?" Turning 40 gives Goldman time to reflect on his career development and realize how much he has learned and what he can offer younger real estate professionals. Appreciating his nearly 20 years of real estate development experience gives him confidence and self-esteem to further develop his career.

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Jason Anello on How Parents Support Creative Career Choices

In Chapter 2 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?"  Anello shares how his parents have found ways to give him independence and encouragement even in times when they did not quite understand his decisions.  He notes how his father, a union man working a blue collar job as an auto mechanic, needed to accept an advertising career path was more fluid and less stable. 

Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at Manifold Partners, an award-winning creative advertising agency.  Previously, Anello worked in creative leadership roles at Yahoo!, Ogilvy & Mather, and Digitas.  A passionate foodie and traveler, he runs the Forking Tasty food blog and supper club series.  He earned a BFA from University at Albany.

Jason Anello on Getting Validation Your Work is Meaningful

In Chapter 7 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Has Winning Ad Age's Small Agency of the Year Award Meant to You Personally?" Winning the award gives Anello a sense of achievement that provides a sense of validation for the company he helped create. The validation helps him better frame why his work is meaningful and understand the impact his work creates. 

Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at Manifold Partners, an award-winning creative advertising agency.  Previously, Anello worked in creative leadership roles at Yahoo!, Ogilvy & Mather, and Digitas.  A passionate foodie and traveler, he runs the Forking Tasty food blog and supper club series.  He earned a BFA from University at Albany.

Jason Anello on Being a More Confident Creative Leader

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in What You Do?" Anello takes heart in author Malcolm Gladwell's message that confidence is leadership. When running his company and when presenting to clients, Anello understands there is a time and place to be assertive and project confidence to communicate a point.

Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at Manifold Partners, an award-winning creative advertising agency.  Previously, Anello worked in creative leadership roles at Yahoo!, Ogilvy & Mather, and Digitas.  A passionate foodie and traveler, he runs the Forking Tasty food blog and supper club series.  He earned a BFA from University at Albany.

Mike Germano on 6 Manager Job Skills You Learn Running a Business

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Carrot Creative social media agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What Skills Are Becoming More Important to You as Your Career Advances?"  As a CEO responsible for managing a 60-employee firm, Germano finds he needs to trust his gut decision more as he gains experience and needs to do things more quickly.  Also, he learns to better understand people, especially what they are NOT saying and how it relates to what they really want.  Staying passionate, keeping employees balanced, managing time better and learning when to drop responsibility are also key to helping Germano grow.

Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO Brooklyn-based social media agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

Mike Germano on Performing Under Pressure in a CEO Job

In Chapter 16 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Carrot Creative social media agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?"  Germano shares the pressure-filled moments that come with busy travel schedules and high stakes client pitch meetings.  He notes the greatest pressure and stress come from managing 60+ employees and being responsible for their livelihood.  He The more he can see his employees making a difference by the work they create, the more he feels capable of shouldering greater levels of pressure and stress. 

Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO Brooklyn-based social media agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

Mike Germano on Aspiring to More Than Making Money

In Chapter 17 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Carrot Creative social media agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing as Your Experience Grows?"  Germano finds many people in his life tell him he is successful - from his parents to his wife to his peers to his industry.  He finds that defining success is not about reaching these respective expectations as end points but seeing them as new starting points on his aspirational journey. 

Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO Brooklyn-based social media agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University.