ATL Career Journey

My latest guest is Danny Presten, Chief Methodologist for Digital.ai (formerly CollabNet VersionOne). I originally met Danny at Equifax but our paths were similar through both Georgia Tech and Cox Enterprises.  Danny is one of the most positive and energetic people that I know. He walked me through his journey from working in non-profit, healthcare and supply chain to his current role as a Chief Agile Methodologist. Danny picked up some valuable lessons on change management and how to apply those to software development and business agility.  We discussed our experiences in implementing agile methodologies into an organization and how to make that successful. I always enjoy talking with Danny and today was no different!

You can learn more about Danny on LinkedIn or his company Digital.ai.

Today's guest is Debi Creasman, who is responsible for Client Engagement at Strive Consulting. I've known Debi for a few years now and she's impressed me with her experience in the consulting industry and her tremendous work ethic. She's fearless, hardworking, multi-lingual, and has a great ability to connect with professionals at all levels. Debi shares some insights into her success, including the power of being curious, building your professional network, and how working for a startup can expedite your career growth. We also discussed her life lessons of living abroad and how that experience provides incredible perspective, both personally and professionally. We had such a great conversation and hope you enjoy this episode!

You can learn more about Debi on LinkedIn.

This week's guest is Carlos Duralde, Lead Mobile Game Designer at BroadbandTV. I first met Carlos when we worked together at ShopVisible in Atlanta. We both graduated from Georgia Tech but what I found most interesting about him was that he was already developing video games as a side hobby. Since that time, Carlos relocated to Vancouver, British Columbia and has transformed his hobby into a full time profession. He shares some of his insights into being successful in the video game landscape and what influences drove his passion into a career. I found my conversation with Carlos fascinating and hope you enjoy it as well.

You can learn more about Carlos on his personal website https://www.carlosduralde.com or his company BroadbandTV https://www.bbtv.com/.

My guest today is Pam Askerneese Henry, Owner of Pam's Magic Cauldron. Pam and I are connected through my wife Julia's network and found her career story fascinating. She always had a passion for the culinary arts but started her journey as a teacher in California. Pam found a way to blend her talent for cooking while still in education but found a way to culinary school and ultimately starting her own catering business. She shares how combining her love for learning, asking the right questions, networking, and taking action gave her the recipe for success. We also touched on today's social issues in America and I learned some important lessons on being an ally for social change and coming together as a community.

You can learn more about Pam on LinkedIn or at Pam's Magic Cauldron.

Today's guest is Fibia Gee, Co-Founder and CEO of Found Professionals. I met Fibia through some mutual friends from PM Technologies and we discovered a shared interest in travel and culture. She has gone on to do some great things in the staffing industry and created her own recruiting firm. Fibia has always been an entrepreneur at heart and it was great to hear about her journey from Romania to starting her own boutique recruiting firm. Hard work, saying yes to opportunities, and acting on your dreams were keys to getting where she is today.

You can learn more about Fibia on LinkedIn or her company Found Professionals:

My guest this week is Alex Fraser, General Manager of Pivet, which is part of Cox Automotive Mobility Group. I first met Alex at Manheim when we worked together in their online division and he's just an all-around great human being. He's always had a passion for the automotive industry but his servant leadership is what stands out to me. There is never a job too big or too small for him to lead or support. He approaches every day with intelligence, creativity, and a true bias for action. In this episode, Alex talks about the importance of taking risks, embracing change, and the benefits of networking. There is a lot of valuable life lessons in this pod so I hope you enjoy!

You can learn more about Alex on LinkedIn or his company Pivot:

My guest for this episode is Lori Winters, who is the Founder and CEO of Thread. I first met her at Concert about 25 years ago and Lori has been a great friend over the years.  She's become a successful business owner and I've always admired her intelligence, strong work ethic, and competitiveness.  Lori shared her experience of starting out in a large manufacturing company which helped her develop management skills and the importance of a great company culture.  We talked about the importance of being flexible, taking risks, servant leadership, and not being afraid to take risks early in your career.

You can learn more about Lori on LinkedIn or her company Thread.

My guest today is Doug Norwood, who is Director of Enterprise Sales at Yext.  I first met Doug at ShopVisible and was always impressed with his ability to see the business side of software development.  He always keeps the customer in mind throughout the life cycle of a product and truly understands that sales is about building and maintaining relationships.  I admire his character, work ethic, and ability to connect with every level of the business.  Doug shared some of his keys to success that include being flexible, adaptable, and always be willing to learn.  We also talked a lot about building your network and the importance of asking questions.

You can learn more about Doug on LinkedIn or his company Yext:

Dean has been a great friend over the years and has had an interesting sports career before taking his talents to the business world.  He is currently Sr. Vice President, Business Development at LakePoint Sports, which serves over 30 sports year-round as the premier youth sports destination in the country.  Learn more about Dean as he explains how his coaching success transferred into the business world.  Certain behaviors such as self-discipline, adaptability, and humility can be applied successfully in almost any environment.

You can learn more about Dean on LinkedIn or his company LakePoint Sports.

This week's guest is Will Devlin, Vice President of MessageGears.  Will and I worked together at a small eCommerce company called ShopVisible.  He was instrumental in getting our clients set up with an online strategy, marketing plan, and best practices.  He has since moved into the world of email marketing and has demonstrated his leadership in that industry.  He offered up some great advice about knowing your strengths and being open to new opportunities.  We both highly value integrity and character and his strategy for embracing your current path can be applied to all of us.  I always learn something new when I chat with Will and today was no different.

You can learn more about Will on Linkedin or at MessageGears.