James McCormick on Why There is No One Right Way to Live Your Life

In Chapter 6 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" McCormick shares what he has learned in his 20s and 30s, namely that there is no one right script to follow to life a full life. Moving from Detroit to Ann Arbor to San Francisco to New Orleans to New York City, getting married, becoming a father, and building a law career all teach him the importance of improvisation and flexibility. He channels what life has taught him into his work as an executive recruiter by learning to listen and treat every person he works with as an individual. James McCormick is a Partner at Empire Search Partners in New York City. Previously, he practiced law as an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney for Proskauer Rose and Jones Day. He earned a JD at Tulane Law School and a BA in History at the University of Michigan.

James McCormick on Learning Business in First Job Out of College

In Chapter 7 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "What Did You Learn in Your First Job Out of College That is Still Relevant Today?" Working for an event marketing company providing contract services to the Chrysler Corporation, McCormick learns the importance of being adaptable and flexible working across cultures and geographies. He finds what works at one local dealership does not always guarantee it will work at another location. James McCormick is a Partner at Empire Search Partners in New York City. Previously, he practiced law as an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney for Proskauer Rose and Jones Day. He earned a JD at Tulane Law School and a BA in History at the University of Michigan.

James McCormick on How Trial and Error Can Improve Listening Skills

In Chapter 19 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" McCormick shares how trial and error has helped him become a better listener. Listening helps McCormick determine what is motivating someone's point of view or behavior so he can be more helpful sourcing candidates for new jobs. James McCormick is a Partner at Empire Search Partners in New York City. Previously, he practiced law as an employee benefits and executive compensation attorney for Proskauer Rose and Jones Day. He earned a JD at Tulane Law School and a BA in History at the University of Michigan.

Randall Metting on Managing Your Time When Working Two Jobs

In Chapter 7 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "What Do You Find Are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" Metting makes lists he can carry and constantly updates his calendar to stay on top of his busy schedule. Working full-time while also having a part-time radio DJ job and writing a blog tests his limits for delivering on his commitments to others. 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.

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.

How to Work More Effectively With a Team of Different Personalities

In Chapter 11 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" For Spence, the first thing is to not take things personally. She learns to respect differing opinions and to stay patient in hearing different perspectives that contribute to a team decision. 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 Be a More Flexible Manager and Lead Teams Through Change

In Chapter 14 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage and Motivate Teams?" Spence learns to recognize that individuals that make up a team are in a constant state of change. She learns to be more adaptive, flexible, and responsive in her management style to bring out the best in her team as the organization evolves and grows. 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 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 a Simple Way to Improve Public Speaking Skills

In Chapter 8 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are You Improving Your Public Speaking Skills as You Gain Experience?" Goswami notes the importance of being present when he speaks. He finds presence allows him to be more flexible and adjust his approach to best fit the audience and the environment. He learns this over many years after taking a public speaking course as an undergrad at Stanford. 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 Nonlinear Thinking Facilitates Innovative Problem Solving

In Chapter 13 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "How Are You Developing an Innovation Process to Help How You Solve Problems?" Stallings notes the non-linear and interdisciplinary inquiry or thinking that comes with producing innovation often is at odds with how organizations are structured. These silos block potential cross-fertilization that comes with approaching problems with resources and tools - ethnography studies, case studies, etc. - that may not be readily available in any one business or organizational unit.

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 How Low Interest Rates Affect Investing Goals

In Chapter 9 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "How are Current Economic Conditions Shaping Your Real Estate Investment Goals?" Goldman shares how his investment philosophy through the recession and recovery has been long-term focused.  He notes while he has invested in some distressed properties, he still is very cautious about investing in markets where money is cheap and financing rates are low. Investing for the long-term requires you assess how an investment might look if rates rise and how that would affect buyers and sellers. Looking at the market today, Goldman finds distressed real estate where the best opportunities exist.

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.

Performing Under Pressure in a Real Estate Developer Job

In Chapter 12 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Sourcing, negotiating and closing real estate deals teaches Goldman why preparation and flexibility are critical to his work. He interviews process not only to find the right bankruptcy lawyer for the job but also to learn the questions he should be asking and answering to move the bankruptcy deal forward.

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.

Brett Goldman on What You Need to Close a Real Estate Deal

In Chapter 13 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, real estate developer Brett Goldman answers "What Requirements Are Necessary for a Real Estate Deal to Happen?" When a buyer and seller enter a negotiation, there must first be a willingness to buy and a willingness to sell. This, Goldman notes, is not guaranteed when someone lists a property or someone inquires on a property. Goldman looks at seller incentives such as financial distress instances of foreclosure and bankruptcy to identify issues outside price that play into the deal. This opens new options to get more creative in putting together a 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.

3 Ways to Handle Pressure and Excel in a Creative Director Job

In Chapter 9 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Working in advertising creating experiential marketing events, Anello details the three areas where he needs to handle the pressure.  The first is in pitch meetings. He learns to understand he will never be in control and learns to let go. The second is in coming up with ideas. Here, he learns to set expectations that the ideation process is anything but consistent. The third is executing a marketing event and blending your plans with a need to adapt on the go.

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 Hiring Generalist Talent to Grow Small Business

In Chapter 16 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "How Are Your Recruiting Priorities Changing As Your Business Grows?"  Now that his creative agency is at the 10 employee level, Anello notes the need tp hire talent for a flexible structure that blends generalist job skills across an advertising agency model of account management and creative departments.  He finds it is less about going deeper in a particular category and more about hiring, for example a developer, that can work laterally across teams. 

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 How to Work With Different Personality Types

In Chapter 17 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?"  Working in advertising, Anello learns to be observant and adaptable when meeting different types of people in and out of work. He finds ways to get along with others, including client relationships where there is tension and a need to be accepting of views that he may not share.

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.

Managing Multicultural Diversity for a Virtual Workforce

In Chapter 14 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?"  For McKenzie, managing diversity is more about managing cultural diversity than it is personality diversity.  He finds understanding cultural differences, for example how a Sao Paolo team differs from a Detroit or Mumbai team, helps him better lead and manage teams. 

Philip L. McKenzie is the Founder and Global Curator of Influencer Conference, a global content platform that brings together tastemakers in the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology to discuss the current and future state of influencer culture. Prior to that, he was Managing Partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC and an equities trader at Goldman, Sachs & Co.  He earned an MBA from Duke University and a BBA from Howard University.

Andrew Epstein on Creating Entreprenuerial Charter School Jobs

In Chapter 8 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "What Has Your Work Experience Taught You About How Education Careers are Changing?"  Epstein shares how the charter school movement has enabled entrepreneurship to enter the education system.  He shares how charter schools are bringing young, motivated leaders into education in ways not seen previously.  He also shares how he reconciles encouraging an entrepreneurial structure that is also accountable to students, parents and teachers. 

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.