Wisdom.MBA - 100 Mile Runs, Working at the White House & Combating Human Trafficking with Natalya Wallin

100 Mile Runs, Working at the White House & Combating Human Trafficking with Natalya Wallin

09/10/22 • 58 min

Natalya Wallin is an endurance athlete with an amazing work career. Natalya just finished a 100-mile ultramarathon in Moab, Utah. We talk about setting hard goals, remaining tenacious when faced with adversity, the ups and downs of ultrarunning and the parallels between endurance races and pursuing an MBA.

Natalya talks about her time at the White House, meeting the Obamas and working for the US Department of State and the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery. She is currently consulting for the apparel action forum in London and serving as interim Chief Strategy Officer. The forum brings together industry leaders and CEOs at St. James's Palace to identify solutions to address supply chain risks, including forced labor and promote sustainable practices in the apparel industry.

Natalya is a complete bada$$ with inspiring wisdom to share. This episode provides great motivation for anyone looking to tackle really hard challenges, and we open up about our difficulties raising kids while working full-time and pursuing and MBA.

Discussion Topics:

(1:19) Traveling to over 30 countries and favorite locations.

(7:15) 100-mile ultramarathon in Moab, Utah.

(11:14) The highs and lows of ultra-running.

(17:30) The parallels between pursuing and MBA and ultra-running.

(24:20) Interning at the White House.

(28:44) Working for the US Department of State & preventing human trafficking.

(44:11) Advice for working parents pursuing an MBA.

(51:12) Rapid fire questions.

Discussion Topics:

(1:19) Traveling to over 30 countries and favorite locations.

(7:15) 100-mile ultramarathon in Moab, Utah.

(11:14) The highs and lows of ultra-running.

(17:30) The parallels between pursuing and MBA and ultra-running.

(24:20) Interning at the White House.

(28:44) Working for the US Department of State & preventing human trafficking.

(44:11) Advice for working parents pursuing an MBA.

(51:12) Rapid fire questions.

Previous Episode

Digital Marketing, Geofencing, Print Media & Intrapreneurship with Rory Gillis

Rory Gillis is the President of Triangle Media Partners and Founder of Triangle Digital Partners. Triangle Media Partners is the largest lifestyle influencer in the Research Triangle Park of North Carolina. The company owns Chapel Hill Magazine, Durham Magazine, Chatham Magazine, Heart of NC Weddings, Sip + Savor and Triangle Weekender. Triangle Digital Partners is the digital wing of the business which focuses on display advertising, social media marketing and more.

With CNBC recently naming North Carolina as America’s Top State for Business in 2022, Rory and I talk about why more businesses and professionals are moving to the area and what makes it ideal for professional recruitment. We also talk about small to medium sized business ad budgets, geofencing, digital marketing and how her company has managed to bridge the gap between traditional print media and cutting-edge online marketing techniques.

As a warning, this episode focuses heavily on our hometown, but even if you are not from here, there is a great deal of wisdom on how best to grow and build a business in an ever-changing digital landscape. If you are from North Carolina, you’ll want to stick around as we dish out dirt and have heated exchanges about our favorite local businesses and more.

Discussion Topics:

(1:25) Why North Carolina is the top state for business in 2022.

(8:25) Triangle Digital Partner’s origin story.

(16:27) Geofencing, location data and microproximity.

(21:30) Scaling a business.

(28:02) Mentorship and team building.

(31:38) Hiring and motivating Millennials and iGen.

(37:04) Intraprenurship vs. Entrepreneurship.

(46:15) Controversial rapid fire.

Next Episode

POWDR CEO, Building an Adventure Lifestyle Company & Managing Adversity with Justin Sibley

Justin Sibley is the CEO of POWDR, an adventure lifestyle company that owns some of the best resorts on earth, including Copper Mountain, Killington, Silver Star and more. Justin is a fellow Fuqua MBA graduate who was the Vice President of Finance at Backcountry.com before becoming CFO and then co-President of POWDR. POWDR also owns Woodward. If you know anything about board sports, you know that Woodward is the leading name in action sports progression and innovation with facilities across North America. Justin and I talk about how he has been able to help leverage the Woodward brand and assets across POWDR’s portfolio of resorts.

As an international company with properties in different states and provinces, we talk about the challenges of running a hospitality business during the pandemic. Justin and the team at POWDR put on a master class on adjusting to adversity. He shares a lot of great insights and wisdom for managing a massive organization through COVID-19.

This episode was a lot of fun for me. As a life-long shredder with a failed pro-snowboard career, I got to geek out on both business and the snowboard industry. If you love the outdoors, action sport or just want to learn more about scaling a large complex organization, this podcast is for you.

Discussion Topics:

(3:11) New offerings at POWDR.

(4:54) The business strategy of expanding into more year-round offerings.

(12:51) Woodward ... perhaps one of the greatest strategic acquisitions ever?

(21:53) Woodward Park City build and opening.

(24:02) Managing through COVID-19 with 8,000 employees.

(30:29) Playing forever and focusing on environmental protections.

(34:25) Advice for people looking to build a career in outdoor adventure lifestyles.

(37:47) Rapid fire.