Michael Margolis on Rethinking Your Career Goals After an Illness

In Chapter 7 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "What Experiences in the Past Year Have Most Influenced the Direction of Your Company?" Margolis shares how recovering from a long-term illness reshaped the aspirations he has for his company Get Storied. Going through the illness and recovery pushes Margolis to evolve the business model from a lifestyle business and his role as a self-employed author/speaker/thought leader running a virtual company into a full-time employee-led business and his new role as CEO. 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.

Michael Margolis on Growing into an Entrepreneurial CEO Job Role

In Chapter 16 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and entrepreneur Michael Margolis answers "Are You Feeling That As Your Business Grows and You Add More Employees and You Have Greater Responsibilities to Your Clients You Are Starting to Understand Some of the Management Boundaries That Will Appear Over Time as You Build Capacity?" Margolis understands this at a high level, sharing notes from Union Square Ventures venture capitalist Fred Wilson on keeping money in the bank, articulating vision and executing a strategy to achieve it, and recruiting the right people for the team. As a teacher honing a storytelling philosophy for business, Margolis finds it harder to find balance between developing concepts and leading as a CEO. 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.

Tricia Regan on How to Use Your Network to Find a New Job

In Chapter 9 of 15 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, filmmaker Tricia Regan answers "How Has Your Network Helped You Find New Jobs?" Regan shares that the only way she finds jobs in film and television is through word-of-mouth. She is introduced to new opportunities and recommended for jobs via the network of professionals who know her work and what she can do. This helps open the next career opportunity for her, making a film about autism in Abu Dhab in the United Arab Emirates. Tricia Regan is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for writing, directing and producing documentary films, including the Emmy-winning "Autism: The Musical". She also has worked extensively in non-fiction television for A&E, ABC, FOX, Lifetime, MTV Networks and NBC. Regan earned a bachelors from Binghamton University and masters from New York University. 

Tricia Regan on How Personal Priorities Change With Age

In Chapter 14 of 15 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, filmmaker Tricia Regan answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?" As her carer matures, Regan finds herself thinking more about retirement and economic security. This pushes her to think about life changes that she will face in the next 10 or 20 years and how to manage her career to better prepare for them. She learns to be more assertive asking to be paid what she is worth when interviewing for new jobs and projects. Tricia Regan is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker known for writing, directing and producing documentary films, including the Emmy-winning "Autism: The Musical". She also has worked extensively in non-fiction television for A&E, ABC, FOX, Lifetime, MTV Networks and NBC. Regan earned a bachelors from Binghamton University and masters from New York University. 

Richard Moross on When to Make Management Skills a Hiring Priority

In Chapter 10 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Moo.com CEO Richard Moross answers "What Has It Been Like to Transition From Managing Specialists to Managing Managers?" Moross notes how growing a business to nearly 200 employees has necessitated hiring staff with management skillsets to manage day-to-day decisions and support employee development. Adding a management layer to his company allows him to transition into a role of setting standards, values, morals, ethics and aspirations while empowering his managers via process and goal setting structures. 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.

Slava Rubin on Empowering Leaders as Startup Grows to 60 Employees

In Chapter 9 of 15 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Indiegogo CEO Slava Rubin answers "What Leadership Skills Are Becoming More Relevant to You As Your Career Progresses?" Rubin shares how his startup, Indiegogo, has grown from 15 to 60 employees in the year between his 2012 Year 3 interview and this Year 4 interview. Rubin notes how it no longer is about individual work but rather empowering new leaders to make decisions in a supportive structure that uses relevant business processes. Slava Rubin is CEO and co-founder of Indiegogo, the world's largest crowdfunding platform. Indiegogo empowers anyone, anywhere, anytime to raise funds for any idea—creative, cause-related or entrepreneurial. Prior to Indiegogo, Rubin worked as a management consultant. He earned his BSE degree from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Transcript: 

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

Slava Rubin: As a founder, it was all about just getting the work done, seeing a wall right in front of you and just like putting your head right through it. That was the core skill of being an entrepreneur. I think now we’ve grown in the last year since I last spoke to you, from about 15 employees to 60 employees. I really need to rely on my leadership team to do a lot more than managing and empower them to do a lot of the core decision making. It’s really about empowering my leaders, about listening whether it’s from my leadership team all the way down to the most junior person, and to try to suss out that information as to connecting the trends as to what’s going on, and it’s also about analyzing data in a good way that can make big decisions easier.

Erik Michielsen: And what does that look like when you’re 15 versus 60? 

