Michael Olsen on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 2 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" Olsen shares how developing daily habits has made his life easier by making him more productive. Specifically, making daily checklists allows Olsen to do things easily that once were hard. As for what is getting harder, he finds making the transition from his 20s into his 30s presents some big challenges, including decisions around committing to a career path and starting a family.

Michael Olsen is a management consultant at Accenture. Previous to Accenture, Olsen earned dual MBA and MPH degrees at Emory University in Atlanta. Olsen earned a BA in symbolic systems from Stanford University and spent the next five years founding an IT consulting company, Redwood Strategies. 

Michael Olsen on Learning Work Ethic From a Big Brother

In Chapter 6 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Olsen learns work ethic from his big brother, Marc, who leads by example working hard and staying determined to accomplish goals. This shapes Olsen as he develops his own sense of drive and applies it in his own career and life pursuits.

Michael Olsen is a management consultant at Accenture. Previous to Accenture, Olsen earned dual MBA and MPH degrees at Emory University in Atlanta. Olsen earned a BA in symbolic systems from Stanford University and spent the next five years founding an IT consulting company, Redwood Strategies. 

How to Refine Journalist Storytelling Job Skills

In Chapter 12 of 17 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, author and small business owner Rachel Lehmann-Haupt answers "How Are You Applying Your Passions in New Ways?" A passionate storyteller and trained journalist, Lehmann-Haupt creates new opportunities in her career by getting new people and organizations to tell their story. Lehmann-Haupt refines her storytelling skills, from asking interview questions to producing video, to gain confidence and perform at a higher level.

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. 

3 Ways to Build Management Consulting Project Manager Skills

In Chapter 11 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "What Core Skills Did You Learn Working on Management Consulting Projects?" Growing into a project manager role working in management consulting, Law finds three areas on which to focus. First, he learns what to prioritize in order to run a client project efficiently. Second, Law makes sure to build a strong relationship with the client that goes beyond the project. Third, he builds a team dynamic around inclusion and trust to do his best to make the project work as rewarding for team member professional development as possible.

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 Starting a New University in Angola

In Chapter 20 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "How Are You Going About Starting a New University in Africa?" After meeting Guerra Frietas while studying at Northwestern University, Law joins Freitas' volunteer team to help build a new university in Angola. Law shares steps he and the team have taken to build credibility get a top-tier team of volunteer professionals to help build the school.

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. 

Adam Geller on Finding Work That Brings Out Your Passion

In Chapter 2 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "When Are You At Your Best?" Geller finds he is at his best when he is passionate about the work he is doing. He feels it when he is excited about the problem he is working to solve. He does not mind staying late at work as long as he believes in the work he is doing.

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 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.

Two Steps You Need to Build Relationship Trust

In Chapter 14 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Geller finds trust building is a two-step process. First, he assesses someone's trustworthiness from a capabilities standpoint of what they have compared to what the relationship requires. Second, he performs diligence on an individual to gather data and make a more informed decision on whether or not to trust them. He shares his experiences building trust with students as an 8th and 9th grade science teacher.

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 Building Business Relationship Trust

In Chapter 4 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" For Hamm, it starts with finding mutual connections to establish credibility and transparency. To build trusted business relationships over time, Hamm relies on consistency, accountability, and honesty, especially when a situation does not go as planned.

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.

How to Develop and Retain Your Best Salespeople

In Chapter 14 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "What Has Your Experience Taught You About Developing and Retaining Your Best Sales People?" Hamm sees developing and retaining top sales performers as a top sales leader responsibility. He does this by setting career path expectations and listening to employees so they feel heard. As a leader, he uses a style focused more on coaching than high-touch managing to give salespeople room to work while also setting executive team expectations why this is critical to sales success.

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.

Preston Smith on Having a Spouse Who Supports Your Career

In Chapter 11 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Smith shares how having a supportive spouse has given him security in trying times as he has grown from teaching into an education entrepreneur. The support grows in significance as Preston and his wife start a family.

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. 

Preston Smith on Marriage Encounter Influences on Married Life

In Chapter 12 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?" Growing up, Smith watches his parents attend marriage encounter relationship building groups and sees the positive impact it has on their marriage and the family. He learns that marriage is a daily commitment that needs daily attention. By making that daily commitment to marriage and his spouse, Smith finds he learns a lot about life and the importance of staying positive.

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 Funding Model Options to Grow a Nonprofit

In Chapter 17 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "How Has Your Approach to Fundraising Evolved as Your Nonprofit Has Grown?" As her nonprofit Peer Health Exchange celebrates its 10th anniversary, Langheier shares the fundamental importance of having a foundation of investor support to provide stability. From that, she looks to new revenue-generating models related to fee-for-service to contribute to the next phase of the organization's growth.

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 What Marriage Teaches About Teamwork

In Chapter 19 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, social entrepreneur Louise Langheier answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?" Langheier shares that teamwork comes with getting to a mutual understanding what each person wants out of relationship to best give and receive support.

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 Setting Aspirations as a New Father

In Chapter 2 of 15 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, media executive Mark Graham answers "To What Do You Aspire as a Father?" Graham takes inspiration from his own father as he sets goals for managing the responsibilities of being a new dad. Graham learns a lot about how to treat a young baby by watching his father bond with his son. Graham sets a goal of doing his best to be a role model father just like his dad.

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. 

Simon Sinek on Why Organizations Need a Circle of Safety

In Chapter 6 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek answers "What is a Circle of Safety and Why Should Organizations Consider Building One?" Acknowledging constant dangers and threats outside an organization, Sinek looks inside an organization to what leaders can provide employees to make the business better. He finds creating a circle of safety helps leaders foster secure environments that promote trust and through it, collaboration, innovation and productivity. 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 Building Trust Through Committed Leadership

In Chapter 8 of 23 in his 2013 Capture Your Flag interview, author and public speaker Simon Sinek answers "Why is Trust a Leadership Skill That Should Be Taught?" Sinek shares that because trust is a feeling like loyalty, it is difficult to teach. Over time, however, by creating a circle of safety, Sinek shares ways committed leaders can create inclusive cultures at work that prioritize inclusion, openness, and safety. He shares an example of Goldman Sachs and how over 30 years its culture has shifted from the "Boy Scouts of Wall Street" and collaborative to something more individualist and self-centered. 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 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.