James McCormick on Gaining Small Business Operating Experience

In Chapter 14 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are Your Responsibilities Changing As Your Career Evolves?" In his second year as partner in a growing small business, McCormick finds he is getting a better handle on the responsibilities that come with managing business operations. He contrasts the added responsibilities as a small business owner with the incremental advancement in compensation and responsibility working as a lawyer in large law firms. 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. 

Leslie Kerner on Parenting Advice for Working Moms Raising Two Kids

In Chapter 2 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "What Challenges Have You Faced Raising Two Young Children While Working Full-Time?" In her 5th year of parenting and now a mother of two young boys, Kerner shares that successful parenting is less about doing everything right and more with doing your best with the understanding that you never will be perfect. This approach helps Kerner adapt her work and home approach to meet the emotional challenges in her life.

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 Childhood Experiences Can Shape Your Values

In Chapter 6 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Kerner looks back at her childhood and talks about the formative experiences that shaped her values. From swimming at the community pool to unstructured play to spending time with grandparents, Kerner learns the values of managing a busy schedule, making time for family, and having a curiosity for learning.

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 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.

Chris Hinkle on Ways to Reduce Stress and Perform Under Pressure

In Chapter 8 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "What Does It Mean to Perform Under Pressure in the Work That You Do?" Hinkle shares steps engineers and project managers can take to reduce stress when working under deadline pressure. Specifically, he notes how it can be helpful to be less focused on the project deadline and more focused on doing your best work. He finds imposing time pressures can compound small problems and make developers and engineers feel helpless. He also warns against doing all-nighter work as it may cause more harm than good with regard to work quality. 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 to Use Buckets to Manage a Busy Schedule

In Chapter 6 of 16 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and designer Jon Kolko answers "What Do You Find Are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" Kolko shares how he uses bucketing to break down his commitments and work through tasks. He shares how he has learned how much capacity he has to take on projects and why he needs to say no to thing above and beyond five things to do. 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 How to Have a Better Career Advice Conversation

In Chapter 10 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "How Have You Learned to Give Better Advice When People Ask You For Help?" Curtis learns early not to give unsolicited advice. When approached for career advice, Curtis tries to get to the root question or issue being asked and answer it in a straightforward manner. He asks for feedback constantly and learns to manage his time by scheduling phone calls when in-person meetings are unnecessary. 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 Managing a Busy Schedule to Get Things Done

In Chapter 13 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Courtney Spence answers "What Do You Find Are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" For Spence, staying productive and getting things done comes down to two things: prioritizing and delegating. With effective prioritization comes more effective focus on the right tasks. She finds delegating tasks to the right people also helps her get the focus to help her be more productive at work. 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 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 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 How Boarding School Influences Early Development

In Chapter 1 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental to Shaping Who You Are Today?" In his childhood, frequent moves teach Goswami to be open-minded about context and not to assume the way he sees things is the way others see things. He highlights his 6th grade Catholic boarding school experience at Montfort in Tamil Nadu, India where he learns routine and structure in a very regimented setting. 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 Changing Priorities As You Get Older

In Chapter 17 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, leadership philosopher Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing As You Get Older?" The older he gets, the more Goswami puts a priority on being protective of his time. Choosing who and what to spend his time on becomes progressively more important to Goswami than other pursuits such as making money or even starting a family.

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.

4 Ways to Manage a Busy Schedule and Do Great Work

In Chapter 4 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "What Do You Find are the Keys to Managing a Busy Schedule and Getting Things Done?" For Stallings it comes down to setting expectations with others, finding accountability partners, understanding his capacity and setting the right pace, and maintaining empathy with others.

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 and a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia.

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.

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. 

Phil McKenzie on How to Better Manage Your Meeting Commitments

In Chapter 5 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage Your Time and Commitments?"  McKenzie learns to make meeting plans with a more restrictive start and stop times.  This helps him better focus on the conversation and allows him to have more meetings. 

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 Improving Organizational Job Skills

In Chapter 11 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?"  Epstein constantly tries to improve how he uses systems to stay better organized at work.  Organizational skills help him manage multiple projects and multiple team members and what needs to get done when. 

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.