Ken Biberaj on Creative Ways to Campaign for Office on a Budget

In Chapter 12 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City Council Candidate Ken Biberaj answers "What Different Approaches Are You Taking to Connect Personally with Voters?" Limited by budget from running radio and television ads, Biberaj connects with voters by taking the campaign to them. He holds house parties in their buildings, visits grocery stores in their neighborhoods, and, for over a year, stands outside subway stops each day to say hello and talk to voters.

Ken Biberaj is currently a 2013 Democratic Candidate for City Council in New York City. He is also a public relations executive for the Russian Tea Room restaurant at One Fifty Fifty Seven Corporation, a family business focused on real estate development, investment sales and retail leasing. Previously Biberaj was Florida Research Director for the Kerry-Edwards for President Campaign. Biberaj holds a JD from New York Law School, a Masters in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a BA in Political Science from American University. 

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 Ways to Promote Your Local Blog and Increase Traffic

In Chapter 3 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "What Do You Do to Promote Your Blog and Drive Traffic to It?" Writing a local blog, RandallMetting.com, about the Austin food and entertainment scene, Metting creates a Top 10 Rankings to rate his favorite places and venues. He adds detail and then shares his post with the ranked place via social media. Metting finds the venues appreciate his approach and proceed to invite him to visit them to learn more about their businesses and the teams who work there. 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 to Find Brand Sponsors for Nonprofit Events

In Chapter 5 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "What Approach Do You Take to Find Brand Sponsors for Non-Profit Events?" Metting shares how making local a priority has helped him find great nonprofit event sponsors. Even when working with national organizations such as Cure Duchenne, a muscular dystrophy nonprofit, Metting finds success bringing on local sponsors to help create more impactful fundraising and awareness building events. has 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.

Matt Curtis on How to Build Trust by Being Forthright

In Chapter 8 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" From the get-go or onset of a conversation, Curtis tries to be forthright and clear in his communication. He gets feedback that this straightforward and often blunt communication style is well-received for its sincerity. 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. 

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 Admit Failure and Adapt When Things Don't Work Out

In Chapter 5 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out as Planned?" Stallings first notes the importance of being quick to admit failure. Once this is established, Stallings adapts and works out the situation by getting guidance from trusted relationships and using his own intuition.

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 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.

Cathy Erway on How to Improve Your Work Relationships

In Chapter 4 of 17 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, writer and healthy food advocate Cathy Erway answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?"  For Erway, it comes down to appreciation.  By finding a way to appreciate, not just tolerate, someone who may think or act differently, Erway finds she can establish a mutual connection that creates a better working relationship. 

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 Leading Teams by Nurturing Employee Growth

In Chapter 10 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, charter school CFO Andrew Epstein answers "What Leadership Skills Are Becoming More Relevant as Your Career Progresses?"  Epstein believes the role of a leader is to get team members excited about their roles and engaged in their work.  He finds honesty, availability and presence help him nuture and develop his teams. 

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.

Lulu Chen on Directing Models and Crew on a Fashion Photo Shoot

In Chapter 14 of 16 in her 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, art director Lulu Chen answers "What Do You Do to Bring Out the Best in the Fashion Models and Crew You Direct on Set?"   As a photo art director, Chen tries to let the models and crew do their jobs and verbalize encouragement and feedback during the shoot.  She bridges the constructive criticism by being sure to communicate what she is trying to accomplish and to try to be helpful in the direction she gives. 

Lulu Chen is a photo art director working in retail e-commerce in New York City.  Previously, Chen worked as a freelance stylist for leading fashion catalogs and magazines.  She earned a BFA in design and art history from the University of Michigan.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What do you do to bring out the best in the fashion models and crew you direct on set?

Lulu Chen: Well, I really try to let them do their own thing. I try and let them do their jobs, and I really—I try to encourage them. And so if things are going—if there’s a certain—if there’s a certain shot or a certain position or a certain thing that’s working, I definitely verbalize that and just, you know, I just keep giving encouragement, like, “Oh, that looks great.” And, you know, sometimes I’ll point out little things but, you know, ultimately I trust in the people that are working with me.

Erik Michielsen: How do you kind of bridge that, you know, constructive criticism and make sure that you’re providing the input you need to as a director without overstepping your grounds?

Lulu Chen: Well, I also—I’d like to add that I think it’s really important depending on what kind of project you’re working on to really let the team and the model know what it is that you’re doing, you know? Like to know the layout or if it’s a full page or what you’re trying to establish. Because they can’t do it unless they know. It’s like help me help you type of thing, so I definitely try and give them information without over saturating them with it.

And also, I’ll try and point out little things that they probably know but they’re not cognizant of, like some people have quirks, you know, so an example is, one of my models sometimes they do this with their hands, and the problem is, you know, if I don’t have enough frames without it, then I have this in a shot. And I know it’s not—I mean I couldn’t do it, you know, I probably have these strange quirks of my own, so I just try and watch out for it, I try not to point out anything too negative, you know, but I also try to be more constructive, so if there’s a couple of frames, I’ll just—that I really need like a safe shot or something really, really simple and straightforward, I’ll just say, “Oh, you know, can you just keep your hands like really straight,” or something. Just to cover it, you know, but I try not to make them feel self-conscious ‘cause I would never want to, and it’s something that you don’t even realize, I think, that you’re doing.

And also it’s a collaboration so sometimes people point out certain things to me and, you know, it’s also my job to point out, like, “Oh, you know, maybe that should change,” or, maybe we should fix something that they might not have seen right away.

Hattie Elliot on Learning to Work With Different Personality Types

In Chapter 18 of 19 in her 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, female entrepreneur Hattie Grace Elliot answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?"  In her work, Elliot constantly meets new people and finds it important to be patient, especially with hardened or shy people, as she works to bring out their best.  Elliot finds it one of the most rewarding challenges of doing her work. 

