Hammans Stallings on How to Use Philosophy in a Consulting Career

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, strategist and management consultant Hammans Stallings answers "How Has Learning Consulting Been Useful in Your Management Consulting Work?" Stallings shares how reading philosophy and studying philosophers deepens his unerstadning of core arguments and ideas that have been debated for 1000s of years. He learns from the masters to bring these old ideas into present work solving problems working on consulting projects.

Hammans Stallings is a Principal Strategist at frog design. Previously Stallings worked in strategy at Dell and investment banking at Stephens. He earned an MBA from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, a MS in Technology Commercialization from the University of Texas and a BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Virginia.

Matt Curtis on How to Identify City Government Best Practices

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "How Are You Deepening Your Understanding of How City Government Works?" By working in city government and working with city government in his job at HomeAway, Curtis travels the world and finds ways for local governments to identify and implement best practices from other cities. He finds there is nearly always a case study of a city developing a program or implementing a solution that eliminates for any local government to "reinvent the wheel" on a project, on areas such as economic development and city infrastructure.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Matt Curtis on Learning Customer Service in First Job After College

In Chapter 10 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "What Did You Learn in Your First Job Out of College That is Still Relevant Today?" Curtis shares how working at a wine bar in his first job out of college taught him the importance of customer service. Even though the winery was beautiful, Curtis found the customer experience was dependent on consistent, high quality service.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Bijoy Goswami on Helping Others Be More Accountable to Themselves

In Chapter 4 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "What Role Does Living Up to the Expectations of Others Play into How You Live?" Goswami finds his challenge is about ensuring the people he works with on self-reflection coaching exercises remove expectations from him and shift them to accountability for themselves. As a teacher employing a self-interrogation model with others, Goswami works to create a space where these people can more clearly realize the expectations on him are to be a reflective mirror back to those he helps.

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. 

Matt Curtis on How to Find Common Ground in a Negotiation

In Chapter 17 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Matt Curtis answers "What Role Do Negotiation Skills Play in Your Work?" Curtis shares how he negotiates often in his work and how being being a patient, friendly active listener helps him find common ground and win-win outcomes in negotiations. He finds this is especially true negotiating common ground working with government, given concessions are nearly always part of a negotiation.

Matt Curtis is the director of government relations at HomeAway Inc. Previously he was deputy to Austin mayors Lee Leffingwell and Will Wynn. He has represented the City of Austin at the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National League of Cities. In 2011, Curtis joined the Harvard Kennedy School Urban Policy Advisory Board to work on national best practices facing American cities. He earned his bachelor's degree in radio, television and film from the University of North Texas. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Empower a Stewardship Ethic in Others

In Chapter 6 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are You Learning to Empower Others to Be Community Stewards?" Goswami shares how he first has one-on-one coaching conversations with others. He then employs models of experience to visualize the journey stewards might take and how that compares with something like community service. This then allows him to refine what it means to steward and how that energy will express itself.

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 Get Paid by Sharing What You Know for Free

In Chapter 12 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How is Your Business Model Evolving as You Gain Experience?" Goswami shares how his business model blends giving away knowledge for free with getting paid to help clients solve specific problems. As an author, speaker and teacher, Goswami uses different means to freely share knowledge and create value. Using Google search as a comparable he then looks for ways, specifically management consulting, to scope out work specific to individual customers.

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 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. 

Audrey French on The Best Advice to Prepare Yourself for Parenthood

In Chapter 2 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Did You Go About Seeking Advice as You Prepared for Parenthood?" French shares how after doing a lot of research she finds the best advice simply observing her best friend and how she raises her three children.

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 Why to Have Advocates and Sponsors in Your Life

In Chapter 13 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Role Have Advocate and Sponsor Relationships Played in Your Development?" French shares how sposors and advocates - people who not only give advice but provide support to help put that advice to work - have been instrumental in both her personal and professional growth. Professionally, CLEAResult president Glenn Garland, who advocates for her as she learns through failure. Personally, French's best friend advocates for French as she becomes a new wife and a mother.

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 Why Not to Fear Confrontation

In Chapter 18 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Has Experience Taught You About How to Better Manage Confrontation?" French shares how she has overcome a fear of confrontation by not taking emotional outbursts from others, especially anger, personally.

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 How to Train Young People to Do Creative Jobs

In Chapter 15 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Advancing the Ways You Train and Support Creative Talent?" Spence shares what she has learned over 15 years working with and managing teams of twentysomething creative professionals. She finds training millennials is less about teaching technology and more about teaching accountability and how to work on a project for someone else. These client project skills teach young creatives a structure of how to be professional and meet employer expectations.

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 How to Be a Better Strategic Partner

In Chapter 16 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "How Are You Improving How Your Organization Builds Strategic Partnerships?" Spence shares what she has learned about being a better strategic partner over the 15-year journey leading a nonprofit. She finds being a better partner comes down to appreciating partner commitment, finding values that align, and regognizing that a true relationship is about both the "relation" and the "ship." She notes how everyone wants the relation but many overlook the need to want and embrace the ship.

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 Identifying Sources of Strength and Struggle

In Chapter 20 of 20 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, nonprofit CEO Courtney Spence answers "What Are the Sources of Strength and Struggle in Your Life?" Spence shares how family, including close friends, is a source of strength, especially during hard times. She struggles with the reality that business partners will not always have shared values and belief systems. While this does not deter her from seeing the best in others, she does learn that good people can make mistakes and do things that are not good.

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 Learning Work Ethic Starting Career at Coca-Cola

In Chapter 3 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Randall Metting answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Metting shares how his work ethic was especially influenced working an entry-level marketing job at Coca-Cola after graduating college. Working at a large corporation, Metting is able to identify and focus on his strengths while also learning from a variety of people he befriended while working at Coke.

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. 

Matt Ruby on Monetizing Web Video With Branded Content Advertising

In Chapter 17 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, standup comedian and Vooza founder Matt Ruby answers "How Did You Decide to Make Branded Content and Product Placement Central to the Vooza Business Model?" By talking to advertisers, Ruby learns they are more interested in product integration into web series episodes than in running pre-roll advertising. Ruby finds this also benefits his audience, who is more accepting of branded content and product placement than of 30-second block pre-roll commercials.

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 Improve a Web Series Business Model

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, standup comedian and Vooza founder Matt Ruby answers "How is Your Company Business Model Evolving as You Gain Experience?" Ruby finds he is evolving his business model by simplifying it. He reduces the number of options he offers potential clients so when writing a one-page proposal, it is even more clear what the client gets and how much it costs. As the company grows, Ruby and his team experiment with viewer subscription options to complement advertiser revenue streams.

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.