Talent evaluation is difficult in any industry. We make decisions every day on performance that not only affect people's lives, but also affect their emotions and often their physical and emotional well-being. Effectively operating in the world of talent management  requires both empathy and a high level of emotional strength.  

For this episode, host Fran Racioppi traveled to the heart of Brooklyn to spend the day with Julia Samersova; Founder and CEO of Cast Inc. - the leading casting company for kids who have what it takes to star in commercials, advertisements and shows. Julia is trusted by the fashion industry's most iconic brands like Maybelline, Calvin Klein, Gap and Carter's.

In definitely our most relaxed episode to date, Fran and Julia talk casting, entrepreneurism, talent management, helicopter parenting, the impact adults have on kids and how we can be the best parents we can be.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Julia and Fran discuss defining your self-worth as an entrepreneur, the loneliness of building something from nothing in your vision and how to deal with down times.

-Julia defines “busy” and what it means to devote yourself to your passion and dreams. 

-Julia challenges us to think about parenting differently and incorporate the way kids are learning today through technology into how we parent. 

-Casting kids requires a mix of energy, uniqueness and empathy, as well as patience to manage their often overbearing parents known as “Mom-agers.”  

-In a heartfelt exchange Julia credits her high school guidance counselor with forcing her to believe in herself and pursue what she loved.

-Julia explains her career in talent management and how the 2008 market crash showed her a gap in the fashion industry.

-Parenting is the hardest job we have. Julia and Fran discuss the act of parenting, the importance of time and attention and the risk aversion between kids today vs yesterday. 

Quotes:

-”If I changed even one kid’s life then it was all worth it.”

-“My favorite thing to do was to cut up magazines and make collages out of supermodels.”

-“I don’t know what would have happened to me had Mrs. Graham not sat me down and been like you’re a loser, what are you doing with your life, what’s your love, what’s your passion.”

-”It’s the honesty in a kid that is mostly attractive to me.”

-”The kids usually do better when the parents are in another room.”

-”Nobody else is responsible for your success…If you didn’t get that job that you wanted, that’s on you. But also, if you did get the job, that’s on you.”

-”Whatever you are busy with, did it produce some sort of satisfaction.”

-“Busyness as a badge of honor…no…Rest is the badge of honor.”

-”Kids are exactly what you put into them. You are going to get out what you put in.”

-”We put iPads in their hands at two years old. What did we think was going to happen? We need to change the way we think about it vs changing the behavior.”

Julia’s Three Daily Foundations to Success:

-Wake up at the same time every day with gratitude

-Never procrastinate; have a sense of urgency all the time

-Schedule time to rest and recover

-Plus Julia adds a fourth - fight for what you want!

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, 18A Fitness and Analytix Solutions.