Markell Blount grew up bused from Boston to an affluent Massachusetts suburb — and didn’t realize until his 30s just how much that experience had privileged him with connections, perspective, and a bridge to opportunity that not everyone gets. Now he’s going back to his community to share what he learned: that your network is everything, adding value is the strategy, and optimism isn’t naive — it’s necessary. A Division I athlete turned connector and community advocate, Markell brings a grounded, honest take on race, privilege, networking, and what it means to truly lift as you climb. What You’ll Learn: Why Markell has never gotten a job through the internet — and what that tells you about networking How to build relationship currency before you ever need to make a withdrawal Why recognizing your own privilege is the first step to becoming a genuine bridge-builder The danger of only reaching out to people when you need something How to hold optimism and realism at the same time — especially in hard seasons Key Focus Areas: Relationship Currency – Building rapport consistently so your network is there when it matters Bridge to Opportunity – Why some people know how to navigate systems — and others were never shown how Privilege & Responsibility – What Markell learned at 30 that changed how he shows up for his community Optimism as Strategy – Why a positive outlook isn’t denial — it’s fuel for forward momentum Past, Present, Future – Why all three matter and why presence alone isn’t enough Markell’s Approach: Grew up in Boston, bused to Sudbury, MA as part of a school integration program — bridging two very different worlds Former Division I football player who recognized the career limits of athletics early Never received a job through a resume or job board — always through relationships Committed to going back to underserved communities to show young people the bridges he was privileged to cross Believes adding value early and often — without expectation — is the surest path to a life well-lived Perfect If You’re: Building a network and not sure how to make it feel genuine instead of transactional Someone who grew up with opportunity and is ready to use it to open doors for others A young professional who’s been told to “just send your resume” and getting nowhere Thinking about race, privilege, and community in a nuanced, action-oriented way Ready to put the phone down, reflect, and ask yourself honestly: am I on track? Markell’s Philosophy: “I’ve never gotten a job through the internet — always through connections.” “Build your relationship currency throughout — not just when you need something.” “Figure out a way to add value and do it as early and as often as you can.” “I can’t live in the past — we’re in the present, dealing with hard issues, looking to the future.” “Let me show you. Let me teach you.” ABOUT MARKELL BLOUNT: Community Advocate | Connector | Former Division I Athlete | Helping bridge the gap between opportunity and access for underserved communities through relationships, mentorship, and authentic leadership CONNECT WITH MARKELL: LinkedIn:   / markellblount   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

Winning Wednesday: 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑠

Another VTeamer on the show! My heart is so full of gratitude, wonder, and awe.

Today’s Guest: Allison Wright

“Less than 7% of people that grow up in underserved communities ever leave.”

It’s only fitting that Allison & I met a year ago after an Employee Resource Group event & that last week was our annual ERG Leadership Summit at Verizon.

We dig into some hot topics here:

“Plant seeds, though you may never see the trees.”

Big shout-out to Jason Ellinger of Beard & Bowler who edited this interview and set the tone for a new dynamic within Season 2 of #WinningWednesday!

Follow Katrina Fuhrman for The LinkedIn Show that reminds you what day of the week it is & shows you how easy it is to make meaningful connections!

