Protecting a community begins by building trust. On today’s episode Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. shares his journey to building trust and resources within the Suffolk County community. Listen in as Laura and the sheriff discuss Suffolk County’s current efforts to provide resources to previously incarcerated individuals, how Sheriff Toulon is connecting with the community youth, and how the internet has helped the justice department build trust and share information with more people. &nb...
Apr 11, 2022•35 min•Season 2Ep. 101
Building a legacy by serving others is a journey marked by milestones. On this journey to helping our audience increase their conscience, presence, and influence, we’re celebrating our 100th episode by discussing the topic of legacy with three influential leaders. Join Laura as she shares the mic with consultant Michael Houlihan, social innovator Janet Salazar, and cleantech expert Diana Yousef. Listen in as they explore the intricacies of helping audiences understand their message, the ch...
Apr 04, 2022•50 min•Season 2Ep. 100
A business without a foundation of healthy relationships has no room for growth. Today Lance Bachmann shares how he built five businesses on the principles of communication and relationship development. Listen in as Laura and Lance discuss focusing on improvement during business conversations, how to evaluate your own leadership communication skills and fill in the gaps, and what it was like overcoming childhood challenges in the foster care system to see long-term success. Here are a few...
Mar 28, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 99
Creating an impact requires a coordinated effort with many levels of communication and trust. Milena Lanz understands this challenge and reveals what her organization has learned about the communication systems necessary to support mothers, families, and the professionals that serve them. During this conversation Laura and Milena discuss how Milena’s organization is making an impact in the Toronto community, how her team navigates cultural and language challenges, and how she is working to...
Mar 21, 2022•33 min•Season 2Ep. 98
Creating a consistent message over time begins with understanding the data. Today Joe Person shares how his company has established trust for over 180 years by focusing on finding and communicating the story behind the data. Laura and Joe discuss making your message relatable, finding the opportunity within tough audiences, and why it’s critical to understand the drivers and business. Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation: How Joe’s military experie...
Mar 14, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 97
How do you convey a message without speaking a word? Today Dave Raymond reveals the lessons of communication and sustainability he learned through his career as a performer and creator of “The Phillie Phanatic.” Laura and Dave explore how Dave learned to embody his character, create a unique experience for Phillie fans, and use that experience to launch a successful career by overcoming imposter syndrome and take credit where it was due. Here are a few things you’ll lear...
Mar 07, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 96
Whether you’re in a crowd-filled stadium or out to lunch with a friend, opportunities for public speaking are everywhere. Today’s conversation with Certified Speaking Professional Dr. James Smith, Jr. centers around the ability to engage and command an audience that makes you (and your message) memorable. Laura and Dr. James dive into key strategies for leaders who are looking to grow their professional presence, ditch the powerpoints, and elevate the impact they have on a boardroom ...
Feb 28, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 95
Developing resilience is critical in an ever-changing world. Today Dr. Joseph Garbely shares how his understanding of resilience in the medical field influences the way he speaks and interacts with others. During this episode, Laura and Dr. Garbely explore how his company is building a legacy of service, how he addresses front-line fatigue when communicating with medical workers, and why empathic communication is the key to building long-term relationships that withstand change. Here are ...
Feb 21, 2022•29 min•Season 2Ep. 94
Gifts are a personal statement of appreciation that you give to loved ones and business associates alike. On today’s episode, Laura dives into how gifts communicate appreciation and the common mistakes professionals make when trying to give gifts in the workplace. Listen in as Laura explores how the Five Love Languages impact the way we give and receive gifts, as well the golden rule of gift-giving. Here are a few things you’ll learn during this conversation: Different ways to...
Feb 14, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 93
Understanding your audience’s needs begins with making connections between their current experiences and your unique skills. This week Liz Dow shares how her organization has listened to the needs of high performers and created an offer to help them navigate challenges and provide leadership support. Liz and Laura explore how Liz has adjusted her messaging in response to COVID burnout, focused on the question of “what’s in it for you?” and how her ability to foster...
