Blazers' Den

Tara Jaye Frank is an authentic leader who consistently speaks her truth, and leads from the heart with a unique ability to bring out the best in everyone she encounters.   A thought leader on cultural competence, multiculturalism as a business driver, women's leadership, and personal accountability, she has dedicated more than a decade of her career to helping leaders reach their own professional high grounds.   As a Hallmark, Inc executive, Tara directed creative strategy, talent development, launch of multi-million dollar consumer brands, helped define multicultural strategy for Hallmark North America, and much more.   In 2017, she co-founded P3T Group, a firm focused on helping organizations turn employee purpose and potential into greater performance.   In this episode:

• Tara speaks candidly about her professional and personal journey
• She recounts a 'must hear' experience and advice she received from Dr. Maya Angelou early in her career
• Plus, in classic Tara style, she communicates skillfully and thoughtfully what it really means to have a winning and thriving culture

Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with Tara on LinkedIn
• Tara Jaye Frank – An Inspired Purpose. A Practical Approach
• P3T Group

 

Kevin Hail is the President & Chief Operating Officer at National Breast Cancer Foundation, a leading non-profit that's  providing help and inspiring hope to those affected by breast cancer through early detection, education and support services.   Breast cancer is one of the leading health crises for women in the United States. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime. Together with their corporate partners, fundraisers, and supporters, NBCF is Helping Women Now and making a difference in families and communities across the United States and beyond.   In this episode:

• Kevin highlights some of the amazing programs NBCF provides
• He shares how frustration early in his career led him to do something different and transformational
• He recounts a mission creep experience he had at NBCF
• Plus we discuss the importance of balancing ambition - that is really experiencing where you are now in your life, while having a vision and desire to do better, and then taking the necessary steps to close the gap between the two

Favorite Quote From this Episode: "A curious mind is a sign of intelligence."   Resources From this Episode:

• National Breast Cancer Foundation
• Connect with Kevin

DJ Wade-O is a Syndicated Radio personality and award-winning content producer. He is the founder and CEO of ITS Ministry LLC, a leading urban gospel media company, and host of the Wade-O Radio Show.  After graduating from college, DJ Wade-O was on track to building a successful career in the corporate world and making a name for himself as a DJ in the New York City and Washington, DC night club scene, but all that changed after an encounter with a multi-platinum rapper turned pastor caused him to reevaluate the path he was on. In 2006, he started the Wade-O Radio Show which has now been  downloaded over 2 Million times and is currently syndicated on 25 radio stations in many of the world's largest media markets: New York City, Toronto, London, Houston and St. Maarten.   In this episode:  

• DJ Wade-O recounts stories from his early days as a DJ
• We talk about the importance of managing your mental and winning the battle of the mind
• DJ Wade-O shares his thoughts on the value of vision and how it sets the stage for culture  
• Plus we discuss the benefits of stripping things down to the essentials

Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with DJ Wade-O
• The Wade-O Radio Show

Bill Imada is the founder, chairman and chief connectivity officer of IW Group, an advertising, marketing and communications agency focusing on the growing multicultural markets. For more than 20 years, he has worked with some of the best known brands in the world, including Coca-Cola, McDonald's, MGM, Toyota, Verizon, Walmart Stores, Walt Disney, HBO and a ton of others.   He is also the co-founder of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund (APIASF) and established the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (ACE), an organization that is based in Washington, D.C. His efforts were recognized by The White House and he was invited to meet President Barack Obama and subsequently appointed to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by President Obama.   A consummate advocate, collaborator, connector and networker, Bill Imada founded The National Millennial Community in 2015, an organization comprised of leaders from across the United States committed to breaking the negative stereotypes and changing the conversation about the millennial generation.   In this episode:

• Bill shares a personal story that emphasizes why asking for what you want is crucial
• We discuss the importance of framing conversations to give people context and texture so they connect to and remember what you are saying or offering, and take action
• We also talk about Millennials and the organization he founded to create a dialogue that changes the conversation we hear today about the Millennial Generation
• Plus Bill shares a networking tip that will help you standout and connect faster at your next networking event

Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with Bill
• IW Group
• National Millennial Community

 

 

 

Doug is the president of Renfro Foods, an award-winning food company based in Fort Worth, Texas. Known for their delicious, nutritious and affordable Mrs Renfro's salsas, sauces and relishes, Renfro Foods' delighted customers are spread across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, England, Scotland, Germany, Spain, and Australia. A part of the Renfro family business from an early age, Doug shares some lessons he has learned from his classic journey working in the family business, venturing out into the corporate world and returning back to the family business.

 

In this episode:

• Doug discusses the importance of persistence and how to determine when to persist or move on
• He shares the story behind the name 'Mrs Renfro'
• Plus, find out which flavor of Mrs. Renfro's salsa helped Trisha Yearwood loose weight
• And much more

 

Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with Doug (Twitter)
• Renfro Foods

Joni Hart is the Director of Major Gifts for the American Cancer Society, a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer, creating more birthdays by helping people stay well, get well, and fight back.   She's a seasoned and skilled fundraiser, a community builder, and brand ambassador for Athleta, an athletic clothing company for active women and girls.   When she is not working strategically with investors to fund research that will end cancer, you will find her upholding and empowering others to create change for the better.   Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with Joni (LinkedIn)
• Connect with Joni (Instagram)
• American Cancer Society
• Athleta
• Passion Planner

Mark is President of Rise Performance Group, where he helps organizations shape their workforce into world-class leaders. A high-energy leader himself, Mark knows leaders and what it takes to bring out the best in them. Prior to founding Rise Performance Group, Mark built and led high performing sales and leadership teams in the technology industry as a sales executive. He is a John Maxwell Certified Leadership Coach and fired up about helping people and organizations improve their performance.   Resources From this Episode:  

• Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
• Rise Performance Group
• Live2Lead

 

Malcolm "MJ" Harris is an internationally recognized financial services CEO and motivational success teacher who has consistently beaten the odds to achieve extraordinary success. MJ's rise began when he started an insurance agency - from his dining room table as a side business - while working as a Management Consultant for a "Big 4" firm. Through sharing his story with the world on social media about overcoming personal and financial trials, the business quickly grew into a multi-national financial services and self-improvement powerhouse.   Today, MJ's core businesses include National Care Financial Group which has become one of America's largest African-American owned financial services firms, and MJ Harris OmniMedia which produces content receiving millions of views monthly around the world.    Resources From this Episode:

• National Care Financial Group
• Connect with Malcolm
• Join National Care 

Catherine Monson is CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc., a leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchisor of more than 650 locations worldwide. Since 2008, Catherine has helped advance the FASTSIGNS brand from just a sign and banner provider to a visual ideas and comprehensive solutions provider for all kinds of businesses and brands. In 2012, she appeared on the Emmy Award-winning series Undercover Boss to learn new ways to advance the FASTSIGNS® brand. A strong advocate for small business enterprise and franchising, Catherine has contributed extensively to the growth of the franchising industry. She serves on the Board of Directors for the International Franchise Association (IFA), the world's oldest and largest organization representing franchises worldwide and was was recently recognized by Global Franchise Magazine as one of the Top Faces of Franchising in 2017 for her work with the International Franchising Association (IFA), including her involvement in the Women's Franchise Committee, the Franchise Relations Committee, Franchise Action Network meetings and teaching and speaking at various IFA conventions around the world.   Resources From this Episode:

• International Franchise Association
• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business, by Gino Wickman

Andy Whittaker is Director of Market Insights at WeddingWire, a leading technology company serving the $100+ billion wedding, corporate, and social events industry. As a client-side market researcher with 15+ years experience in both qualitative and quantitative methods, his efforts to better understand customer mindsets have directly led to the development of brand and product strategy.      Resources From this Episode:

• Connect with Andy
• WeddingWire 
• Data Points: Visualization That Means Something, by Nathan Yau