Strategic Momentum

It may seem to some that fluidity is innate to every worker in the millennial generation, but the reality is that this flexibility and willingness to adapt can be achieved by anyone — even if it has to be worked towards. And in this new world of work, traditional paradigms and workflows have fundamentally changed.  The model of career progression and growth used to be linear, and that’s certa...

In this short-form series, Connie Steele shares tips from her #1 Amazon new release book, Building the Business of You . Today, Connie discusses the “career mashup,” a premier concept in the book and the key to the future of work. What is it and how can you use it to create your dream career?

“Building the Business of You: A System to Align Passion and Potential Through Your Own Career Mashup” releases in just a few days. It’s the first book to help professionals and entrepreneurs navigate the uncertain, post-pandemic world of work, while aligning personal purpose and professional advancement. In this episode, the Strategic Momentum team, Alan and Alexis, flip the script on Connie to g...

It’s a new year, the early stages of a new decade, and a lot of things that used to be the norm just aren’t the norm anymore — especially when it comes to career growth and development.  Over the last 20 years, we’ve seen a shift from linear to non-linear career paths. The reality is most people don’t stay with one company, one role, or even one field anymore. Many find themselves pivoting fr...

We are still in the midst of the pandemic, but these trying times have also led to an increase in  entrepreneurial activity and opportunities. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis , “Americans are starting new businesses at the fastest rate in more than a decade.” The Foundation for Economic Education even cites that the pandemic offers a moment ripe for ‘creative destruction.’  T...

In this season of Strategic Momentum, we heard from a range of guests who had overcome a variety of business and career challenges... and then took on the additional challenges of driving momentum in a pandemic. We’ve heard stories of triumph and tribulation, while also gaining valuable advice on how to navigate the uncertainty we’re living in. In this episode, Connie Steele is joined by Strategic...

In recent episodes, we’ve seen examples of unique career paths — those that involve mashing up various skills and experiences to achieve career fulfillment and success. But how can you create this personal mashup while also delivering impact in wider society? Annette Grotheer is a doctor, healthcare advocate, Forbes 30 under 30 Class of 2020 recipient, and the founder of The Shop Docs, a non-profi...

In today’s world, the only constant is change. And now, in light of COVID-19, so is uncertainty. It’s forced all us to think and operate differently and restructure the way we work.  Enter the Start Ugly philosophy. Chris Krimitsos is an author, entrepreneur, documentary producer, and the Chief Creative Officer of Podfest Multimedia Expo , the world’s #1 interactive event for entrepreneurs, p...

The world of work has fundamentally changed, with many becoming responsible for their own professional development. Career interests and goals are no longer singular, but rather broad and dynamic. There’s a desire to continually learn, improve and grow — and even make a pivot into a different role or industry in order to create that career which reflects one’s expansive capabilities and abilities....

Amid a global pandemic, economic upheaval, and social distancing restrictions, many in the restaurant industry have experienced potentially irrevocable suffering. But Jon Krinn — Chef, marketer, and owner of the award-winning fine dining restaurant Clarity based in the Washington D.C. area — took this time as an opportunity for innovation.  It’s because it’s not his first rodeo. In 2008, when...

In the midst of widespread isolation, physical distancing, and global stress and anxiety, fostering human connection is more important in this COVID world than ever before; we all have the innate need to create a social rapport with others. Even before the pandemic, the desire for real relationships in business and the workplace had given way to a trend towards transactional relationships — and th...

Last season on Strategic Momentum, we started our series on understanding and navigating office politics. The last two episodes in the series featured a panel of guests sharing different advice and perspectives, but in this episode, we dive deep with Michael Wilkinson. Michael is a veteran on the show and one of our favorite voices on leadership and management. He’s a Master Facilitator and Founde...