#ConnectorQueen #NetworKing

What if the best sales training you ever received happened before you turned five? Mikeal Morgan dropped out of school at 13 in seventh grade — and has spent the last 20 years self-educating his way to a senior leadership role at Verizon, four published books, and a sales philosophy rooted in the one thing most professionals have forgotten: how to sell like a child. In this conversation, Mikeal brings wisdom on diversity of thought, the power of stillness, and why acknowledging someone is always more powerful than agreeing or disagreeing with them. What You’ll Learn: Why children are expert salespeople — and what we lose as adults that costs us dearly The five-step sales process Mikeal developed by drawing correlations between childhood instincts and 20 years of study Why “no” almost always means “not right now” — and how that reframe changes everything How to acknowledge an objection without agreeing with it — and why that’s the real skill Why meditation and stillness aren’t soft practices — they’re competitive advantages Key Focus Areas: Sales Secrets of a Five-Year-Old – What makes children master closers — and how to reclaim those instincts as adults Thought Diversity – Why surrounding yourself with people a generation above and below you is one of the best investments you can make Acknowledge, Don’t Agree – The objection-handling transition that keeps conversations open instead of creating conflict Self-Education as Strategy – A book a week for 20 years — what that kind of intentional learning compounds into over time Be Still – Why prayer is where you speak and meditation is where you listen — and why both matter in business and life Mikeal’s Approach: 18-year Verizon veteran who has held five distinct roles — from frontline sales rep to associate director Dropped out of school entirely at 13 and has been self-educating ever since — a book a week for nearly two decades Author of four books including Sales Secrets of a Five-Year-Old — his first book on sales Believes deeply in thought diversity alongside gender and racial diversity — different perspectives sharpen everyone Practices stillness and meditation daily as a tool for patience, growth, and emotional mastery Perfect If You’re: A sales professional who’s lost the natural instincts you once had — and wants them back Someone who didn’t follow a traditional education path and wonders if that will always hold you back A leader trying to build more diverse teams — in thought, not just demographics Struggling with rejection in sales and needing a reframe that actually sticks Ready to build a stillness practice but not sure where to start or why it matters Mikeal’s Philosophy: “Mark Twain said I never let school get in the way of my education — and that’s me.” “God gifted us with the ability to be expert salespeople — and then things happen and we lose it.” “You don’t have to agree — you can acknowledge without agreeing.” “Prayer is where you speak — meditation is where you listen.” “Surround yourself with people a generation above and below you — just to see the world through a different lens.” ABOUT MIKEAL MORGAN: Sales Leader | Author | 18-Year Verizon Veteran | Self-Educated Lifelong Learner | Helping sales professionals reconnect with the instincts they were born with — and build the discipline to turn them into a repeatable process CONNECT WITH MIKEAL: LinkedIn:   / mikealmorgan   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if the most powerful conversation you could have was with your future self? Danny Shannon spent 17 years in addiction, and the 11 years since have been defined by one transformative truth: the opposite of addiction is connection. From working at the same rehab where he got clean, to building Encapsulator — a digital time capsule platform — Danny’s story is one of radical honesty, courageous vulnerability, and the healing power of speaking your truth out loud. What You’ll Learn: Why connection is the true antidote to addiction — and loneliness How recording a video message to his future self sparked a whole business idea Why LinkedIn video is one of the most powerful tools for authentic relationship building How speaking to yourself with no fear of judgment unlocks things you’ve never said before Why being kind and loving toward yourself is the foundation of real growth Key Focus Areas: The Opposite of Addiction is Connection – The philosophy that reshaped Danny’s entire life Radical Honesty – After 17 years of hiding, choosing truth became everything Encapsulator – A digital time capsule platform for recording your present self to your future self LinkedIn Video – How showing up authentically on video opened doors Danny never expected Recovery as Transformation – What 11 years of practicing communication looks like in real life Danny’s Approach: 11+ years in recovery — working in the same rehab where he once got clean Founder of Encapsulator — a secure digital time capsule platform Helped 150+ clients capture video messages to their future selves Uses guided prompts to help people articulate hopes, dreams, goals, fears, and aspirations Passionate LinkedIn video creator sharing his recovery story to help others feel less alone Perfect If You’re: Someone in recovery — or supporting someone who is — looking for community and tools Curious about the power of talking to your future self as a therapeutic practice A professional ready to show up more authentically on LinkedIn through video Thinking about what you’d say to yourself five years from now Someone who struggles with vulnerability but knows real connection requires it Danny’s Philosophy: “The opposite to addiction is connection.” “I lied for 17 years — so one of the things I hold most important is sharing my truth.” “Be kind and loving towards yourself.” “It’s like prayer — you can say anything.” “I felt incredibly lucky that I’ve been practicing communication for the past 10 years.” ABOUT DANNY SHANNON: Founder of Encapsulator | Recovery Advocate | LinkedIn Video Creator | Helping people connect with their future selves through the power of digital time capsule videos CONNECT WITH DANNY: LinkedIn:   / danny-a-shannon-05a109163   Website: https://encapsulator.io CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What do Serbian, Czech, German, and an interrobang hat all have in common? They’re all part