Episodes
Wednesday May 30, 2018
Ray Doustdar: Founder, Buiced
Wednesday May 30, 2018
Wednesday May 30, 2018
Ray and I have known each other for 28 years, dating back to freshman orientation in 1990. Ray always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and since finishing Miami, his motor has not stopped. He did spent several years at P&G, and since then, he created a team dating app, became General Manager of a Los Angeles-based professional boxing team, and now, he is the Founder and CEO of the vitamin company Buiced. We spoke to Ray just days after he secured an huge order from Wal-Mart, putting his liquid multi-vitamin in more than 2,000 stores nationwide. The conversation details his pitch to the retail giant and how he got Buiced to where it is today….on his own. His passion for his product is clear, and it’s a big reason why I am betting on Ray’s success.
Wednesday May 23, 2018
Kate Pratt: Director of Marketing Partnerships, MSG
Wednesday May 23, 2018
Wednesday May 23, 2018
Kate Pratt is the Director of Marketing Partnerships at Madison Square Garden and brings an energy that makes you smile. She is a rising star (2017 Forbes 30 Under 30) in the workforce, and in the pod she shares great feedback for students looking either for jobs or to jump into the internship game. We also touch on my time back on campus recently judging the Entrepreneurship Program start-up competition. We’ll have the winners of the competition on the podcast in the next few weeks.
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Matthew Betley: Author of "Field of Valor"
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Wednesday May 16, 2018
Talk about backstory? Matthew’s background is incredibly interesting. The now best-selling author joined the Marines after finding his calling soon after breaking up a fight at a movie theatre. He became an author after realizing he could write a better novel than the “boring” best seller he was reading at the time. He talks about finding the right path for his career, even if it wasn’t what he would have envisioned for himself. But of most importance to him, Matt talks about his upcoming novel Field of Valor, the latest installment in a series of thrillers featuring the protagonist Logan West. Field of Valor can be preordered here, and found wherever books are sold when it is released this coming Tuesday, May 22nd. He was recently back on campus providing life and business tips to Miami’s ROTC program.
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Rachel Rudwall: Host, Producer, Influencer
Wednesday May 09, 2018
Wednesday May 09, 2018
The buzz the past few years has been all about “the rise of the influencer” and “influencer marketing”. And there is no better example than this week's guest, Rachel Rudwall. She is multi-talented. A host, photographer, speaker, writer, explorer, and yes, an influencer. It was a fun, action-packed conversation. She speaks 10+ languages, has traveled to 70+ countries, helping dozens of brands create or amplify their campaign work along the way. These adventures, along with her Tedx speech, are reasons why her social following grows every day. I also enjoyed part of the conversation where we discussed mentorship. Hers? Former pod guest Jeff Conroy. We are never too old to learn and grow.
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Julie Felss Masino: North American President, Taco Bell
Wednesday May 02, 2018
Wednesday May 02, 2018
The curiousity to explore and thrist to learn are two qualities that define Julie Felss Masino. She works tirelessly to build culture, innovate for the future, and lead by example. And now, as North American President of Taco Bell, she is doing it for the world to see. Her career has inscluded incredible brand work at Coach, Godiva, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Fisher Price and 10+ years at Starbucks. Her experience in the restaurant and retail world is unmatched. I think you’ll appreciate her honesty of what her daily schedule is like and what it takes to bring companies to the top.
Show Notes:
“Companies who sit still find themselves behind”
“Always solve consumer needs before the consumer knows they need it”
Day in the Life of a North American President.
- Get to the office early: it’s imperative to have time before everyone comes into the office.
- Being a leader means being ready for the day and to know what’s coming. You want to show up well, be prepared for every meeting, and to know if you should have an opinion about a matter.
- Give yourself an hour where you don’t have to think. It’s super important to let the mind be free before going to bed, so you can fully show up to work.
Sometimes You Work Weekends.
- Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, led by example to always be on and to always be working.
- It’s necessary to unplug on the weekends and try activities such as pilates, yoga, or hiking.
Lead by Example.
- Don’t take the responsibility of being a leader lightly.
- Believe in teamwork, positivity, optimism and to bring everything to your role.
- Ultimate questions of being a leader:
- How do you inspire and put the right people in the right roles?
- How do you give your team the tools to be the best?
- How do you challenge them to be the best?
- All of these leadership questions stem from holding the bar high for yourself. Never ask anyone to do something if you wouldn’t do it.
Always Be Curious.
- Read a lot and ask a lot of questions.
- It’s important to be very confident and to not be afraid to ask for help or admitting you need help.
Help Others Along the Way.
- Look around you at Miami University or in your career and make friends.
- Share knowledge and help your peer group. It’s beneficial to help others along the way and to nurture these relationships now.
Say Yes.
- Say yes to new opportunities and try new things whether it’s in a role or location
- If you want a bigger role in leadership, it’s important to understand the bigger picture of business and to take roles even if it’s not in your specialty. It makes you a better and more well-rounded leader.
- Not only this, it makes you a better human and widens your lens to understand there’s not one way to do things.
- Make sure you have a network you have the ability to say yes to new things. Sometimes you have to say no, ensure you’re saying “not now” to open more opportunities later in your career.
Innovation Is Important.
- Work with brands you are passionate about and believe in.
- Key reasons for coming to Taco Bell: being in a culture that reinvents the business playbook, they are passionate about their customers, and want to continue to be a part of their lives in fun ways.