In our last podcourse, Jenny Blake walked us through what a career pivot really is, answering questions about how to move forward and be more fluid in a non-linear career path. Today, we continue to explore this question with David Knies , the Chief Growth officer at Boston-based design firm Essential.  While brand development is commonplace in business, many people struggle to define their p...

As we begin Season 4, we face a work landscape that has been drastically altered by the coronavirus pandemic. We’ve had to change how we work on a macro and micro level, and many people have also had to seek new jobs in new industries, changing the type of work they perform. In fact, this shift is so prevalent that 2020 has been deemed the year of the pivot by The New York Times.  More people...

This season, we’ve covered topics ranging from entrepreneurship and management, to understanding and building up your soft-skills like networking and navigating office politics — all of which are critical to being able to move dynamically upward in challenging times. For our 75th episode and season closer, we recap some of our favorite tips and advice from the last 11 episodes of 2020. As a note —...

Jordan Harbinger, often referred to as “The Larry King of podcasting,” is a Wall Street lawyer turned interview talk show host, and a communications and social dynamics expert.  He’s hosted a Top-50 podcast for over 12 years and The Jordan Harbinger Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world. On Jordan’s podcast, he deconstructs the playbooks of the most successful people on earth...

We’ve all had our share of bad bosses and we’re familiar with the negative impact they can have  on our ability to grow and thrive. Kim Scott, co-founder of Candor, Inc. and author of the NYT & WSJ bestseller ‘Radical Candor: Be a Kickass Boss without Losing your Humanity’ has made it her company’s mission to rid the world of bad bosses by helping organizations create BS-free zones at wor...

Whether you’re the leader of a company or a new hire, understanding and developing your EQ is essential to career success. But if you are one of many with social anxiety, breaking out of your comfort zone to build meaningful connections with others is challenging. And if you manage someone with social anxiety, you might mistake their behavior for a lack of motivation, but really that’s not the cas...

In this episode, we’re looking at various solutions and courses of action you can take to mitigate, manage, or navigate office politics more effectively.  In “Office Politics Part 1” (Ep. 68) , a panel of business leaders joined us to share their individual experiences with and perspectives on politicking in the workforce. Today, the group returns to explore what it takes to manage common pol...

Many of us realize how important team dynamics are to the success of a business. And recent events have made that all the more relevant as many businesses have needed to quickly adapt and adjust to operating in a new way out of necessity.  Jennifer Trzepacz - known as JT - is the Chief Operations Officer and Partner at Wildcat Venture Partners. She’s been involved in implementing human resour...

With COVID-19 necessitating the rapid shift to working remotely, we felt it would be particularly relevant to share insights from a favorite past guest of ours — Michael Wilkinson — because our goal is always to help you navigate through the change we are all facing so you can create the right momentum to move forward.   Michael preaches the tenets of process and preparation that enable...

While many of us would rather avoid office politics or pretend it’s not necessary to understand them, the reality is that we can’t — and if you ignore them, you could end up left behind. So what does it take to build that political know-how that will help you get unstuck and thrive? This is the first in a series of episodes that brings together a range of business leaders to share their perspectiv...

Between the draw of Silicon Valley and the success of shows like Shark Tank, entrepreneurship and startups are undoubtedly more trendy than ever — and in some ways, it’s become an obsession.  Some view entrepreneurship as an outcome, while others see it as a necessity, or even as a habit and a practice. Technology has also seemingly made it easier to achieve success. But is that really the ca...

“Fail fast, fail often” is a common business concept that many apply (or desire to) in order to drive growth for their organization.  While this mindset and approach is something that many say they embrace, it isn’t always fully realized in a way that builds the right forward momentum. So what does it take to create an environment where failure isn’t feared but rather is used as a building bl...

Business success is dependent on employee engagement and development. Mentorship is a proven component of a healthy and thriving workforce, but helping employees build meaningful mentor-mentee relationships is not as easy as you would think.  Julie Kantor, founder and CEO of Twomentor, has made it her mission to help people and the companies they work for create mentorship programs that...