of Kevin Carroll’s extraordinary story of curiosity, connection, and catalytic leadership. From learning rare languages in the military to becoming an internal entrepreneur at Nike, Kevin has spent his career doing one thing remarkably well: shortening the degrees of separation between people. His secret? Stop being transactional. Start being transformational. What You’ll Learn: How asking “what’s giving you hope?” changes a conversation completely The difference between having a business and truly owning one Why “if you shine, I shine” is the most powerful leadership philosophy What presence really means — and how to signal it to the people you love Why resilience isn’t about bouncing back — it’s about sustained determination Key Focus Areas: Transformational vs. Transactional – The question that unlocks real human connection Entrepreneurial Mindset at Nike – How Kevin operated as an internal catalyst before he even had the word for it Owning Your Business – The uncomfortable parts you can’t outsource if you’re truly in charge Presence Over Time – Why being fully here for five minutes beats being distracted for five hours Stacking Wins – How small consistent actions compound into an unrecognizable life Kevin’s Approach: Military linguist trained in Serbian/Croatian, Czech, and German at the Monterey Language School Former internal consultant and entrepreneur-in-residence at Nike Founder of Katalyst with a K — helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential Naturally curious connector who shortens degrees of separation everywhere he goes Philosophy rooted in presence, service, and the belief that humanity wins when everyone does their part Perfect If You’re: A leader who wants to stop leading from title and start leading from impact Someone building a business and finally ready to own the unsexy parts of it Craving deeper, more meaningful conversations in a world full of small talk A parent or partner trying to figure out how to be truly present in a busy life Anyone who needs a reminder that stacking small wins is still winning Kevin’s Philosophy: “Be where your feet are.” “My agenda is you — if you shine, I shine.” “How can I be more transformational than transactional with somebody?” “Resilience is not the bounce back — it’s sustained determination.” “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” ABOUT KEVIN CARROLL: Military Linguist | Former Nike Internal Consultant | Founder of Katalyst | Speaker & Connector | Helping people and organizations unlock their potential through curiosity, presence, and catalytic leadership CONNECT WITH KEVIN: LinkedIn:   / kevincarrollkatalyst   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if the secret to closing a deal isn’t asking the right questions — it’s finding the right problems before anyone asks you to? Josh Braun, sales coach and former Jellyvision sales leader, landed Verizon as a client by identifying a problem on their website that they didn’t even know they had. His wife Jenna brings the retail perspective — selling sofas at West Elm by genuinely caring about the person, not the transaction. Together they make the case that sales isn’t really sales at all. It’s negotiation. It’s conversation. It’s a life skill nobody taught you — but everyone needs. What You’ll Learn: How Josh landed a lucrative deal with Verizon through a cold email about a problem they hadn’t identified yet Why the sales superpower is finding problems — not asking about them How Jenna sells organically by actually listening to the person, not the purchase Why calling it “negotiation” instead of “sales” changes everything about how you show up How a kitchen video with a tiny bowl of ice cream became a LinkedIn content series Key Focus Areas: Find the Problem First – Why coming to a prospect with a hypothesis about their pain is more powerful than any discovery question Sales as Negotiation – Why everything in life is a negotiation — from shoelaces to nursing homes to dinner Organic Relationship Selling – How Jenna turns a sofa sale into a rug for the daughter’s room just by listening The LinkedIn Power Couple – How Josh and Jenna’s authentic dynamic built an audience by accident — starting with three viewers Making People Feel Heard – Why the real magic in sales is knowing what to say so the other person feels understood Josh & Jenna’s Approach: Josh — sales coach, author, and former VP of Sales at Jellyvision with deep B2B cold outreach expertise Jenna — retail sales professional whose natural curiosity and genuine interest turn transactions into relationships Together they create LinkedIn content that blends sales education with real-life dynamic — authentically and unscripted Josh’s philosophy: bring a hypothesis, not just questions — show prospects you’ve done the thinking before the call Jenna’s philosophy: when people feel like you care, they tell you everything you need to know Perfect If You’re: A sales professional who’s been taught to ask questions but never taught to form a hypothesis first Someone who freezes up in negotiations because they don’t think of themselves as a “salesperson” A B2B rep looking for a cold outreach framework that leads with value and insight — not a pitch A couple or business partnership thinking about how to create content together authentically Anyone who wants to get better at productive conversations — in business and in life Josh & Jenna’s Philosophy: “The sales superpower is not asking about problems — it’s finding problems.” “Everything in life is a negotiation — if you call it that instead of sales, it comes off differently.” “When people feel like you care, you’d be surprised what you can learn.” “You have to bring forth a perspective — I don’t want to hire a trainer who asks me how to work out.” “This idea that you don’t have to agree or disagree but can just understand someone’s point of view — that’s a skill.” ABOUT JOSH & JENNA BRAUN: Josh Braun — Sales Coach | Author | Cold Outreach Expert | Helping sales professionals find problems worth solving and start conversations worth having Jenna Braun — Retail Sales Professional | Relationship Builder | Proving that genuine curiosity is the most effective sales strategy there is CONNECT WITH JOSH & JENNA: Josh LinkedIn:   / josh-braun   Jenna LinkedIn:   / jenna-braun-7384b39   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if nearly