Taking the Lead

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Jenny Floros from Advance Forward Consulting. Jenny, a seasoned professional with a career spanning three distinct chapters, shares her insights on leadership, career development, and the nuances of effective management. Starting with her early days in live entertainment ticketing, moving through a transformative period at Groupon, and culminating in her current role leading Advance Forward Consulting, Jenny’s journey is a testament to adaptability and growth.
Jenny emphasizes the importance of authentic relationship-building and eliminating negative terminology like 'weakness' from professional vocabularies. Instead, she advocates for focusing on strengths and opportunities for growth. Throughout the discussion, the theme of trust and respect in professional relationships is recurrent. Jenny advises listeners on navigating difficult conversations with superiors and peers, highlighting the value of presenting alternative viewpoints with tact and respect.
The episode also dives into the challenges faced by leaders in various organizational roles, from middle management to C-level executives. Jenny underscores the necessity of a diverse team where each member contributes unique strengths. The conversation culminates with a discussion on the emotional maturity required in leadership, the need for professional respect, and the value of knowing when to assert oneself and when to yield.
This dialogue with Jenny Floros offers valuable insights for professionals at all levels, emphasizing the importance of authentic leadership, respect, and the continuous pursuit of personal and professional development.

In this episode of Taking the Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Jennifer Igartua, CEO of Go Nimbly, to discuss the intricate balance between leadership and personal passions. Jen shares her journey, emphasizing the importance of a well-rounded life outside of one's professional role. She dives into the challenges and rewards of being a leader in a tech startup, offering insights on fostering a supportive and fair work environment.
Jen's approach to leadership is innovative. She advocates for maintaining interests beyond the professional sphere, illustrating this with her own experiences in running a game company alongside her role at Go Nimbly. This dual engagement, she believes, enriches her contributions to her company. Her philosophy challenges the conventional notion that leaders must solely focus on their business.
Lastly, the episode touches on the notion of overperformance in the workplace. Jen opposes the idea of burdening high performers with additional work, suggesting alternative approaches like diversifying their responsibilities and compensating them appropriately. This segment provides valuable perspectives for both leaders and employees on managing workloads and recognizing individual contributions effectively.

In this episode of Taking The Lead, host Christina Brady engages in a conversation with Jennifer Ryan, the Director of Global Sales and Pre Sales Enablement at BlackLine. Jennifer shares her unique professional journey, which demonstrates adaptability and seizing opportunities. Her career transition from procurement to IT, training, and eventually to sales enablement exemplifies her willingness to embrace change and diverse experiences.
Jennifer discusses her approach to challenges and opportunities, underscoring the importance of saying "yes" and learning from failure. Her stories, including spontaneous moves into IT and sales enablement, showcase a career built on adaptability and a positive mindset. Her journey is a testament to the value of being open to new experiences and finding learning opportunities in every situation.
The conversation also covers Jennifer's philosophy on personal growth and professional development. She advocates for having a personal "board of directors" – a support network for navigating career and life challenges. Jennifer's insights provide listeners with valuable lessons on career evolution, embracing change, and the significance of a proactive and positive approach in professional and personal realms.

In this episode of Taking The Lead, host Christina Brady welcomes Tara Ryan, CEO & Founder of InfiniDEI, for an insightful discussion on leadership and work-life integration. Tara shares her journey, highlighting the challenges and triumphs she experienced in her career. She emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own values and priorities to achieve a fulfilling work-life balance.
Tara delves into her Fair Play Method, a unique approach to managing work and personal life. She explains how this method has helped her navigate the demands of her career while maintaining her well-being. The conversation also touches upon the evolving workplace culture and the role of leadership in fostering inclusive and supportive environments.
The episode concludes with Tara offering valuable advice to aspiring leaders and entrepreneurs. She stresses the significance of resilience, adaptability, and the empowerment of women in the workplace. Tara's insights offer listeners practical strategies for personal and professional growth.

In this illuminating episode of "Tech Qualified," hosts Justin Brown and Meredith Medsker engage with Ryan Tidwell from Saltmine, exploring the unique challenges of marketing within niche B2B spaces. Ryan shares his journey of marketing in underrepresented sectors like prop tech and how crucial consistency and tailored strategies are for his 'small but scrappy' team. His insights reveal that success lies not in grand gestures but in steady, thoughtful marketing that resonates with a specific audience.

Ryan emphasizes the importance of understanding the audience's needs, avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions, and instead focusing on what truly matters to them. This approach requires marketers to think critically about the utility and clarity of their content, ensuring it speaks directly to the concerns and interests of their niche audience.

The discussion also delves into the broader implications of marketing strategies that prioritize authenticity and strategic thinking over flashy, transient tactics. By sharing examples from his own experience, Ryanl illustrates how effective marketing in specialized fields doesn't always follow the mainstream but instead builds its own path to resonate deeply with its intended audience. This episode is a must-listen for marketers aiming to leverage limited resources for maximum impact.