Video Interviews — Capture Your Flag

Experience Diversity

Bryan Law on Learning Languages in International Business Consulting

In Chapter 10 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "As a Non-Native Speaker, How Did You Overcome Language Barriers Working in Brazil?" Working as a management consultant, Law is staffed on a Brazil project and, as a non-native speaker, learns Portuguese when he finds the work is done in native language and not English. As an international consultant, the experience teaches him the importance of engaging clients in their native languages as best as possible. This helps him on future projects, including one working with the Mozambique government.

Bryan Law is a Principal in the Global Business Strategy Group at Google and a board member at Angola University. Previously, he was a manager at Monitor, management consulting firm. He has worked in consulting roles at Watson Wyatt and Mercer. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business and a BA from Georgetown University. 

How International Work Experience Benefits Your Career

In Chapter 13 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "How Has International Work Experience Contributed to Your Professional Development?" Working internationally in Dubai, Brazil, Mozambique, South Africa, and India teaches Law to appreciate the differences amongst people. In his international work, Law looks to understand where people are coming from as it pertains to beliefs, motives and rationale.

Bryan Law is a Principal in the Global Business Strategy Group at Google and a board member at Angola University. Previously, he was a manager at Monitor, management consulting firm. He has worked in consulting roles at Watson Wyatt and Mercer. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business and a BA from Georgetown University. 

Bryan Law on Building Team Trust Working in Consulting

In Chapter 15 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Working abroad in Dubai, Law learns the importance of spending time getting to know your clients and your project team personally and professionally before conducting business. He finds it helps to sit down with new team member and share backgrounds and goals. The time spent creates a personal connection that adds to the professional relationship. Law finds spending time taking an interest in his project team members and clients ultimately helps him to better help them develop and achieve work goal success.

Bryan Law is a Principal in the Global Business Strategy Group at Google and a board member at Angola University. Previously, he was a manager at Monitor, management consulting firm. He has worked in consulting roles at Watson Wyatt and Mercer. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Business and a BA from Georgetown University. 

Ramsey Pryor on How Moving Often as a Child Shapes Adult Life

In Chapter 2 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, product management executive Ramsey Pryor answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental to Shaping Who You Are Today?" Pryor shares how moving often as a child taught him to be better at adapting and embracing new environments. Living in rural and urban areas also gives Pryor an appreciation for and an ability to relate to small town values and urban living.

Ramsey Pryor is a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based collaboration and security software products. Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM. Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University.  

How to Cultivate Child Curiosity for Learning

In Chapter 4 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, product management executive Ramsey Pryor answers "How Do You Encourage and Support Your Children's Curiosity for Learning?" Pryor learns from his Mom that giving young children an opportunity to explore at a young age fosters curiosity and learning. He relocates his family to the San Francisco Bay Area in large part to give his kids year-round opportunities for family time outdoors and museums that make learning continuous, fun and exciting.

Ramsey Pryor is a product management executive at IBM focused on cloud-based collaboration and security software products. Previously he was VP Product Marketing at Outblaze, acquired by IBM. Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University. 

How to Enjoy Everyday Life as an Entrepreneur

In Chapter 4 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do?" Geller finds it rewarding to come into work and face new challenges each day. From managing clients to building products to handling finances, Geller finds new challenges each day that keep work fresh and new.

Adam Geller is founder and CEO of Edthena, a video platform enabling online teacher coaching, peer review, and group learning. He is a recent Education Ventures fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and the founder of Teach For Us, a network connecting Teach for America corps members and alumni. He earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

Learning Business Working for a National Fraternity

In Chapter 6 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "What Did You Learn About Organizational Development Working for Your National Fraternity?" Working in the national offices of his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, after college gives Geller exposure to running a national organization. Learning from leaders running the national nonprofit gives Geller an idea of what it would be like to successfully run a multimillion dollar business one day.