dying three times before the age of 10 became the fuel for a life’s mission? Claude-Reynald Christian Lecorps grew up in Haiti where electricity came on for just a few hours a day — if at all. Those childhood experiences of blackouts, sporadic water, and makeshift community didn’t break him. They built him. Now he’s an electrical engineer and startup founder on a mission to fundamentally reimagine how electricity is generated and distributed — starting with the people who need it most. What You’ll Learn: What growing up with 3 hours of daily electricity actually looks like — and what it teaches you Why desalination is the key to solving the global clean water crisis How adversity in emerging markets can become the greatest engineering problem to solve What developed countries have sacrificed in the name of convenience Why everything that happens to you is happening for you Key Focus Areas: Energy Poverty – The reality of sporadic electricity in emerging markets and why it affects everything Clean Energy Innovation – Rethinking how electricity is generated beyond burning fossil fuels Water & Energy Nexus – Why you can’t solve the clean water crisis without solving electricity first Multilingual Global Perspective – Growing up fluent in Haitian Creole, French, English, and Spanish Gratitude as Advantage – How perceived disadvantages become the foundation for breakthrough purpose Claude-Reynald’s Approach: Born in Boston, raised in Haiti until age 14 — nearly died three times before age 10 due to electrical blackouts Electrical engineering degree with experience in architectural engineering and the Solar Decathlon Startup founder redefining how electricity is generated and distributed for underserved markets Focused on scalable desalination powered by renewable energy to deliver clean water globally Believes convenience-obsessed developed nations have lost something essential — community, purpose, and health Perfect If You’re: An engineer or entrepreneur drawn to solving big, meaningful infrastructure problems Curious about the real-world impact of energy poverty on everyday life Someone who grew up with less and wants to channel that experience into a mission Interested in the intersection of renewable energy, clean water, and global equity Ready to reframe your hardest experiences as your greatest advantages Claude-Reynald’s Philosophy: “Whatever the situation — always be grateful.” “That may have looked like a disadvantage at the time, but now I have an advantage because I went through that experience.” “It’s happening for you.” “Developed countries have sacrificed what’s really important in the name of convenience.” ABOUT CLAUDE-REYNALD CHRISTIAN LECORPS: Electrical Engineer | Clean Energy & Water Startup Founder | Haitian-American Innovator | On a mission to bring renewable energy and clean drinking water to every human on the planet CONNECT WITH CLAUDE-REYNALD: LinkedIn:   / crchristianle   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What’s the difference between a good networking event and a bad one? Garrett Halsell — serial entrepreneur with three businesses — has a clear answer, and it starts with intention. In this wide-ranging conversation, Garrett breaks down the real value of building a professional network before you need it, the art of working a room without overstaying your welcome, and why finding your dopamine rush in helping other people is actually the most sustainable business strategy there is. Oh, and it opens with a rescued kitten. Because that’s just the kind of person Garrett is. What You’ll Learn: The critical difference between a good networking event and one that wastes everyone’s time Why the 10-minute rule at networking events helps you meet more of the right people How to build a professional network before you ever need to tap it for business Why your purpose and your dopamine source should be the same thing What the pandemic revealed about remote work — and how it’s permanently reshaping where we choose to live Key Focus Areas: Networking Before You Need It – Why building relationships transactionally is the fastest way to burn them The 10-Minute Rule – How to work a room with intention, read the energy, and move on gracefully Lifelong Professional Friends – The BNI concept that reframes networking as relationship-building over the long haul Purpose-Driven Business – Why Garrett’s dopamine comes from helping people — and why that makes him better at everything he does Post-Pandemic Work Life – What remote work unlocked for where and how we choose to live Garrett’s Approach: Serial entrepreneur with three active businesses across multiple industries Started his professional life in aerospace, moved to New York City knowing no one, and built his network from scratch Deeply rooted in the BNI philosophy of long-term professional relationship building Believes you are a reflection of your connections — which is why he’s selective about who he spends his time with at events Finds joy and fulfillment not in accumulating things but in genuinely helping people succeed Perfect If You’re: Someone who only reaches out to their network when they need something — and knows that has to change A new entrepreneur in a new city trying to figure out how to build from zero Heading to a networking event and not sure how to balance depth of conversation with breadth of connection A business owner who relies on word of mouth and referrals and wants to accelerate that flywheel Anyone who’s ever felt out of place at a networking event and needed someone to make them feel welcome Garrett’s Philosophy: “Everyone’s my friend — they may not like me, but I’m still their friend.” “I find my contentment in helping people — that’s my purpose on this earth.” “I want to talk to you long enough to know that I want to talk to you again.” “Networking is fundamental to business growth — especially for small businesses that run on word of mouth.” “You can’t do it alone — find people who will help you grow, otherwise you become a statistic.” ABOUT GARRETT HALSELL: Serial Entrepreneur | Networker | Community Builder | Running three businesses and helping people find the right connections, build the right relationships, and grow through the power of intentional networking CONNECT WITH GARRETT: LinkedIn:   / garretthalsell   CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

