Not everyone can have an identical twin, but you can build a successful business with like-minded thought leaders. We are fortunate to have the Founders of PartnerTap join us to speak about their partnership and how organizations can accelerate growth and revenue from leveraging data sharing. Cassandra Gholston serves as the CEO and is responsible for leading PartnerTap’s strategic vision. Autum Grimm serves as the CRO and focuses on processes that generate revenue and business development. Thes...
Dec 13, 2022•57 min•Ep. 127
Microsoft is one of the largest companies in the world, but does it have to be a daunting task to navigate and find success working with the tech giant? What should we know about their Black Partner Growth Initiative (BPGI)? We are fortunate to have the leaders of Microsoft’s BPGI join us to speak about their Innovation Tour and what Microsoft is doing to elevate the Black Partner. Raamel Mitchell is the Global Director of the Black Partner Growth Initiative, and Regina Johnson is a Senior Manag...
Dec 06, 2022•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 126
What does the expression ‘game within the game’ mean? How does this apply to both athletes and business professionals alike? It is about making improvements in areas or aspects of their performance outside of the ‘playing field’. It is also about improving and strengthening the mind, as mindset is everything and what often sets apart the best performers. We are thrilled to have a sports psychologist speak to the importance of winning the mental game. Jason Galea is a sports psychologist and the ...
Nov 29, 2022•59 min•Ep. 125
You’ve tried coaching and masterminds, but should you consider an accountability partner? As driven leaders, entrepreneurs and executives, we may often find ourselves in need of that extra support to reach our business goals. While these services may at times overlap, we want to state that each is different in design and when understood, can maximize your personal and professional growth. A coach might be a great fit for those looking to accelerate their growth and learning curve. For those look...
Nov 22, 2022•44 min•Ep. 124
Your mindset affects your business and when mastered, can become foundational for incredible success. This is what separates the top sales performers from the pack. We welcome to the program our friend Michael Hammelburger to share what he has learned about having the right mindset for success in sales. Michael is the Founder of Sales Therapy, where he provides training and coaching for professionals looking to improve their selling skills. Michael believes that sales is an art, a learnable skil...
Nov 15, 2022•37 min•Ep. 123
How do you respond to failure? Do you embrace times of failure as opportunities for growth? We are fortunate to have our friend Mark Botros join us for this incredible conversation about reframing failure as well as the importance of growing in our awareness and confidence. Mark is a Principal with Noblis in Washington DC and serves as the Host and Executive Producer of The LIFE WORKS Podcast, where he interviews incredible leaders about lessons learned from life and business. It's one thing to ...
Nov 08, 2022•47 min•Ep. 122
Many entrepreneurs will spend their entire careers in a place where they never venture outside or beyond what they can see or believe that they are capable of achieving. Why is it important to leave your comfort zone and enter a growth zone? How can embracing new experiences and opportunities support your personal and business growth? We welcome Vlad Galant, Founder and President of 911 PC Help to the program to speak about how going beyond your comfort zone leads to success. Vlad shares some en...
Nov 01, 2022•47 min•Ep. 121
Why do we need to continue to have conversations about allyship, sponsorship and mentorship? Why do we need to keep challenging the data behind the diversity of key leadership and C-Suite positions? We must because we are not where we need to be. More voices of color and women need to be in those influential roles. Joining us to speak to this is Susanne Tedrick, a Technical Trainer with Microsoft and author of the book entitled, Women of Color in Tech: A Blueprint for Inspiring and Mentoring the...
Oct 25, 2022•54 min•Ep. 120
What are some digital marketing best practices you can focus on right now to grow your brand and your business? What trends should you be aware of and how can you integrate technology to reach your target audience? We are fortunate to have join the program, Petia A. Abdur-Razzaaq, a Digital Marketing Strategist and Principal of The Stylista Group. Petia is also a Google trained certified speaker. We ask Petia to touch on her best practices, and some of them include: Having a great Website to dri...
Oct 18, 2022•48 min•Ep. 119
There are resources available for business owners, management and executives to support their mental wellness. We welcome our friend Mandy Morris to the program to share how an emphasis on this area can not only lead to a healthier leader, but also to a more profitable and productive organization. Mandy is a therapist, speaker, author, and mental health expert. She is also a co-founder of Mosaic Counseling Group. Do you have any limiting beliefs, struggle with imposter syndrome, or have been ove...