Feb 07, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 92
Conveying your vision of a project or goal to your team can be difficult, especially when miles (and maybe time zones) apart. This week Phyllis Song shares how she coaches clients to make the most of the Virtual Assistants on their teams and simple strategies you can use to communicate your wants and needs effectively to the people who support you. Laura and Phyllis discuss why hiring a Virtual Assistant is not a one-size-fits-all experience, and some common roles a virtual team member can help ...
Jan 31, 2022•36 min•Season 2Ep. 91
You have seven seconds to captivate someone during an introduction, how are you going to spend them? In this episode, Laura dives into the complexities of the elevator pitch and how you can maximize your impact by breaking it down into three simple parts. Listen in as Laura shares how Donald Miller of StoryBrand helped her find a new way to share her pitch and how his advice can help you too. Laura explores why having the right “bait” is critical for making an impression, how she got...
Jan 24, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 90
Two topics are sure to make a room uncomfortable – politics and money. This week Laura explores who and why we trust people with vulnerable topics with private banking expert Joseph Chott. Joe’s experience developing relationships with powerful people has given him incredible experiences in having difficult conversations about financials, customizing investment plans to align with personal beliefs, and communicating expertise and advice from one generation to the next. During this co...
Jan 17, 2022•38 min•Season 2Ep. 89
Have you ever grasped the metal rod overhead on a subway or bus and wondered about the people who made them? This week Laura is sitting down with the CEO behind steel products at Phoenix Tube Company Inc., David Reale. David is sharing his story of growing up in the steel production industry, learning everything about manufacturing techniques to leadership skills from his father before stepping in and running the family-owned company as a second-generation leader. During this conversation, David...
Jan 10, 2022•39 min•Season 2Ep. 88
In today’s episode Sam Katz shares how he collaborates with creatives and community members to create legacy-worthy films that captivate audiences and tell stories of entire communities. Listen in as Laura and Sam discuss the communication strategies needed to work with creatives, bringing great ideas to life. They also explore the balancing between informing and entertaining, working harder to captivate an audience, and how to align verbal, vocal, and visual content for effective communic...
Jan 03, 2022•34 min•Season 2Ep. 87
Today Laura is taking you through her favorite 24 Hour Influence Challenges of 2021. Listen in as she breaks down nine of her favorite podcast moments that give you actionable steps for being a better speaker and leader. Get inspired with nine different ways to develop your skills and give back to others. Listen to the full episodes of our top 24 Hour Challenges here: Janet Salazar, President, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations: Confidence & Intercultural Communication T...
Dec 27, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 86
On today’s episode Crystal Ashby shares how her role as Chief People Officer is focused on providing opportunities for her team as well as empowering them to find their own ways to shine. Listen in as Laura and Crystal discuss forecasting and reimagining a hybrid workforce, providing equal opportunities to remote and in-person team members, and how great leaders teach their direct reports to advocate for themselves and solve problems before stepping in. Crystal Ashby is the Executive Vice-...
Dec 20, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 85
Today Josh Elledge shares the power of creating connections through media to boost your influence and strengthen communication with your ideal audience. Listen in as Laura and Josh discuss how you know you’re making an impact, the importance of communicating gratitude to those around you, and how to make the most of your limited time in front of mass audiences. Josh Elledge is the CEO and Founder of Up My Influence. Josh helps business-to-business service providers go from six-figure to se...
Dec 13, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 84
On today’s episode Michael Fomkin shares how he navigates conversations with entertainers and influencers in the age of social media. Listen in as Laura and Michael discuss the importance of the elevator pitch, building confidence speaking from the stage, learning to speak off the cuff, and how to give criticism in an impactful way. Michael Fomkin is an American entrepreneur, digital marketing expert, philanthropist and Broadway Investor. He is best known as the co-founder of VIP IGNITE LI...
Dec 06, 2021•36 min•Season 2Ep. 83
Today Liz Scott shares the emotional and mental strategies behind creating a movement and focusing on inspirational and clear communication. Listen in as Laura and Lis discuss the origin of Alex’s Lemonade Stand, how Liz navigates the line between inspirational and scientific communication, and the importance of self-care when leading and inspiring others over time. Liz Scott is the Co-Executive Director of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, but she is most proud of her title of "Mom"...