What if collecting different perspectives was the ultimate life skill? Jeremy Gartner grew up in France, moved to Israel at 13, and eventually built a career helping people land their dream jobs — all by learning one foundational lesson: to connect with people, you have to meet them on their terms, not your own. From multilingual mindset shifts to job search strategy, Jeremy brings a refreshingly humble, globally-informed view on growth, learning, and showing up authentically. *What You’ll Learn:* How learning multiple languages literally changes the way you think and feel Why the easiest jobs to apply for are the hardest ones to get The mindset shift that transforms how you connect with anyone from any culture Why “progress over perfection” beats chasing the perfect outcome every time How to know when to be stubborn — and when to pivot *Key Focus Areas:* *Learning for the Sake of Learning* – Growing because you want to, not because you have to *Multi-Lens Thinking* – Why collecting different perspectives makes you a better human and professional *Meeting People on Their Terms* – The cultural intelligence lesson that unlocks real connection *Job Search Strategy* – Why intentional outreach beats easy-apply every single time *Progress Over Perfection* – Embracing failure as part of the process, not the end of it *Jeremy’s Approach:* Grew up in France, lived in Israel for 15 years — fluent in French, Hebrew, and English Career coach helping professionals land competitive roles at top companies Teaches clients to set goals, build accountability, and operate independently Believes in living life as an adventure — experimenting, pivoting, and telling stories worth sharing Humble, approachable philosophy: “If I can do it, anyone can do it” *Perfect If You’re:* Job searching and wondering why your applications aren’t getting responses Feeling stuck in one way of thinking and craving a broader worldview Someone who learns best by doing — not by sitting in a classroom Ready to stop blaming your circumstances and start asking “maybe it’s me?” Building goals but struggling to stay accountable and follow through *Jeremy’s Philosophy:* “Learning for the sake of learning.” “To connect with people, you have to meet them on their ground — not your own.” “Always progress over perfection.” “Live your life like the stories you want to tell.” “It’s all about being stubborn — but knowing when to pivot.” — *ABOUT JEREMY GARTNER:* Career Coach | Multilingual Global Citizen | Helping professionals navigate competitive job markets through intentional strategy, goal-setting, and authentic self-presentation *CONNECT WITH JEREMY:* LinkedIn:   / jeremygartner   — CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen  

