Daily Influence

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with MZ, a seasoned entrepreneur and business coach from Rocket Business Accelerator, to discuss the profound effects of intentional kindness and leadership. MZ shares personal insights from over 40 years of experience, highlighting how simple, mindful actions can make a huge difference in creating positive influence in our communitie...

In this episode, Brian S. Smith welcomes communication expert and bestselling author Debra Fine to discuss the enduring power of small talk in leadership, trust-building, and team dynamics.  Debra, known for her book The Fine Art of Small Talk, shares strategies on how to cultivate meaningful connections through conversation, foster transparency, and elevate your influence as a leader.  Tune in fo...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno interviews Char Padovani, a seasoned health educator, wellness coach, and dedicated community volunteer. Char shares her journey of over 30 years in health and wellness, offering wisdom on how helping others achieve their best health is inherently a path to spreading positivity. From personal stories of coaching transformations to p...

In this insightful episode of The Daily Influence, host Brian Smith sits down with Dr. Kelvin McCree, a strategic leadership expert and prolific speaker on organizational culture. Together, they explore how individual influence shapes workplace culture, the impact of empathy on leadership, and strategies for navigating rapid change in today's evolving workforce.  Dr. McCree delves into the sta...

In this episode of the Daily Influence podcast, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Daphne Paras, the founder of Sacred Seeker. Daphne shares her inspiring journey from creating life-changing experiences through women's empowerment workshops, firewalking sessions, and sacred journeys, to inventing tools for self-discovery and healing. Join us as Daphne discusses the profound impact of lead...

In this special episode of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith interviews Rusty Komori, the celebrated former tennis coach of Punahou School, who led his team to 22 consecutive state championships. Rusty shares insights from his latest book, Superior, focusing on how leaders can foster a superior culture of excellence in teams, organizations, and communities. From the Three Cs of Leadership—Choices,...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Stephen Bart, a man who wears many hats—Operations Specialist at Blue Rock Financial Group, Delaware Army National Guard member, CrossFit gym owner, and founder of the nonprofit Redefining Work Culture.  Stephen shares his inspiring journey of creating positive change through his nonprofit work, supporting veterans and fir...

In this special 300th episode of The Daily Influence, host Brian Smith sits down with Ray Stout, the Director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild, to explore how the craft beer industry in Illinois has flourished through collaboration, innovation, and community engagement. Ray shares insights into the Guild’s role in promoting, advocating, and educating breweries across the state. They discuss how...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Mark Cohen, Director of Sales and Chief Growth Officer at Payroll Processors, to explore how his upbringing and family values have shaped his approach to business and life.  Mark shares heartwarming stories of how small acts of kindness led to significant positive impacts on others' lives, from helping a woman return t...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into one of the most significant challenges facing modern teams: how to bridge the generational gap using technology. As organizations grow increasingly diverse in age, older generations may feel left behind by the tech-savvy younger workforce. Brian explores how leveraging collaboration tools like Slack, project management platforms, and r...

In this episode of the Daily Influence podcast, host Brian Smith sits down with Mike Heatwole, founder and CEO of The Dala Group, a wealth management company. With a unique background in engineering, Mike shares his journey of transitioning to financial planning and how his analytical mindset gives him a distinctive approach in a chaotic financial world. They discuss key topics like intentional fi...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith PhD explores the critical role that emotional resilience plays in leadership. He shares how resilient leaders are not just emotionally intelligent, but also capable of navigating challenges with calmness and stability. Learn how to manage stress, setbacks, and unforeseen challenges without letting emotions negatively impact your team. Through res...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Kristin Crockett, the visionary behind Courageous Destiny, a platform dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs and business owners to build lives and businesses they love. Kristin shares her personal transformation journey from corporate America to becoming a life coach, sparked by her first experience with coaching...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, host Brian Smith sits down with renowned customer experience expert and best-selling author David Avrin. With over three decades of experience, David shares actionable strategies from his books, including his latest Ridiculously Easy to do Business With, that businesses can implement to thrive in today's fast-paced, customer-driven market. The conversati...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Dr. Sandy Valino Stock, a family medicine physician and President of the Board of Trustees for Hopeful Beginnings.  Dr. Sandy shares her inspiring journey of transforming her career and the powerful role that kindness, mentorship, and leadership play in creating positive and supportive communities.  Tune in to discover practica...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith has the pleasure of turning the tables on Scott "Shalom" Klein, the dynamic host of Get Down to Business on AM 560, a business consultant, community advocate, and military officer.  Together, they dive into the key qualities that business leaders need to thrive in today's ever-changing landscape, the importance of lifelong learning...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno welcomes Danielle Perlin-Good, the Soul-Aligned Ghostwriter, who shares her journey of becoming a successful ghostwriter, book coach, and developmental editor.  Danielle discusses the importance of respect, kindness, and positivity in both personal and professional settings. She also reveals the transformative impact of her morning routine, whi...

In Episode 290 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith sits down with Bill Himmelstein, the Founder and CEO of Tenant Advisory Group. Together, they dive into the power of strategic networking and its impact on business growth. Bill shares insights from his journey, emphasizing the philosophy of giving to others as a pathway to success. They discuss the evolution of networking from a self-centered act...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with Dr. Barbara Provost, founder of Purse Strings, a unique business dedicated to empowering women through financial education and connecting them with trusted financial professionals. Dr. Barb shares her journey from running a successful consulting business to launching Purse Strings, driven by her passion to address the financial n...

In today's episode of the Daily Influence, host Brian Smith dives into "The Power of Mindful Leadership in High-Stress Environments." Brian explores how mindfulness, coupled with emotional intelligence, can transform the way leaders navigate challenging situations. By staying aware of our own emotions and those of our teams, we can make more thoughtful decisions, maintain composure, an...

In this special episode of The Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith welcomes his first guest, Brian Brogen, the Chief Inspiration Officer of Build Consulting Services and the mastermind behind the Voices of Leadership book series. Together, they explore the power of resilience, the importance of positive influence, and the transformative impact of leadership on the younger generation.  As they discuss...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith dives into the nuances of effective delegation—an essential leadership skill that can make or break team success. Brian explores the concept of delegation as an art form, emphasizing the importance of trust, clear communication, and matching tasks to individual strengths. Learn how empowering your team through thoughtful delegation can lead to...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with Celeste Cecchi, founder of Mosaic Consulting, to explore the power of inclusivity and cultural agility in the workplace. Celeste shares her journey from growing up in Papua New Guinea to founding her own consulting firm, highlighting how diverse experiences shaped her passion for creating policies and environments where everyone...

In this episode of the Daily Influence podcast, Brian Smith delves into the transformative power of positive thinking. Drawing from the core principles of The "I" in Team Series and the SMART Management System, Brian explores how a positive mindset can not only change your perspective but also act as a strategic tool for achieving success. Learn how to cultivate a culture of optimism, resi...

In this enlightening episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Carolina Migliaccio, the founder of Soulful Maxie, to explore the transformative power of embracing your true self. Carolina shares her remarkable journey from corporate success to a profound spiritual awakening in the jungles of Costa Rica. Through her story, she highlights the importance of balancing masculi...