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: How are you learning to work more effectively with different personality types?

Hattie Elliot: I find dealing with different personality types often almost a challenge, you know, when I deal with people who I find to be, you know, really off putting or cold, it’s like a challenge for me to open them up and to make them feel comfortable and it’s really one of the wonderful awesome things I’ve learned to do in my business is that I’m not shy. I love meeting people. I give, you know, decent first impressions, but the more that I’ve kind of through the years, run my business, and met with people, it’s been very eye opening because I’ve realized that a lot of people that you might meet on the street who seem like they’re very difficult, or might be a little cold, or off putting, or bitter or whatever, it’s just because they’re shy. Or they, you know, take a little while to warm up to you.

So, I’ve learned that so many people maybe 5 years ago, 2 years ago, I might’ve kind of brushed off, that I don’t really do that anymore when I meet people, because I feel like if you actually get to—you know, take the time to get to know people, and you make them feel comfortable, and that’s really what my business is about, is creating these great environments that are conducive to people meeting and connecting. You know, I meet a lot of people who off the bat I love. I meet some people I think, you know, are interesting but, you know, they take a little feeling out, but I’ve just been very humbled and surprised I would say, by how genuinely great and interesting most people are. It just sometimes takes certain things to bring that out. 

Conrad Doucette on How Personal Priorities Change With Age

In Chapter 1 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, musician Conrad Doucette answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?"  In his younger days, Doucette notes how his life was more narrowly focused.  As he gets older and his family relationships grow, he becomes more aware of the people in his life and caring for their respective needs and wellbeing. 

Conrad Doucette is a Brooklyn musician and the drummer for Takka Takka, which released its 3rd studio album, AM Landscapes, in late 2012.  He has performed with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, The National, Alina Simone, and many other leading acts.  When not performing music, Doucette is the communications and brand director at music licensing and publishing startup Jingle Punks.  Doucette earned a BA in History from the University of Michigan.

Stacie Bloom on Learning to Manage High Potential Employees

In Chapter 10 of 18 in her 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, Neuroscience Institute Executive Director Stacie Grossman Bloom answers "What Leadership Skills are Becoming More Relevant to You as Your Career Progresses?"  Bloom notes why management skill development is central to her current growth.  As she gains management experience, she gets more comfortable making difficult decisions and helping high potential employees flourish. 

Stacie Grossman Bloom is Executive Director for the Neuroscience Institute at the NYU Langone Medical Center.  Previously, she was VP and Scientific Director at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and, before that, held editorial roles at the Journal of Clinical Investigation and Nature Medicine.  She earned her BA in chemistry and psychology from the University of Delaware, her PhD in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at Georgetown University and did post-doctoral training in Paul Greengard's Nobel Laboratory of Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience at Rockefeller University. 

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  What leadership skills are becoming more relevant to you as your career progresses?

Stacie Grossman Bloom:  The leadership skills that are becoming more relevant to me as my career progresses are definitely those associated with management. Managing a larger and more diverse team of individuals. I would say there’s a lot of different personalities, there are a lot of very difficult conversations, I think for me a few years ago, having those difficult conversations was unbelievably taxing, it was so stressful. I’m at the point now—I don’t love to have a difficult conversation with an employee, nobody does. But I’m certainly at the point now where I feel a lot more comfortable. I know what needs to be done. 

And that’s part of management, putting people on a professional development career path is something that’s become more important as I’m supervising higher levels of individuals, really talented people who I’m hoping they’ll stay with me for 2 or 3 years but I know that they’re not gonna stay with me forever, these are the people who are gonna have my job and more, very soon. Mentoring those people is really, really important to me. Making sure that they understand that they’re on a path where they’re gonna be able to accomplish great things. And I really take that mentorship very, very personally and very seriously.

Why to Stop Using Email and Start Speaking to Clients - Ross Floate

In Chapter 12 of 20 in his 2012 interview, branding and design strategist Ross Floate answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage Long Distance Relationships?"  Floate finds old forms of communication - phone calls, in-person meetings, handwritten letters - more useful than ever before.  It helps him build better business and personal relationships and it helps him win new and repeat deals.  Floate notes the extra time investment adds a personal touch that differentiates him from competition and creates more substantive engagement experiences.  Ross Floate is a principal at Melbourne, Australia-based Floate Design Partners.  Experienced in branding, design and both online and offline publishing, Floate and his team provide marketing services to clients seeking to better communicate business and culture goals via image, messaging, and story. He is a graduate of RMIT University.

How to Build Relationship Trust - Ken Biberaj

In Chapter 19 of 21 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City Council candidate and public relations executive Ken Biberaj answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?"  Biberaj shares the challenge of creating relationship trust working real estate business and government public service.  He shares the importance of managing risks while being outgoing, sincere and committed to building relationships over time.  Ken Biberaj is currently a 2013 Candidate for New York City Council for the West Side of Manhattan.  He is also a public relations executive for the Russian Tea Room restaurant at One Fifty Fifty Seven Corporation, a family business focused on real estate development, investment sales and retail leasing.  Previously he was Florida Research Director for the Kerry-Edwards for President Campaign. He holds a JD from New York Law School, a Masters in Public Policy (MPP) from Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, and a BA in Political Science from American University. 

How to Delegate Responsibility - Mike Germano

In Chapter 16 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How are You Learning to More Effectively Hand Off Responsibility?"  First, Germano notes the importance of sincerity and communication in transitioning responsibility to junior staff.  He notes the importance of establishing trust in this process.  Second, he highlights how he identifies the appropriate person and manages the political response to the decision.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University.