Oct 11, 2022•57 min•Ep. 118
How committed is your organization to driving meaningful change on diversity, equity and inclusion? While many high-performing companies already have DEI programs, not all are experiencing or reaching their stated goals due to a lack of true commitment and focus within the communities they are trying to serve. We are fortunate to have Darrell Booker, a Corporate Affairs Specialist with Microsoft join us to speak about how his organization is helping to transform and diversify the community with ...
Oct 04, 2022•41 min•Ep. 117
We had an incredible time at the Taylor BigBIG Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and we were fortunate to have an amazing conversation with a power couple within the technology channel partner ecosystem. They are influential leaders who have found a way to have success professionally and personally. This is a special episode with our friends Jay McBain and Michelle Ragusa-McBain. Jay McBain is an accomplished speaker, author and serves as the Chief Analyst of Channels, Partnerships & Ec...
Sep 27, 2022•47 min•Ep. 116
You are likely familiar with or have heard of the term ‘angel investor’, but what about ‘angel employment’? Investing in the dreamer is the focus of angel employment and we are thrilled to have our good friend Gianna Rahmani join us to talk about this concept as well as her soon to be released book entitled, Day Hustle: Receive the Benefits of a Day Job While You Grow Your Side Hustle’. Gianna is a serial entrepreneur, speaker and now author. Gianna shares about a path toward financial freedom f...
Sep 20, 2022•42 min•Ep. 115
Have you ever wondered why some of the most successful technology firms have partner programs? What can your organization do to strengthen and provide more resources for your partners? We welcome Samuel Valme Jr, Global Director of Partner Programs & Experience with AvePoint to share his thoughts on partner programs and how software vendors can do a better job enabling communities of IT professionals to be more successful. You have to go beyond the ‘bells & whistles’ of why your technolo...
Sep 13, 2022•48 min•Ep. 114
In honor of our fellow Howard University alumni, Chadwick Boseman, we wanted to do a special episode on the concept of leaving a legacy. Through his humility, passion and love, Chadwick showed us how to continue in his legacy, and inspired us to consider the legacy we are building and leaving for the next generation. Leaders and business owners should not wait until they are about to retire or move on from this life to consider what their legacy will be; what they will be remembered for. Don’t b...
Sep 06, 2022•52 min•Ep. 113
That unhealthy pressure to do it all and to be everything to everyone can be described as Superwoman Syndrome or Superman Complex, and this can lead to frustration and anxiety. Our friend Wendy Elover joins us to speak about how this irrational pursuit of perfection can become exhausting. Wendy is the Owner and Progress Partner at My Dreams in Motion Consulting, and she is the author of the book, My Cape is at the Cleaners: Choosing Happy Over Perfect. Are there unrealistic expectations you are ...
Aug 31, 2022•46 min•Ep. 112
We all have blinders which can lead toward a reliance upon strengths and minimize focus on areas of weakness. There are just some things that only a fellow business leader will see and understand. This is the value of peer groups, and an investment on this level can be the difference between incremental and exponential growth. We are fortunate to have Dennis O’Connell join us to speak about the impact that can come from being in a peer group, and why we need to know and focus on the right number...
Aug 23, 2022•54 min•Ep. 111
Disputes and differences of opinion can lead to tension in the workplace, impacting both performance and productivity. Knowing how to de-escalate conflict is a necessary leadership skill and should not be reserved just for the HR Department. By way of Elite Public Image, our friend Kit Cummings joins the program to shed some light on how to de-escalate tension, conflict and have difficult conversations. Kit is an author, speaker, President and Founder of the Power of Peace Project, a 501(c)(3) o...
Aug 16, 2022•57 min•Ep. 110
For so many leaders, the charge has been to sacrifice personal well-being for the sake of the overall entity. If you want to see a drastic change within your organization, you might want to start with yourself. Could effective change be accelerated if you simply begin with a focus on the ‘micro you’? We welcome Jim Frawley to the program to speak about the importance of coaching and attention to the 'micro you'. Jim is an Executive Coach, Organizational Consultant and CEO of Bellwether Hub, help...
Aug 09, 2022•42 min•Ep. 109
Here is an adage that might sound familiar, ‘you can learn this the easy way or the hard way, but either way, you are going to learn’. Building an organization can be very rewarding, but it does come with its risks. What resources are available to help guide you through potential challenges and how can you successfully lead your organization from the edge of disaster to a position of success? We are honored to have our good friend Vaughn Thurman join us to speak about the release of his book ent...