Slava Rubin: I mean definitely the aura is changing in terms of what the structure looks like, but it’s also you need to set up systems and processes that are just more scalable and just escalation policies in place, so you can’t constantly be running around like a chicken with your head cut off on any decision, and we can’t have every decision go through one individual whether it’s the CEO or not. So we just need to really figure out, you know, how do you escalate decisions? To what level? When and why? How? And who do you empower? For what? How do you manage? And, yeah, just use a lot more data as part of the decision making.

Clara Soh on Why to Work in Health Care Finance Reform

In Chapter 6 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Experience Grows?" After years working as a research biochemist and clinical research analyst, Soh shifts her aspirations from patient to population level. She leaves a meaningful job in Portland, Oregon and relocates to Washington DC to work on key policy and research issues influencing health care finance reform. 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.

Clara Soh on Building Job Skills to Work in American Government

In Chapter 7 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" Soh shares how aspects of work have changed as she has left the academic and nonprofit sector to work in American government health care policy. Whereas information sharing was free and open in her previous research lab work, Soh finds information sharing in DC to be a bit more constricted. She finds it challenging and fun to learn this new aspect of how American government works as she acclimates to her new role. 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.

Clara Soh on Adapting Job Skills to Work in Washington DC Politics

In Chapter 20 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Soh shares how she gets research career advice from peers and experts in her field. She notes this academic and collegial community is different from a new one she needs to navigate for her job - the political network of Washington DC. She shares approaches she is taking to build new relationships for her work. 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.

James McCormick on How Family Can Support Your Career and Life Decisions

In Chapter 1 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" McCormick notes that his parents have provided consistent support and it has always been about helping him find something that engages and challenges him and helping him make sure he has thought through the decision before making it. 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 Setting Career Goals as a Small Business Owner

In Chapter 8 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Responsibilities Grow?" McCormick notes how becoming a partner and having an ownership stake in a small business has shifted his aspirations away from personal ambition and more to the ambition of the company. 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 Making the Employee to Employer Transition

In Chapter 18 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are You Learning to Better Manage and Motivate Teams?" As a young partner at his growing firm, he shares the importance of being patient and being conscious of what motivates others as he makes the transition from employee to employer. He learns on the go from more senior partners and the feedback they provide him. 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 Learning to Lead Teams in a Senior Executive Role

In Chapter 14 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do?" Kerner finds she his at her best when working with other people and helping them to achieve great things. She notes how she has transitioned out of hands-on work for senior management and executive leadership responsibilities. She learns to help others by removing obstacles in their way and providing the best support possible.

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 Making the Senior Manager to Executive Job Transition

In Chapter 21 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, education software company executive Leslie Kerner answers "What Leadership Skills are Becoming More Relevant As Your Career Progresses?" As she transitions from senior management into executive leadership at her company, Kerner works on vision casting and future planning skills. Working with two executive coaches helps her develop these skills. She also taps into her network, including her Aspen Institute NewSchools Fellowship cohorts, to get peer advice on setting vision for an organization.

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 Personal Branding Helps Land a Dream Job

In Chapter 6 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, brand marketer Randall Metting answers "How Has Building Your Personal Brand Opened New Opportunities in Your Career?" Metting shares how taking initiative to start a blog and build his personal brand online and offline opened doors to finding a dream job working with a friend. Working with local businesses to create events helped Metting promote his blog and fostered a connection to the Dulce Vida Tequila team about ways they could work together. 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 How Digital Agency and Software Company Creative Roles Compare

In Chapter 2 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "How Does Working at a Software Company Compare and Contrast With Working at a Digital Agency?" Hinkle finds digital advertising creative work to be more experimental and short-term project focused. Switching into software at Evernote, Hinkle connects with the accountability that comes with building software that helps the company meet financial targets. 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.

Chris Hinkle on Finding Meaning By Improving the Lives of Others

In Chapter 4 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?" Working in digital agencies early in his career, Hinkle recalls finding meaning by building things that impress other people. As he gains product design experience, Hinkle finds meaning not by impressing others but rather by creating things that improve the lives of others. 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 Finding Purpose Working at an Edtech Startup

In Chapter 7 of 16 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and designer Jon Kolko answers "Why Did You Decide to Take a Position Working at an Online Jobs Platform Helping to Employ Students?" Kolko shares why he decided to join a venture capital-backed career services startup, MyEdu. Kolko finds purpose joining the education technology or edtech startup team to help create a more scalable and relevant way for college students to market themselves and find jobs after graduation. In the process, Kolko finds a boss who challenges him to learn new skills and develop as a business manager. 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.