Adam Geller is founder and CEO of Edthena, a video platform enabling online teacher coaching, peer review, and group learning. He is a recent Education Ventures fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and the founder of Teach For Us, a network connecting Teach for America corps members and alumni. He earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

How Diversity Enhances Career Advisor Network Value

In Chapter 22 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "At This Point in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Geller gets career advice and career coaching from a broad, diverse professional network of people working across different fields. The diversity of experiences - from PhD scientists to management consultants to venture capitalists to startup CEOs to his hairstylist, help Geller develop and grow.

Adam Geller is founder and CEO of Edthena, a video platform enabling online teacher coaching, peer review, and group learning. He is a recent Education Ventures fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and the founder of Teach For Us, a network connecting Teach for America corps members and alumni. He earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

Geoff Hamm on Why to Work With an Executive Coach

In Chapter 3 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Has Working With an Executive Coach Helped You Develop Your Career?" Hamm regularly meets with his executive coach to get feedback on his career. The informed, unbiased perspective a professional coach provides gives Hamm perspective on how to handle challenges and problems he faces leading teams and motivating employees.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Aspen Fellow Preston Smith on Developing Leadership Capacity

In Chapter 14 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "How Did Your Aspen Institute Fellowship Contribute to Your Professional Development?" Selected into the Pahara Fellowship leader development program at the Aspen Institute, Smith joins a cohort of entrepreneurial education leaders. There, he learns via peer self-refections that help him identify ways to improve how he leads his life and his organization.

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 Asking For Advice Before Having a Baby

In Chapter 20 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Nine months pregnant, Langheier shares how she openly seeks out advice from working parents on how they navigated parenthood and career after starting a family. She shares how she asks working parents and the way she asks follow-up questions.

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. 

Mark Graham on the Career Benefits of a Liberal Arts Education

In Chapter 7 of 15 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, media executive Mark Graham answers "Where Has Your Liberal Arts Education Been Most Valuable in Your Career?"  Studying liberal arts at the University of Michigan exposes Graham to a wide array of subjects. Graham takes this approach in his career, building a broad set of experiences working in marketing and digital media before transitioning into television and editorial publishing jobs. Mark Graham is currently a managing editor at MTV Networks. Previously Graham worked in editing and writing roles at New York Magazine and Gawker Media. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English. 

Mark Graham on Effective Ways to Manage Creative Teams

In Chapter 13 of 15 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, media executive Mark Graham answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively with Different Personality Types?" Graham finds managing creative teams as a team leader comes down to understanding what space each creative employee needs to be successful. Graham also shares what the team needs to be successful with employees and finds common ground where the individual has flexibility while staying aligned to team goals.

Mark Graham is currently a managing editor at MTV Networks. Previously Graham worked in editing and writing roles at New York Magazine and Gawker Media. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in English. 

Conrad Doucette on How Hands-Off Parenting Fuels Creative Work Ethic

In Chapter 8 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, musician and digital strategist Conrad Doucette answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Doucette shares ways childhood experiences shaped his creative work ethic. From moving to many new places to having hands-off parents who allowed him to explore, Doucette develops creative tools he uses as an adult working in digital media and performing as a drummer with different artists. 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. 

Conrad Doucette on What You Learn Working at Fast Growing Startups

In Chapter 13 of 17 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, musician and digital strategist Conrad Doucette answers "How Does Working at This Startup Compare and Contrast With the Startups That You've Worked With in the Past?" Over and over again in his startup job experiences, Doucette learns that startups will always lack the institutional memory and infrastructure of larger companies such as Proctor and Gamble. As a result, startups always need to be responsive and flexible to staff and solve these issues and problems spontaneously as they arise.

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.

Simon Sinek on Improving Writing Skills by Embracing the Unfamiliar

In Chapter 18 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek answers "How Are You Challenging Yourself to Improve As a Writer?" Sinek shares how he embraces challenge and works to improve his writing by trying new things such as writing fiction. He notes going to unfamiliar places helps him build both competence and confidence as he develops his writing skills. 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.