Video Interviews — Capture Your Flag

Exploration

Michael Margolis on Assessing Fit in Final Round Job Interviews

In Chapter 15 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "How Do You Assess Fit When Interviewing Prospective Employees?" Margolis first asks whether he would like to spend time around the candidate. Secondly, he looks for curiosity, namely through the questions job candidates ask in the interview. He then looks for heart and how this translates into culture fit. Lastly, he looks to job skill competency, knowing his team has already covered much of this in earlier round interviews. Michael Margolis is founder and president of Get Storied, an education and publishing platform dedicated to teaching the world how to think in narrative. He earned a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology from Tufts University.

Richard Moross on Why to Get Out of the Office and Travel the World

In Chapter 4 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Moo.com CEO Richard Moross answers "What Travel Adventures Have You Had This Past Year and What Did You Learn From Them?" Moross learns how taking holidays - in this case traveling to Israel, Namibia, and Japan - gives him space not only to appreciate culture but also to reflect, to refresh and to put his work in a more global context. He talks about traveling to Israel with business partner Hewlett Packard (HP) and going to Namibia to take a 1000-mile road trip. Richard Moross is founder and CEO of award-winning online print business Moo.com. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and a board member at Ladbrokes PLC. Before Moo.com, Moross was a strategist at design firm Imagination. He graduated from the University of Sussex.

Doug Jaeger on the Creative Benefits of Playing With Legos

In Chapter 1 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Jaeger shares how playing with Legos shaped his creativity and imagination as a child as well as his relationship with his brother. To Jaeger, building Legos was less about following predefined set instructions and more about imagining something and building it with the blocks. Doug Jaeger is co-founder and creative director at JaegerSloan Inc. where he focuses on brand and experimental marketing for clients such as Squarespace, Samsung and PwC. He is an adjunct professor at New York's School of Visual Arts (SVA) and co-curator of JnrlStr. He graduated from Syracuse University.

James McCormick on How Summer Camp Can Teach Responsibility

In Chapter 2 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" For McCormick, it was about growing up in a very steady and stable family environment. He shares how going away to Sanborne western boys and girls summer camp in Colorado taught him responsibility while opening his eyes to the world of the mountains and great outdoors. 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 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.

Matt Curtis on the Benefits of Playing Outdoors as a Child

In Chapter 1 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental to Shaping Who You Are Today?" Curtis recalls a childhood where he and his friends were free to roam the neighborhood and play outdoors into the late hours. The constant outdoors experience gives Curtis an early appreciation for nature and for embracing the outdoors. 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 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.

Matt Curtis on What to Pack When Traveling to Big European Cities

In Chapter 3 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "What Did Taking Your First International Trip Do To Inform How You Planned Your Second?" After taking his first trip to Ireland to visit distant family and hike the countryside, Curtis takes a second trip to visit London, Madrid and Paris. He learns from experience to pack fewer clothes and bring nicer clothes for evenings out after a long day touring the town. 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.

Audrey French on How Parents Get Child Excited to Learn and Motivated to Succeed

In Chapter 3 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" From an early age, French is stimulated and motivated by learning faster and performing at a higher level than peers. She learns this from a stay-at-home mom and a father who challenge her to explore new concepts and solve problems. This excitement for learning carries through an accelerated education and, ultimately, into entrepreneurship.

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 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.

Hammans Stallings on How Parents Raise Gifted Children

In Chapter 1 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?"  From an early age, Stallings finds his family an extension of his career.  He grows up in a family of doctors and learns medicine is not the career for him via a variety of experiences, from doing home Skinner Box psychology research to taking personality tests in junior high school to learning at camps such as Odessey of the Mind and Duke Talent Identification Program (TIP).

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.

How to Make Employee Culture a Competitive Advantage

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, innovation strategist Hammans Stallings answers "What Has Working at frog design Taught You About What It Takes to Build a Strong Company Culture?" Working at 40-year old design strategy company frog design, Stallings sees firsthand how people not only can come together to solve client problems but also can individually contribute to shaping what the company represents in carrying on the company history via actions and values. As he assimilates into frog culture over time, Stallings learns how to contribute, embrace the impromptu nature of interaction, and, ultimately, add to how the company differentiates with its culture.

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.

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 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.

Jason Anello on Experiencing Joy Traveling Somewhere New

In Chapter 6 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "What Have You Found Most Rewarding About Traveling to New Places?" Traveling somewhere new fuels Anello's creativity, as does finding new places to explore in places such as Barcelona and Madrid he has already been. He shares how big trips need not always be planned and shares an example of a long weekend trip to Amsterdam he and his wife took in the past year.

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.

Phil McKenzie on How to Find Speakers for Your Next Event

In Chapter 13 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Steps Do You Take to Source Conference Speakers and Curate Conference Panels?"  McKenzie finds he and his team are able to find speakers and curate panels and keynote ideas first through curiosity.  By identifying what is important across different communities they are able to find inspirational sources and then look for previously unseen connections between these sources. 

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.

Cathy Erway on Skills You Learn in a Line Cook Restaurant Job

In Chapter 15 of 17 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, writer and healthy food advocate Cathy Erway answers "What New Cooking Skills are You Learning Cooking in a New York City Restaurant?"  Working as a line cook and prep cook in a restaurant kitchen, Erway finds organization skills are critical in a professional cooking job.  This ranges from streamlining the order process to seeing the results take shape in the style and theme of the food. 

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.