Bijoy Goswami on How to Turn a Presentation into a Conversation

In Chapter 14 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How Did You Learn to Give a More Effective South By Southwest Panel and Talk?" Goswami shares how he finds speaking solo or speaking on a panel is about turning that one-way dialogue into a two-way conversation with an audience. At South By Southwest, he gravitates toward more social meetups and core conversation structures. For him it is all about identifying audience backgrounds and interests and tailoring a presentation to meet their needs.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Receive Feedback by Communicating Better

In Chapter 15 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "What Type of Feedback Do You Respond to Best?" Goswami finds he can receive feedback best when others clearly understand what he is trying to do. This requires him to put a greater emphasis on communicating clearly and effectively to be understood so the feedback can be relevant and targeted.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Audrey French on Having a Baby at a Birthing Center and Not a Hospital

In Chapter 5 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Made You Choose to Have Your Baby at a Birthing Center and Not a Hospital?" While pregnant, French and her husband research options and decide to give birth at a birthing center instead of a hospital. She decides to have a natural birth without drugs and then she and her husband prepare for the moment by reading and taking classes.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French 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 graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on How to Receive Feedback and Put It to Good Use

In Chapter 16 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Type of Feedback Do You Respond to Best?" French finds she responds to constructive, positive feedback best. When feedback is angled toward making her feel bad or worse or else make her feel like she is wrong, French finds she closes down. When feedback is build on how to make something better and feels like it is coming from a sincere place of trying to help, French responds much better.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French 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 graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Courtney Spence on How to Give More Thoughtful Feedback

In Chapter 9 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "What Type of Feedback Do You Respond to Best?" Spence finds feedback is best - thoughtful, purposeful, actionable - when it does not come with an agenda or a bias not specific to the situation. She finds people love to give advice but that often translates into them talking about their experiences. Spence finds effective feedback is more about the recipient and than the person giving feedback.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Courtney Spence on Listening to Needs First and Teaching Second

In Chapter 10 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Becoming a Better Teacher?" As a company leader and as a parent, Spence finds becoming a better teacher is about listening first and teaching second. In a world where everyone has an opinion and listening seems to get harder to do, she finds it is more important than ever to prioritize.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Courtney Spence on Why Managing Email Gets Harder as You Get Older

In Chapter 13 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" Spence is challenged by staying organized and maintaining correspondence each day. Specifically, she feels overwhelmed by the daily demands of her email inbox and managing the increasing demands on her time as she gets older. Spence finds zero inbox or inbox zero advice is not for her and looks for alternative ways to manage her communication in and out of her inbox.

Courtney Spence is founder and CEO of Students of the World, a nonprofit empowering a diverse network of student and emerging filmmakers to apply storytelling skills in purposeful work. She is also the Founder and CEO of CSpence group, a creative agency building millennial-focused content and programs for brands. Spence earned a BA from Duke University. 

Randall Metting on the Two Pillars of Building Trusting Relationships

In Chapter 4 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Randall Metting answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Metting shares how honest and open communication are the two pillars he uses to build trusting relationships. He finds the openness and honesty set clear expectations in the relationship so both sides understand what needs to get done.

Randall Metting is a brand development and marketing manager at Dulce Vida Spirits in Austin, Texas. Over 17 years, he has built brands in spirits, luxury real estate and lifestyle, music, and sports industries. He has been a radio personality at KGSR Radio and a marketer at a hyperlocal startup acquired by NBC Universal. Metting earned a BA in Advertising from the University of Florida and started his career at The Coca-Cola Company. 

Randall Metting on Marketing a New Product to Bars and Restaurants

In Chapter 11 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Randall Metting answers "What Role Do Negotiation Skills Play in Your Work?" For Metting, negotiation comes down to his work marketing his product to bar and restaurant owners and managers. It starts with introducing the product, telling the story and sampling the product. From there, Metting is able to negotiate a deal for bars and restaurants to carry the product that includes not just volume and pricing but also staff training and incentive programs.

Randall Metting is a brand development and marketing manager at Dulce Vida Spirits in Austin, Texas. Over 17 years, he has built brands in spirits, luxury real estate and lifestyle, music, and sports industries. He has been a radio personality at KGSR Radio and a marketer at a hyperlocal startup acquired by NBC Universal. Metting earned a BA in Advertising from the University of Florida and started his career at The Coca-Cola Company. 