Aug 02, 2022•52 min•Ep. 108
Being able to drive more traffic to your website or podcast can translate into incredible growth. This is why so many organizations are looking for creative ways to maximize their search engine optimization (SEO). We have invited our friend Brandon Leibowitz to shed some light on how you can improve your search engine optimization (SEO) and watch your website or program rise the ranks to the top of search-engine results. This means getting on that ever important first page. Brandon is the Owner ...
Jul 26, 2022•39 min•Ep. 107
How can mastering communication skills support your career? Why do top performers invest in public speaking coaching and training? We are excited to share notes and this platform with our friend and fellow public speaking coach Brenden Kumarasamy. Brenden is a YouTuber and the Founder of MasterTalk, where he provides tips, coaching and training for driven leaders looking to master the art of speaking. Brenden believes that if you want to get into a leadership role, it is essential that you maste...
Jul 19, 2022•40 min•Ep. 106
Having access to legal, accounting and other expertise is important for helping your business scale and grow as efficiently as possible. Add to your team, expert representation who will help protect and support your growth goals. Mariela C. D'Alessio is a Partner, Owner and Chair of Estates & Trusts at Smith, Gildea & Schmidt LLC, a leading Baltimore Regional Law Firm. Mariela is also a member of the Baltimore County Bar Association Executive Council. Mariela dispels common misconception...
Jul 12, 2022•43 min•Ep. 105
The ongoing health, human, and economic impacts of the Covid-19 health pandemic have emphasized how important design is for our work and home environments. Commercial space design is a vital partner for creating sanitary spaces, and for controlling the spread of infectious diseases. What does your physical workplace communicate? We welcome our friend Kimberley Karlson, Owner and Principal Designer of Misguided Angel Interior Designs, a Baltimore, Maryland commercial and residential design firm. ...
Jul 05, 2022•40 min•Ep. 104
The Golden Rule states that you should treat others the way you would like to be treated. The Platinum Rule states that you should treat others the way they want to be treated. What happens if you don’t know how they want to be treated? What happens when miscommunication, misunderstanding and feeling a lack of respect enters the picture? We are fortunate to have Dr. Julie Pham joins Twins Talk it Up to discuss another dimension of this in what she coined as the Rubber Band Rule. Dr. Julie Pham i...
Jun 28, 2022•51 min•Ep. 103
The Covid-19 pandemic affected nearly every aspect of life and business, leading organizations scrambling for solutions to stay afloat. Many companies were forced to scale down or close their doors. Others became flexible, resourceful and eventually took advantage of the changing landscape. Through strategic assessment, they sought opportunities for growth and found a way to scale up. We are pleased to have Dave Mattson, CEO and President of Sandler back on the program to share about his leaders...
Jun 21, 2022•52 min•Ep. 102
We celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month with this special Twins Talk it Up Episode. This was a live recording as a part of the Asian Podcast Festival, and presented by the Asian American Podcasters Association. We were fortunate to have Lei Wang, an Executive Coach, Speaker, Author and Host of the Journey with Lei Podcast, back on the program. Lei joined us again to speak about her leadership journey; from completing the Explorers Grand Slam to helping professional...
Jun 14, 2022•54 min•Ep. 101
100! Twins Talk it Up has crossed that threshold and we’re celebrating a milestone with this special 100th episode. What began as an idea for a project that we as twins could do together, has turned into something really special. We have had the pleasure of creating content around leadership and communication that we believe would be of value to professionals and executives. Thank you for listening and supporting our program. Thank you for being a part of our success journey. We have had the hon...
Jun 07, 2022•49 min•Ep. 100
Several key elements go into developing a successful company. Some of those include having strong leadership with a clear vision, structure, top talent, and a healthy culture. Seeking the best talent, retaining that talent, and then the development of that talent is essential. We are thrilled to have Manish Hirapara, one of the leading digital transformation leaders join us to speak about his leadership journey, supporting the growth trajectory of amazing talent, having augmented reality as a pa...
May 31, 2022•47 min•Ep. 99
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (AAPI) Month and we wanted to continue to highlight incredible leaders. We are so excited to have an entrepreneur and Donut Royalty with Mayly Tao, LA's self-proclaimed Donut Princess join Twins Talk it Up. Mayle is a serial entrepreneur, with several businesses including Donut Exotics and Donut Princess Los Angeles, a donut bouquet delivery concept. She is also the host of the Short N’ Sweet: A Donut Princess Podcast, where she explores mindse...
May 24, 2022•57 min•Ep. 98
