Rachel Lehmann-Haupt on Moving From New York to San Francisco

In Chapter 5 of 17 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, author and small business owner Rachel Lehmann-Haupt answers "How Has Moving to a New City Created Positive Change in Your Life?" Working in media and publishing, Lehmann-Haupt finds New York City to be, as her mentor Clay Felker puts it, "about power and who's up and who's down." Upon arriving in the San Francisco, she finds the Bay Area culture to be more about ideas and experimentation and open-mindedness to new possibilities. Lehmann-Haupt connects with the culture, joins TED Books to work on the future of digital media publishing and ultimately launches her own firm, StoryMade.

Rachel Lehmann-Haupt is a writer, editor and multimedia content strategist. She is the owner of StoryMade, a storytelling studio that creates new media content solutions for businesses. Previously, she was a founding editor and multimedia producer at TED Books, designing TED Talk content for tablet computers. She is the author of "In Her Own Sweet Time", published in 2009. Lehmann-Haupt earned a BA from Kenyon College and a Masters in Journalism from UC-Berkeley. 

How the Kauffman Foundation Prepares Entrepreneurs

In Chapter 10 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "How Did Your Kauffman Foundation Fellowship Help Prepare You to Become an Entrepreneur?" Geller finds his Kauffman Foundation Fellowship program gave him time and space to jumpstart his business. Leaving teaching to start an education technology company, the Kauffman Fellowship allows Geller to go from part-time focus on the project to full-time while honing his product and business model.

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.

Simon Sinek on Pushing Beyond the Tried and True Into Something New

In Chapter 15 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek answers "How Do You Balance Experimentation and Commitment in the Projects That You Pursue?" Sinek shares what he has learned about striking that balance between pushing boundaries developing new concepts and appreciating the need to stay committed to your best work. He notes that innovation requires risk and, in his own life, he pushes himself to practice what he preaches. This requires Sinek to create new material while staying mindful there will always be an audience for the "greatest hits". 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 Teaching Students Design Thinking

In Chapter 16 of 21 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and educator Lauren Serota answers "What Does It Mean to Teach Someone to Think Like a Designer?" Serota notes there is a nature versus nurture element of teaching students design thinking techniques. As a teacher, Serota tries to find student learning styles and adapt her teaching to those who grasp creative and design thinking and those who struggle to grasp them.

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).

Nina Godiwalla on Using Practical Experimentation to Live a Fuller Life

In Chapter 18 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and entrepreneur Nina Godiwalla answers "So One of the Messages That You Share With Audiences is Built on This Idea of Practical Experimentation. What is That?" Godiwalla shares how practical experimentation is about being reasonable and earning a living while pushing the boundaries by taking risks pursuing your passions. She uses this approach to find that delicate balance of feeling fulfilled developing passions even when that does not relate to your everyday job. Nina Godiwalla is an expert on diversity, leadership and women in the business world. She is CEO of Mindworks, which provides leadership, stress management, and diversity training to companies all over the world. She is also a bestselling author and public speaker. Godiwalla earned an MBA from Wharton, a MA from Dartmouth and a BBA from the University of Texas.

Richard Moross on Opening a Retail Store for an E-Commerce Brand

In Chapter 7 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, Moo.com CEO Richard Moross answers "What Has Surprised You Most About What You Have Learned by Opening a Retail Store?" Moross shares how he learned about physical space design working at design firm Imagination. After applying this in a trade show context as well as a physical product design process, he and his team take the detail-oriented products he offers from an online retailing experience to a physical one. He notes the resulting customer experience was as much about physically interacting with the products as it was interacting with the brand experience in the store. 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.

Doug Jaeger on Cultivating Creative Aspirations to Make a Difference

In Chapter 3 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Experience Grows?" Jaeger continues to seek ways he can leave behind a legacy in what he creates. He works strike a balance between experimental projects such as silverware design and other ways to make things, including films, that can change user behavior or culture in meaningful ways. 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.

Doug Jaeger on Why Selling Your Work Starts With Selling Yourself

In Chapter 6 of 14 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and brand marketer Doug Jaeger answers "What Role Does Confidence Play in the Work That You Do?" As a professional, Jaeger shares why having confidence can make or break your ability to sell work. He shares an experience from working in advertising and doing a professional photography look book shoot for a fashion brand. Skilled at photography, he finds indecisiveness working on a set with models leads to not being successful completing the project. He compares this to how having confidence in his branding and marketing work has allowed him to 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 Trial and Error Can Improve Listening Skills

In Chapter 19 of 21 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, legal search and consulting firm executive James McCormick answers "How Are You Learning to Work More Effectively With Different Personality Types?" McCormick shares how trial and error has helped him become a better listener. Listening helps McCormick determine what is motivating someone's point of view or behavior so he can be more helpful sourcing candidates for new jobs. 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.

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 Using Design and Programming to Express Your Ideas

In Chapter 7 of 10 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, software engineer Chris Hinkle answers "How Do You Bring Together Design and Programming in Your Work?" Hinkle shares how he has learned design and programming separately to express his ideas by building digital products. He learns to turn ideas into products by first learning computer programming and second, through practice, experimentation and feedback, design. 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.

Matt Curtis on Learning Best Practices for Running a City

In Chapter 5 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, HomeAway government relations director Matt Curtis answers "What Has Working in City Government Taught You About Best Practices for Running a City?" Serving on the United States Conference of Mayors Business Council, Curtis brings what he has learned working in Austin city government and learns from other municipal leaders on best practices to run a city. Curtis shares why experimentation is a valuable tool and why to engage community members for improvement ideas. 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 to Know You Are Ready to Commit to Getting Married

In Chapter 15 of 18 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Audrey Parker French answers "How Do You Balance Experimentation and Commitment in the Projects That You Pursue?" French shares how she and her husband set expectations together when deciding if and when to get married. Setting clearly defined goals and taking incremental steps to reach them help them test the relationship before making the commitment in marriage. 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.

Jason Anello on Building Employee-Friendly Company Culture

In Chapter 15 of 20 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and Manifold ad agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "How Have You Created a Company Culture That Can Be Embraced by New Employees?" Anello notes that his business, Manifold Partners, started with five friends come together. As the company has doubled in size, Anello notes the importance of engaging new employees through inclusive programs that cultivate the creative business in fun ways.

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 What You Learn Bootstrap Financing a Startup

In Chapter 7 of 18 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Has Bootstrapping a Startup Taught You About Doing More With Less?"  Bootstrap financing his startup teaches McKenzie to get creative with limited resources.  It forces him not to be lazy and to make the most fewer financial resources, for example when getting publicity and marketing his business. 

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 Finding Freelance Writing Jobs to Make Ends Meet

In Chapter 14 of 17 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, writer and healthy food advocate Cathy Erway answers "How Have You Found Jobs to Make Ends Meet and Pay the Bills as You Develop Your Career?"  As a freelance writer, Erway builds strong relationships with a few publications, namely the L Magazine, Edible Brooklyn and Grist.org.  The relationships provide her a steady stream of writing work that complement her work as a cooking teacher and restaurant cook. 

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.

Cathy Erway on Improving Cooking Skills by Teaching Classes

In Chapter 16 of 17 in her 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, writer and healthy food advocate Cathy Erway answers "How Has Teaching Cooking Classes Helped You Become a Better Cook?"  Erway shares how feedback she receives teaching cooking classes helps her learn different perspectives from her students.  She shares an example from learning from students about using different forms of a spice in your cooking. 

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.