Preston Smith on Measuring Success Managing Charter Schools

In Chapter 16 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "How Do You Define and Measure Success in What You Do?" As CEO running a network of K-5 charter schools, Smith defines and measures success using a number of qualitative and quantitative inputs, from student learning outcomes to teacher satisfaction surveys to parent participation analysis. These help Smith work toward a goal of waking up every day knowing he is doing everything he can to build great schools full of happy employees and achieving students.

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows.

Louise Langheier on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 3 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" Langheier shares how it is getting easier to have a well-defined sense of where to spend her time and focus on what matters most in her life. She finds it harder to avoid being overwhelmed by the number of options she has on where to spend her time. As an expecting mother, she notes this will only increase by having a baby.

Louise Davis Langheier is founder and CEO of Peer Health Exchange, a non-profit that trains college students to teach health education in public high schools. Louise was selected as a member of the 2011 class of Aspen Entrepreneurial Education Fellows, and was named an Ashoka Fellow in 2012. She graduated from Yale University.

Louise Langheier on Finding Meaning Living in the Moment

In Chapter 4 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Experiences Grow?" Langheier shares how her personal aspirations are becoming less specific and more focused on being present in the moment. Nine months pregnant, Langheier shares how starting a family is fundamental to this, as is being present as a friend and as a citizen.

Louise Davis Langheier is founder and CEO of Peer Health Exchange, a non-profit that trains college students to teach health education in public high schools. Louise was selected as a member of the 2011 class of Aspen Entrepreneurial Education Fellows, and was named an Ashoka Fellow in 2012. She graduated from Yale University. 

Louise Langheier on Being a More Creative and Open Leader

In Chapter 6 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Langheier shares how those around her have taught her to be more open-minded and creative. Over time, she also learns to embrace uncertainty and be more comfortable knowing discipline and focus still do not mean you can control your future.

Louise Davis Langheier is founder and CEO of Peer Health Exchange, a non-profit that trains college students to teach health education in public high schools. Louise was selected as a member of the 2011 class of Aspen Entrepreneurial Education Fellows, and was named an Ashoka Fellow in 2012. She graduated from Yale University. 

Conrad Doucette on Starting a Family in a Dual Income Household

In Chapter 6 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, musician and digital strategist Conrad Doucette answers "What Have Been Your Challenges Starting a Family in a Dual-Income Household?" Doucette shares how he and his partner learn to be more open-minded thinking about life away from work after having a baby. He notes it is no small adjustment but one new parents need to make given their new responsibilities. Conrad Doucette is a Brooklyn musician and the drummer for the band Takka Takka. 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. 

Conrad Doucette on How to Wear Many Hats Working a Startup Job

In Chapter 12 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, musician and digital strategist Conrad Doucette answers "How Are Your Job Responsibilities Changing as You Gain Experience?" Doucette shares how his diverse digital media experience helps him fill startup roles that require generalists to "wear many hats" on the job.

Conrad Doucette is a Brooklyn musician and the drummer for the band Takka Takka. 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. 

Simon Sinek on Why Diversity Differentiates Team Performance

In Chapter 10 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" Sinek shares why curiosity is so important in working with others who are different than you. He notes diversity is built on different perspectives regardless of race or religion. Curiosity allows you to push beyond what you know and surrounding yourself with people who have different experiences facilitates deeper learning. Simon Sinek teaches leaders and organizations how to inspire people. Sinek is the author of two books, "Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Come Together and Others Don't" and "Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action". He is a public speaker, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a Brandeis University graduate.

Lauren Serota on Getting Parent Support Making Career Choices

In Chapter 1 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and educator Lauren Serota answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Serota shares how her parents creative a trusting yet objective home environment and why that helped her learn to make better decisions.

Lauren Serota works as an associate creative director at frog design. She is also a teacher at the Austin Center for Design (AC4D). Serota earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Lauren Serota on What It Means to Be a Creative Leader

In Chapter 7 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and educator Lauren Serota answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?" Serota leads by being able to ingest multiple perspectives, synthesize them and create a point of view that unites a team around a common vision. New in her role as assistant creative director, Serota finds teammates seeking her creative leadership at an individual task or tactical level.

Lauren Serota works as an associate creative director at frog design. She is also a teacher at the Austin Center for Design (AC4D). Serota earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). 

Lauren Serota on Sharing Leadership Responsibility

In Chapter 10 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and educator Lauren Serota answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" As she grows as a creative leader, Serota finds herself in more complex team structures where leadership responsibility is shared. She works to improve how she collaborates with co-leaders on projects where she is not the sole leader or creative leader.

Lauren Serota works as an associate creative director at frog design. She is also a teacher at the Austin Center for Design (AC4D). Serota earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). 

Lauren Serota on Building Skills to Be a Better Teacher

In Chapter 15 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and educator Lauren Serota answers "How Are You Becoming a Better Teacher?" As an instructor at the Austin Center for Design, Serota evolves her teaching style and course design as she gains experience. She brings in anecdotes from her studies and work to give students a foundation until they can gain their own experiences and build their own base. She works with faculty to continuously improve courses based on best practice research. In class, Serota deconstructs complex concepts into simpler pieces that allow students to stay focused and hone understanding of the core concepts.

Lauren Serota works as an associate creative director at frog design. She is also a teacher at the Austin Center for Design (AC4D). Serota earned a bachelor's degree in industrial design from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD).

Tricia Regan on Learning Cultural Diversity Working in Film and TV

In Chapter 11 of 15 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, filmmaker Tricia Regan answers "What Have You Found Most Rewarding About Traveling to New Places?" Making documentary films and shooting and producing television shows has given Regan the opportunity to travel around the world and deep into sub-cultures within regions and communities. She shares how going into different worlds, for example working on a murder investigation TV show where she filmed interviews with serial killers, has pushed her to be more accepting of differences in others. 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.

Ken Biberaj on Learning Who and How to Ask for Feedback

In Chapter 17 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, New York City Council Candidate Ken Biberaj answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Beyond his campaign team and family, Biberaj finds it surprising how willing neighbors have been to offer coaching tips and feedback. After hosting campaign house parties, Biberaj follows up with phone calls and asks "What Can I Do Better?" 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. 

Clara Soh on What Rock Climbing Teaches About Relationship Trust

In Chapter 9 of 20 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, health economist Clara Soh answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" An avid rock climber, Soh shares the importance of finding a climbing partner you can trust and how she goes about building trusting climbing partner relationships. 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 to Get Better By Being Less Judgmental

In Chapter 15 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" As a facilitator connecting job candidates to hiring managers, McCormick learns how to be less judgmental and keep his personal feelings out of the job search process. He realizes the hiring decision is up to his candidates and clients and that understanding the views of others from their perspective helps him serve his clients better. 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.

Jon Kolko on How a Supportive Family Can Open Doors in Your Education and Career

In Chapter 1 of his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, educator and designer Jon Kolko answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Kolko shares how his wife has helped him achieve work goals by making sacrifices so he could grow into new phases of his career. Moreover, Kolko shares how his parents always supported his education and rarely challenged his choices. As an educator, Kolko sees how students make higher education and career choices and challenges the status quo and the need for a college degree. 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.

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.

Audrey French on How to Adapt When Things Do Not Work As Planned

In Chapter 11 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Have You Learned to Adapt When Things Have Not Worked Out as Planned?" French learns adaptability in the entrepreneurship experience she had starting and growing a business. She learns how to deal with situations and people that demand calm and flexible responses. This helps her manage uncertainty and be less uptight in doing so. 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.