Hattie Elliot on How to Communicate More Effectively With Others

In Chapter 12 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Are You Learning to Communicate More Effectively?" To Elliot, effective communication in both personal and professional relationships comes down to one thing: properly setting expectations. Setting clear expectations allows her to make a promise to another - a boyfriend, a family member, a client - that she can deliver on in the future.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Matt Ruby on Learning to Act in a Comedy Web Series

In Chapter 6 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, standup comedian and Vooza founder Matt Ruby answers "How Have You Approached the Process of Becoming an Actor and Acting in a Comedy Series?" Ruby shares how he has transitioned from performing on stage as a standup to acting on film for a web series. After taking Meisner acting classes, Ruby learns by doing and working through the process of acting in Vooza webisodes. He finds acting on camera more nuanced than performing on stage in front of audiences and adjusts his approach accordingly.

Matt Ruby is a standup comedian based in New York City. He also founded Vooza, on online comic strip web series that makes fun of tech startup culture. As an actor, director, writer and producer, Ruby leads the creative direction for the team. Before his comedy career, Matt was employee #1 at 37Signals. He graduated from Northwestern University. 

Matt Ruby on How to Build an Online Community for a Web Series

In Chapter 16 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, standup comedian and Vooza founder Matt Ruby answers "What Has Your Experience Developing Vooza Taught You About Building an Online Community?" Ruby finds two things are key to building audience relationships: having a consistent frequency of contact and staying open and approachable to communicating with his audience. The challenge with these online marketing initiatives is to find the time for them amidst the many other parts of the business.

Matt Ruby is a standup comedian based in New York City. He also founded Vooza, on online comic strip web series that makes fun of tech startup culture. As an actor, director, writer and producer, Ruby leads the creative direction for the team. Before his comedy career, Matt was employee #1 at 37Signals. He graduated from Northwestern University. 

Anatole Faykin on the Benefit of Listening More and Talking Less

In Chapter 3 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Internet entrepreneur Anatole Faykin answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building New Relationships?" Faykin shares how by listening more and talking less, he is able to pay better attention to others and demonstrate respect for what they have to say. Doing so helps him connect with others and build trust. 

Anatole Faykin is an Internet entrepreneur and digital marketer exploring new career options. A passionate world traveler and problem solver, Faykin plans to return to graduate school to earn a biosciences masters degree. Previously, Faykin has started multiple companies, including Tuanpin, a Shanghai startup he sold in 2011. He holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in computer science and biology from the California Institute of Technology.

Anatole Faykin on Career Benefits of Interdisciplinary Job Skills

In Chapter 6 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Internet entrepreneur Anatole Faykin answers "How Has Your Interdisciplinary Education Proven Valuable in Your Development?" As an internet marketing consultant who has started multiple businesses, Faykin finds a blend of hard and soft job skills, from online marketing and analytics to effective communication skills, essential to succeeding in both startup and corporate work environments.

Anatole Faykin is an Internet entrepreneur and digital marketer exploring new career options. A passionate world traveler and problem solver, Faykin plans to return to graduate school to earn a biosciences masters degree. Previously, Faykin has started multiple companies, including Tuanpin, a Shanghai startup he sold in 2011. He holds an MBA from NYU and a BS in computer science and biology from the California Institute of Technology.

Michael Olsen on Using an Interdisciplinary Education in a Job

In Chapter 11 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "How Has Your Interdisciplinary Education Proven Valuable in Your Development?" Olsen shares how his interdisciplinary education gives him and others a fresh perspective when doing business and researching. He also finds that interdisciplinary learning has helped him apply different processes to solve problems and communicate more effectively.

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 Improving Management Consultant Job Skills

In Chapter 13 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "What Skills Are You Working on Right Now to Become Better at Your Job?" As an Accenture management consultant, Olsen focuses on improving effective communication skills and creating repeatable processes to perform work tasks.

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 How to Assess Communication Effectiveness

In Chapter 14 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "How Are You Learning to Communicate More Effectively?" Olsen shares his approach to testing his communication and persuasiveness, from trying alternative approaches to gathering data and assessing results. 

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. 

Bryan Law on Learning Leadership as Student Body President

In Chapter 8 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business strategist Bryan Law answers "What Did Your Experience as Student Body President Teach You About Leadership?" As student body president of his Kellogg MBA class, Law learns to lead in two ways. As a student government leader, he first embraces a philosophy of engaging his team to understand their perspectives to shape the team direction. Second, his work as a class president teaches him that while consensus is optimal, sometimes a leader must make unpopular decisions.

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, a 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.