Leslie Kerner on How to Establish Trust When Building Relationships

In Chapter 10 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" First and foremost, Kerner advises you do what you say you will do and make good on your promises or commitments. By being reliable, people will believe in your ability to deliver and trust you more.

Leslie Kerner is Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Professional Services group at Amplify, a software and services company innovating K-12 education. She is responsible for building and managing training, professional development and consulting services for schools. Previously, Kerner worked as a management consultant at Deloitte & Touche. Kerner earned an MBA from the Duke University and a BA from Northwestern University.

Randall Metting on Putting Pressure on Yourself to Get the Job Done

In Chapter 8 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Metting hates to disappoint others and puts pressure on himself to be accountable to others on the commitments he makes. Starting a new job working at Dulce Vida Tequila in Austin, Metting finds himself needing to learn the ropes at his new job while working on a tight deadline to plan a marketing event with Collings Guitars. Randall Metting is a brand marketer working for Dulce Vida Spirits in Austin. Metting has built a career on helping companies and non-profits develop integrated marketing strategy and brand development programs. As "The Unofficial Mayor of Austin, Texas" Metting authors the randallmetting.com community blog. He is also an on-air radio personality for 93.3 KGSR radio in Austin. Metting earned a B.S. in Advertising from the University of Florida.

Chris Hinkle on Why There is No Harm in Living Your Job

In Chapter 5 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Hinkle loves his work and because of this he finds he is happier integrating life and work together. He is able to make a living doing what he loves and, as a result, can focus less on financial goals and more on making the digital apps and products that give him purpose. Chris Hinkle is a senior software engineer working at Evernote in Silicon Valley. Previously, Hinkle worked at New York City digital agencies HUGE and R/GA in creative director and software engineering roles designing products and developing Internet mobile applications and websites.

Matt Curtis on How Weight Loss Improves Emotional Health

In Chapter 13 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out As Planned?" As a heavier and younger man, Curtis found handling change hard and would get angry and upset when it happened. Over time, working in public service and controlling his weight, Curtis learns to take unexpected changes in stride and use his experience to work through the issues. Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was communications director for Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas.

Matt Curtis on How to Have a More Productive Day at the Office

In Chapter 17 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "What Skills Are You Using More As Your Career Advances?" Curtis finds scheduling and prioritization skills are becoming more and more important. He learns ways to tap into his network to gain access to information on short notice and to say no to countless coffee and lunch requests when a short phone call will accomplish meeting objectives in shorter amounts of time. Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was communications director for Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas.

Courtney Spence on How to Build Relationship Trust

In Chapter 3 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Spence shares how building relationship trust comes down to honesty, transparency, and vulnerability. She finds you create and maintain trust by being committed to honest communication and accepting that it is okay to be vulnerable.

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 Courtney Spence Adapts When Things Do Not Work as Planned

In Chapter 8 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out as Planned?" Spence finds being present in the moment and not dwelling too much on the past helps her stay adaptive and flexible to the twists and turns life presents. 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 Get Comfortable Living Outside Your Comfort Zone

In Chapter 4 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "What is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?" French notes she has lived her life constantly outside her comfort zone, nearly always in environments where she is the outsider. This pushes her to always be moving and developing. As an introvert, she finds solace spending quiet time in those rare moments she is able to slow down.

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 What It Means To Be an Introvert

In Chapter 5 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "What Does It Mean to Be an Introvert?" French defines her introversion as having a need to recharge away from people and activity. Her need to find quiet space - a need she shares with her husband - pushes her to carve out time on her calendar for alone time often when others seek to fill that time with company. 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 How to Adapt When Things Do Not Work As Planned

In Chapter 11 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out as Planned?" French learns adaptability in the entrepreneurship experience she had starting and growing a business. She learns how to deal with situations and people that demand calm and flexible responses. This helps her manage uncertainty and be less uptight in doing so. 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 Using Calmness Skills Each Day at Work

In Chapter 14 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "What Skills Are You Using More as Your Career Advances?" As she gets older, French finds she accepts calmness, stillness, and balance as skills and works to improve how she uses them. She admittedly wonders if she would have been able to embrace these skills as an entrepreneur given the chaos and hectic nature of starting and growing a company. 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 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 What It Means to Be Trustworthy

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" To Goswami, being trustworthy means being true to where you are and what you believe. By presenting yourself truthfully, trust ensues.  He notes trust and happiness are not achieved by reaching a destination, but rather are achieved by being true to yourself.

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.

How to Find Interesting Friends Who Accept You For You

In Chapter 7 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?" Stallings notes how the people around him provide him the space and accommodation to have selfish or individual moments. He also discusses why he tries to surround himself with interesting people who teach him things.

Hammans Stallings is a Senior Strategist at frog design. Previously he 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.

Brett Goldman on Making the Most of Living in New York City

In Chapter 7 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "How Do You Make the Most of Living in the City?" Beyond walking around appreciating the architecture and buildings, Goldman soaks up city life by finding things that interest him culturally and expose him to new things. To do this, he makes it a weekly habit of reading about what is happening and making plans to see ballet performances, visit museums, and more fully embrace New York City.

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 Manage a Busy Schedule the Old School Way

In Chapter 11 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What Do You Find Are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" Goldman shares his "old school" approach to managing his schedule, namely using a daily planner to write down appointments and to-do lists and cross out items as they get done.

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 Finding Happiness Blending Work and Play

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "How are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Anello finds he is happiest as a well-rounded person who draws no line between working and playing, professional and personal. 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.