Clara Soh on How Rock Climbing Brings Out Your Personal Best

In Chapter 16 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "When Are You At Your Best?" Soh finds she is happiest when out rock climbing. The concentration and focus climbing brings pushes Soh to give her best and in return the feeling she receives from the experience brings her great joy. The joy is apparent in the office and Soh explains how your passion can help you connect to others including your boss. Clara Soh is a health economist and Senior Director of Policy and Research at a pharmaceutical trade organization in Washington, DC. Previously, Soh held senior roles at Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) and Health Policy Research Northwest (HPRN). Soh earned her Masters of Public Administration (MPA) in Policy Analysis and Healthcare Public Finance from the NYU Wagner School and a BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry from Yale University.

Leslie Kerner on Ways Parents Can Help You Pursue Your Passion

In Chapter 8 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Kerner notes that while her parents have not always understood what she did at work, they were always supportive. Ultimately they find ways to encourage Kerner to pursue her passion to work at the intersection of management consulting and K-12 education.

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.

Leslie Kerner on How Volunteering Can Help You Find Your Passion

In Chapter 12 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "How Has Volunteering Impacted Your Learning and Development?" Kerner starts volunteering in college, tutoring elementary and middle school children. This hands-on teaching experience ignites her passion for education and her desire to improve the K-12 teaching and learning experience. She gains more senior experience as a volunteer board member and learns leadership working with the Special Olympics and, later, Peer Health Exchange.

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.

Leslie Kerner on Why to Pursue a Business Career in Public Education

In Chapter 13 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "What Led You to Pursue a Business Career Working to Improve Public Education?" Kerner shares how she combined her passion for education with the accountability and motivational elements that come with working in business.

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 How to Start a Blog That Builds Your Personal Brand

In Chapter 1 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "How Did Starting a Blog Help You Build Your Personal Brand?" By channeling his passions for music, food, culture and his dog Shiner into a blog, Metting brands himself "The Unofficial Mayor of Austin".  The blog allows him to cultivate his passions and tell the story of Austin while building meaningful community ties. 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.

Randall Metting on How Blogging Renews Passion for Writing Restaurant Reviews

In Chapter 2 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "How Has Blogging Reconnected You With Your Passions for Journalism and Writing?" Going through the College of Journalism at the University of Florida, Metting gets experience writing reviews on the local scene. Years later he renews his passion for writing by starting his blog and shares an example of how he approaches covering and reporting on a new restaurant opening. 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 Using Design and Programming to Express Your Ideas

In Chapter 7 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "How Do You Bring Together Design and Programming in Your Work?" Hinkle shares how he has learned design and programming separately to express his ideas by building digital products. He learns to turn ideas into products by first learning computer programming and second, through practice, experimentation and feedback, design. 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.

Jon Kolko on How Work Life Integration Can Make You Happier

In Chapter 4 of 16 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and designer Jon Kolko answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Kolko integrates personal and professional together into a life built around his design passion. He finds doing multiple things in design, from writing to teaching to working at a startup, aligns well with what he has seen from others: the happiest people are those who have multiple jobs and responsibilities. Jon Kolko is VP of Design at MyEdu and the Founder and Director of Austin Center for Design (AC4D). He has authored three books on design and previously has worked in design roles at Austin, Texas venture accelerator Thinktiv and global innovation firm frog design. He was a professor of Interaction and Industrial Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and earned his Masters in Human Computer Interaction (MHI) and BFA in Design from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jon Kolko on Ways to Measure the Quality of Design Education

In Chapter 15 of 16 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and designer Jon Kolko answers "How Do You Measure the Quality of Education Your Institution Provides Its Students?" Kolko shares how his school has developed assessment methods to measure design student creative learning. He shares how he teaches students to critique work and how the process develops student confidence, drive and passion. Jon Kolko is VP of Design at MyEdu and the Founder and Director of Austin Center for Design (AC4D). He has authored three books on design and previously has worked in design roles at Austin, Texas venture accelerator Thinktiv and global innovation firm frog design. He was a professor of Interaction and Industrial Design at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and earned his Masters in Human Computer Interaction (MHI) and BFA in Design from Carnegie Mellon University.