When COVID wiped out six paid speaking engagements overnight, Allan Langer didn’t hit pause — he hit play. He went from 207 LinkedIn followers to over 5,000 in less than six months, built a networking group called Play Don’t Pause, and developed one of the most practical and human-centered sales philosophies you’ll hear anywhere. If you think sales is a numbers game, Allan is here to change your mind — and your results. What You’ll Learn: Why video DMs on LinkedIn convert at dramatically higher rates than text or voice messages How to use Loom and Vidyard to send video emails that almost always get opened Why quality connections on LinkedIn outperform chasing follower counts every single time The mindset shift from selling to helping — and why it actually makes you sell more Why hitting pause during a crisis is the biggest mistake you can make for your business Key Focus Areas: The Anti-Salesman – Stop doing feature dumps and start asking what the customer actually needs Video DMs as a Relationship Starter – How a 30-second video turns a cold connection into a warm conversation LinkedIn with Intention – One dedicated hour a day, engaging authentically, connecting strategically Play Don’t Pause – Why the entrepreneurs who thrive in crisis are the ones who get on the wave — not wait it out Sales Is a Human Game – Why changing your mindset from hitting quota to genuinely helping is the most effective sales strategy Allan’s Approach: Sales coach, author, and speaker who lost six paid engagements overnight when COVID hit — and responded by going all-in on LinkedIn Grew from 207 to 5,000+ LinkedIn followers in under six months through intentional, quality-focused engagement Founded the Play Don’t Pause networking group to keep professionals moving during the pandemic Uses video DMs for target prospects and video email tools like Loom and Vidyard to stand out in crowded inboxes Tagline: “Sales is not a numbers game — sales is a human game” Perfect If You’re: A sales professional stuck in feature-dump mode who knows there’s a better way Someone whose speaking or event-based business disappeared overnight and needs a new pipeline A LinkedIn user who’s been connecting randomly and wondering why it’s not converting Ready to try video DMs but not sure how to start or what to say Anyone who’s been tempted to hit pause and wait for things to get better — this is your wake-up call Allan’s Philosophy: “Sales is not a numbers game — sales is a human game.” “Be the anti-salesman — stop selling and start helping.” “Change your mindset from selling to helping and you’ll be amazed how much more you sell.” “Get on top of the wave — get an extra surfboard if you need it.” “Be a human being and you’ll be successful.” ABOUT ALLAN LANGER: Sales Coach | Author | Speaker | Founder of Play Don’t Pause | Helping sales professionals ditch the script, lead with humanity, and use video to build real relationships that convert CONNECT WITH ALLAN: LinkedIn:   / allanlanger   Website: https://allanger.com CONNECT WITH KATRINA: LinkedIn:   / connectorqueen