Daily Influence

In Episode 282 of The Daily Influence podcast, Brian S. Smith delves into the critical topic of building a high-trust work environment. Discover why fostering transparency, accountability, and empathy within your organization can lead to a culture where innovation thrives, teams collaborate effortlessly, and everyone contributes to continuous improvement. Drawing on insights from The I in Team Ser...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Gail Brown, the founder of Engaging Speakers, to explore the incredible impact of kindness, mentorship, and leadership in creating supportive communities. Gail shares her journey from being an introvert to founding a speaking organization, offering insights into how public speaking can elevate both personal and professional inf...

In Episode 280 of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into the critical topic of decision fatigue and its impact on leaders. Decision fatigue occurs when leaders are burdened with making too many decisions over a short period, leading to poor judgment, impatience, and the risk of making bad decisions. Brian shares practical strategies rooted in the SMART Management framework to help leaders rec...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Erica Chianelli, Executive Director of Family Forward. Erica shares her journey from a typical suburban upbringing to a life dedicated to helping low-income working families in the Northwest Suburbs. Her passion for social justice and her transformative experiences at Loyola University in Chicago ignited a lifelo...

In Episode 278 of The Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith dives deep into the critical topic of aligning personal and professional goals to create a more balanced and fulfilling life. He explores the importance of synergy between what drives you personally and what you aspire to achieve professionally. Brian emphasizes how using the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framew...

In Episode 277 of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives deep into the vital role of empathy in leadership. He explores how empathetic leaders build trust within their teams, foster a culture of open communication, and drive continuous improvement. By understanding the individual influences that affect team members, leaders can support personal and professional growth, leading to a more cohesive a...

In this episode of the Daily Influence podcast, host Gregg Koleno welcomes Melissa Dailey-Newman, a wealth advisor at Clearwater Capital Partners. Melissa shares her insights on the true meaning of influence and how it extends beyond social media followers. With 25 years in the financial services industry, she discusses the importance of self-awareness, mentorship, and starting with your "why&...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores the critical role that accountability plays in achieving both personal and organizational success. Accountability is more than just meeting deadlines—it's about building trust, fostering teamwork, and driving continuous improvement. Brian delves into how accountability serves as a pillar of trust within teams and highlights practical...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Patrick Panayotov from Proceed Innovative, a family-run digital marketing agency. Patrick shares his journey of joining his mother's business and the values that drive him. From picking up a piece of garbage to setting aside funds for charity, Patrick emphasizes the power of small acts of kindness and their cumulative...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith dives deep into the complexities of effective communication. Discover how different communication styles, backgrounds, and knowledge gaps can create challenges, and learn strategies to bridge those gaps. Brian emphasizes the power of active listening, transparency, and empathy in fostering meaningful connections. By incorporating S.M.A.R.T. co...

In this episode of the Daily Influence podcast, host Gregg Koleno welcomes Melissa Wallace, founder of Fierce Foundry, the first Femtech venture studio for female founders. Melissa shares her journey from a career in marketing to launching her own nonprofit and venture studio, driven by a passion for positivity and female empowerment. Melissa discusses the crucial role of leadership, mentorship, a...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the essential elements of fostering a culture of innovation within your organization. Discover practical tips and strategies to inspire creativity among your team members. Learn how to create an open communication environment where ideas can be shared freely, and understand the importance of cross-training and continuous learning for...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Amanda Decker, an associate attorney at Bruning and Associates. Amanda shares her inspiring journey from overcoming academic challenges to becoming a successful attorney leading an office in Schaumburg. She discusses the pivotal role mentorship played in her life, the importance of community involvement, and how small acts...

In this heartfelt episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Julyn Panicola of Supporting Strategies. Julyn shares her inspiring journey of spreading positivity and making a difference in the lives of others. From the profound influence of her father's unexpected passing to her belief in the power of small, kind gestures, Julyn opens up about the values and experiences...

In this heartwarming episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke (Henry) Koleno, MBA, sits down with Anna Maria Viti, owner of the third-generation family business Guy Viti Insurance. Anna Maria shares her inspiring journey of helping others, from supporting a young girl who lost her mother to creating meaningful initiatives like "Spreading Hearts." With her contagious positivity and pas...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Brian Smith from The I in Team Series delves into the essential topic of building resilience. Life and business are filled with challenges and adversity, but with the right mindset and strategies, we can overcome these obstacles and emerge stronger.  Brian discusses the importance of self-awareness, developing a growth mindset, and creating a robust support syst...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, host Gregg Koleno sits down with Bryce Fender, a Wilmington-based social entrepreneur and co-founder of WilmInvest. Bryce shares his inspiring journey from his early days in the Scouts to founding a social impact real estate investment firm. They discuss Bryce's unique approach to solving housing instability, the importance of understanding and addressin...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives deep into the transformative power of reflection. Learn how to harness your past experiences—both successes and failures—to build a better future.  Brian discusses the importance of self-awareness, ethical reflection, and maintaining a growth mindset. Discover practical tips on how to engage in daily reflection practices, tackle recurring b...

In this compelling episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Dennis Mellen, founder of Full Throttle Leadership. Dennis, a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former airline captain, shares his inspiring journey of resilience after a career-ending heart attack and how he found a new purpose in leadership. Dennis discusses the importance of fostering a positive workplace cu...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith explores strategies for effective transition management, which he refers to as improvement management. Learn how to engage your team and stakeholders in the process of change by adopting a SMART management approach.  Brian discusses the importance of clear vision, effective communication, continuous training, and the allocation of proper resource...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the importance of Emotional Intelligence (EI) in effective leadership. Discover how mastering self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills can transform your leadership approach and enhance your influence.  Learn practical strategies for developing EI, such as active listening, transparent communication, and...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno, welcomes Laura Lian Williams, the founder of Laura Lian Creative Partners. Laura shares her journey from being adopted from China to starting her own creative firm and making a positive impact in her community. Listen as Laura discusses the importance of kindness, mentorship, and leadership in creating a supportive environment. She shar...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith delves into the core principles of Sustainable Leadership. Often misunderstood as merely environmental responsibility, sustainable leadership goes beyond to prioritize long-term success and the well-being of an organization and its people.  Brian discusses the importance of maintaining high ethical standards, fostering a people-centric approach,...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno, sits down with Nicole Woodcox Bolden, LCSW, a therapist, transformational life coach, doula, and founder of Thriving with Baby. Nicole shares her journey of spreading positivity and creating supportive communities through acts of kindness, mentorship, and leadership. Discover how Nicole's belief in love and authenticity dr...

In Episode 258 of the Daily Influence, Brian S. Smith delves into the transformative power of positive influence within organizations. Discover practical strategies for fostering empathy, transparent communication, and effective teamwork. Learn how individual actions can create a ripple effect, shaping a positive organizational culture. Tune in to explore how you can become a beacon of positive in...