Matt Curtis on Combining Politics and Travel Passions in a Career

In Chapter 2 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Curtis shares how starting to travel the world has allowed him to combine his passions for city government and helping others make a greater difference in what they do. Traveling to new cities allows Curtis to get new perspectives on how cities work and to put his own passion to work to find ways to improve city planning. 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 Fatherly Advice on Why to Work Every Day Doing What You Love

In Chapter 2 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" From an early age, Spence is encouraged by her father to "find a way to make a living doing what you love." He encourages his daughter, saying "I don't want you to have a job but I want you to work every day of your life." This guides Spence from college into her social entrepreneurship nonprofit work. All the while her parents find moments and space to support their daughter's development.

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.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen: Where has your family been most supportive in your career development?

Courtney Spence: Wow. They have been supportive throughout my entire career development. From the beginning, it was find a way to make a living, doing what you love to do, and my dad always said I don’t want you to have a job but I want you to work every day of your life. And it’s that different philosophy of I don’t go to my job that I have to, I go work hard because I want to. And, you know, it doesn’t mean that you enjoy what you do every day, all day, or even all month, but, you know, as long as you find your passion and are able to follow it, it just lifts you up and lifts those people around you. And so, I think that kind of started me off on that path when I was, you know, 16, 17, 18 through my early 20s, thinking about what I wanted to do.

Most recently, this has been a really wonderful year, but a year of a lot of challenges, a lot of ups and downs, a lot of new situations that I have not faced before as a leader in our organization, and some really hard times. And I think that, you know, it’s when the going gets tough, I get on the phone or I go to my parents’ backyard, and I’m lucky to have two really wonderful parents who are mentors and that who really are equally as passionate about my passion as I am. And so, I would say that while I would give them credit for putting me on the right path to following your passion, I think that knowing that I can turn to them in times of doubt, or crisis, or questioning what we’re doing, and being able to have that as like a sounding board, and a family is pretty amazing, actually, so.

How to Use Psychology and Decision Sciences in a Business Strategy Job

In Chapter 17 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "What Types of Psychology Research Have Been Most Useful in Your Strategy Work?" As an undergrad studying psychology at University of Virginia, Stallings embraces the decision making and uncertainty research of Herbert Simon and Daniel Kahneman. Stallings draws on this and similar psychology research in his strategy planning work at frog design. He finds tying psychology into business strategy helps clients more easily understand the concepts and theories driving his recommendations.

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 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.

How Passion for Buildings Fuels Real Estate Development Career

In Chapter 6 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "How are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Walking around in his free time, Goldman always looks at buildings and wonders. He wonders how they were designed and he wonders how they were built.  In his real estate work, Goldman learns to appreciate construction and the various contributing trades and contractors that take a building from design to reality.

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 Living a Work Hard Play Hard Life

In Chapter 4 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Steps Are You Taking to Do What is Best for Your Family and Future?" Anello shares how he and his wife are both Type A personalities and are very comfortable with a "Go, Go, Go" lifestyle that puts career first today while leaving room for fun adventures along the way.

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 Building Employee-Friendly Company Culture

In Chapter 15 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "How Have You Created a Company Culture That Can Be Embraced by New Employees?" Anello notes that his business, Manifold Partners, started with five friends come together. As the company has doubled in size, Anello notes the importance of engaging new employees through inclusive programs that cultivate the creative business in fun ways.

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.

Cathy Erway on Finding Freelance Writing Jobs to Make Ends Meet

In Chapter 14 of 17 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, writer and healthy food advocate Cathy Erway answers "How Have You Found Jobs to Make Ends Meet and Pay the Bills as You Develop Your Career?"  As a freelance writer, Erway builds strong relationships with a few publications, namely the L Magazine, Edible Brooklyn and Grist.org.  The relationships provide her a steady stream of writing work that complement her work as a cooking teacher and restaurant cook. 

Cathy Erway is a Brooklyn-based author, part-time cook, freelance writer, radio host and teacher focused on healthy food advocacy.  Her first book, "The Art of Eating In" developed from her blog "Not Eating Out in New York".  She earned a BA in creative writing from Emerson College.

Andrew Epstein on Using Your Passions to Be a Better Dad

In Chapter 22 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "How Are You Learning to Apply Your Passions in New Ways?"  As an expecting father planning for parenthood, Epstein looks forward to applying his passion for helping feel successful and good about life in his role as a new Dad. 

Andrew Epstein is CFO of the Ascend Learning Charter School Network.  Previously, Epstein was a finance executive at Democracy Prep Public Schools and an operations executive at Universal Music Group's Island Def Jam Records.  He is a former Teach for America corps member and middle-school science teacher.  He holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Columbia Business School.