Nov 29, 2021•35 min•Season 2Ep. 82
On today’s episode Luciana Bonifacio shares how to find passion and joy in work that often involves difficult cultural and emotional topics. Listen in as Laura and Luciana discuss the power of not speaking first, why you should focus on understanding your strengths first to lead others, and the difference between understanding data and understanding perspective. Luciana also shares how focusing on the weight of the language her organization uses to discuss their work impacts the success ra...
Nov 22, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 81
Today Carlos Herrera-Malatesta shares how he focuses on motivating and communicating with his team to get more done. Listen in as Laura and Carlos discuss the importance of communicating company culture with new hires, finding the right roles for the right people, and how human connection influences the overall energy of the company. Carlos also reveals how he communicates with key stakeholders during times of transition and why it’s important to embrace your background in order to communi...
Nov 15, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 80
On today’s episode Daina Trout shares how her experience as a CEO helped her develop trust and influence within her organization when assuming a new role as Chief Mission Officer. Listen in as Laura and Daina explore the importance of focusing on brand and employee communication when sharing the mission of your organization, how to thrive where no one has paved the way, and knowing what to listen for when building trust with your team. Daina Trout co-founded Health-Ade Kombucha in 2012 alo...
Nov 08, 2021•34 min•Season 2Ep. 79
Today Lesley Pyle discusses the importance of empathy and identifying the needs of your ideal clients in order to successfully market and communicate with them. Listen in as Laura and Lesley explore how communication changes when you have something in common, recognizing when prospective clients are not a good match, and dealing with conflict in an empathetic way. Lesley Pyle is the Founder of HireMyMom.com, a service connecting Small Businesses with Virtual Professionals across the country. She...
Nov 01, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 78
On today’s episode Sonia Dubey Dewan shares how image consultants are creating a better understanding of visual communication and how you can customize your image to convey the most authentic version of yourself and your skills. Listen in as Laura and Sonia discuss the needs of online training today, managing assertiveness throughout cultural expectations, initiating your own personal transformation, and being your own trainer. Sonia Dubey Dewan, AICI CIP, is the Founder of Indian School o...
Oct 25, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 77
Today Christopher Mominey shares the importance of interpersonal communication for fundraising efforts and ongoing team communication. Listen in as Laura and Christopher discuss the impact of tone of virtual communication, how Christopher is managing communication issues with his virtual team, and why storytelling is the crux of relationship building when influencing decisions. Christopher Mominey is the current CEO of West Chester University Foundation in suburban Philadelphia, PA. In tha...
Oct 18, 2021•32 min•Season 2Ep. 76
On this episode Ellen Weber shares the common mistakes entrepreneurs make when communicating with potential investors and how you can engage and connect while asking for the funding you need. Listen in as Laura and Ellen explore the basics of building rapport, the difference between angel investors and private equity, and the three things that every investor looks for in an entrepreneur when making an investment. Ellen Weber is the Executive Director of Robin Hood Ventures, a leading angel group...
Oct 11, 2021•30 min•Season 2Ep. 75
This week Allison Titman shares how the Alice Paul Institute faced the pandemic with an attitude of innovation, focusing on how to reach further and create a greater impact on the world. Listen in as Laura and Allison discuss how online program allows the institute to create new programming, reach new people, and tell stories that haven’t been told. Allison also shares how she works to find patience as a communicator, address a habit of talking fast, and the importance of transparency when...
Oct 04, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 74
Teaching children to be persistent begin with retraining adult behaviors. Patricia Wellenbach shares how the Please Touch Museum is giving children space to try and fail while teaching parents patience and perseverance. Listen in as Laura and Patricia discuss connecting with children and adults through learning, leading by getting out of your team’s way, and understanding the interests of your audience. Patricia also discusses how to take messages and reframe them for deeper understanding,...
Sep 27, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 73
Visual communication can be tricky when navigating between virtual and in-person conversations. Professional stylist Francesca Zampaglione shares the common mistakes that professionals make when communicating virtually and how personal style can make you more money. Listen in as Laura and Francesca explore finding the best color for your skin tone and style, common wardrobe mistakes you might be making, and why lighting is essential for successful virtual conversations. Francesca Zampaglione is ...
Sep 20, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 72
