Daily Influence

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith tackles the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the workforce. He provides insights on how to prepare yourself and your team to embrace AI as a tool for enhancing human skills and creativity. Discover how to leverage AI for deeper critical thinking and innovation while avoiding the pitfalls of technology integration. Brian also sh...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno sits down with Monsurat Yusuf, a dedicated IT professional at the American Medical Association and event coordinator. Monsurat shares her inspiring journey as a first-generation Nigerian-American who turned personal adversity, including childhood bullying, into a lifelong commitment to spreading positivity and empathy. From her experiences in IT com...

In this episode of the Daily Influence, Brian Smith dives into the challenges leaders face during times of uncertainty and disruption. He shares three key strategies to navigate these turbulent times, emphasizing the importance of understanding each team member's unique contributions, aligning those talents with a shared vision, and embracing the S.M.A.R.T. management model to maintain focus....

In this episode of Daily Influence, we sit down with Daneya Jacobs, co-founder of Candy Connections, a cotton candy company that’s spreading joy beyond just sweet treats. Daneya shares how she and her family have integrated social entrepreneurship into their business through initiatives like the Future Founders Program, which supports youth development. We discuss the balance of family and busines...

rerun of EP 227 In this heartwarming episode of the Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Sue Beninati, a dedicated professional from RM Services. Sue shares her insights on the transformative power of kindness, mentorship, and leadership in building positive and supportive communities and workplaces. From her personal experiences to practical advice, Sue discusses how small act...

In this inspiring episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Kelsey Hill, founder of Beyond Beauty for Survivors, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women and children affected by human trafficking, exploitation, and trauma. Kelsey, a military wife and small business owner, shares her personal journey, the power of positivity, and how her diverse experiences...

rerun of ep 148 What is the difference between Leadership and Leadershit? Listen to the author of the book Leadership or LeaderShit and hear.  

"In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Autumn Green, founder of My Stewardship Journey, to explore how aligning thoughts, beliefs, and actions around money can transform individual lives and teams. Drawing inspiration from her grandmother’s legacy of financial independence, Autumn shares her personal story of overcoming scarcity mindsets, building wealth,...

rerun of EP 270 "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 involvemen...

In this episode of Daily Influence, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno sits down with Edan Gelt, a seasoned marketing strategist and fractional CMO, to explore how small actions can make a big impact. Edan shares her journey as a boutique marketing agency owner and business strategist and the ways she integrates positivity both personally and professionally. Tune in as Edan discusses the importance of uplif...

In this episode of The Daily Influence, host Brian Smith sits down with Sean Wilcoxen, COO of Performance Industrial and co-owner of Tinney's Tavern, to discuss his extraordinary journey from the restaurant and catering industry to leading an industrial cleaning company. Sean shares his story of growing up in the restaurant business, how his passion for hospitality shaped him, and how he made...

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno sits down with Misti Burmeister —author, speaker, and coach—to discuss the power of personal growth, leadership, and intentional kindness. Misty shares her inspiring journey, from unexpected career shifts to becoming an accidental entrepreneur, and how embracing difficult conversations and setting daily intentions have shaped her success. Tune in to...

rerun of EP 193: Discover Jason's journey from Corporate America to purpose-driven entrepreneurship, fueled by faith and perseverance. Learn about his passion for community, kindness, and servant leadership, and how he rallied local businesses during the pandemic. Tune in for insights on embracing the journey, finding joy, and nurturing meaningful relationships.

In this episode of Daily Influence, Gregg Koleno welcomes Monica LaRocco-McVay from American Family Insurance to discuss the transformative power of positivity and intentionality. Monica shares her journey from being a special education teacher to her current role in insurance, highlighting how a positive mindset and intentional acts of kindness can make a lasting impact in both personal and profe...

rerun of EP 185: Join us on the Daily Influence Podcast, where positivity reigns supreme! In this episode, host Gregg-Brooke Koleno welcomes Julie Frederickson, a beacon of light and positivity. Julie shares her journey from a place of self-doubt and struggle to becoming a transformative force in the lives of others. As a teacher and health coach, Julie's story of personal growth and resilienc...

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...