Scribble Talk

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With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
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Todays's guest is Ashley Kayes (normally co-host of Scribble Talk)

Currently a Senior Proposal Consultant with AOC Key Solutions, Inc. (KSI), Ashley has more than 13 years of proposal experience, including serving as a proposal specialist, proposal coordinator, proposal writer, and proposal manager. Over the course of her career, Ashley has contributed to over $6 billion in proposal wins. She has a Master’s degree in English concentrating in Professional Writing and Editing, holds a practitioner level certification through APMP, and was recognized as a member of the APMP 2018 class of 40 Under 40. Ashley is an active contributor to the KSI company blog and led the effort to update and publish the KSI Advantage© Capture and Proposal Guide. Additionally, Ashley manages a professional blog, Proposal Reflections, which features articles aimed at fostering business development, capture, and proposal success and is normally the co-host of this podcast, Scribble Talk. In addition to contributions within the proposal industry, Ashley previously taught English Composition at Northern Virginia Community College.

In this episode we will discuss Ashley's  

Early life, High School and Education?
Gymanastics 
Teaching career 
CACI career  
AOC career 
Mentors - Eric Gregory, Betsy Blakney, Kristin Dufrene 
Memorable proposals 
First experience at APMP’s Bid and Proposal Con
Memorable experiences among your APMP speaking engagements and contributions?
APMP NCA Chapter Board contributions

Few Fun Questions 
If you could transport back in time to interview one person from the past, who would you choose and why?
If you could ask your new pup, Blue, anything—what would you ask him?
If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would you choose?If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take?
Where is your favorite place to eat in Nashville?
What’s your all-time favorite food or meal?
You grew up doing gymnastics on a competitive level—can you tell us three similarities between gymnastics and proposals?
Are you Team Oxford Comma?
What are some of your biggest grammar pet peeves?
Do you prefer white or red wine?
Where is the coolest place you’ve traveled?

Listen in and get to know our Scribble Talk co-host and Proposal Super Star, Ashley Kayes 


Ashley blog series : www.proposalreflections.com 

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Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Special Episode  -  Samantha Enslen joins us a co-host

Today’s Guest is Baskar Sundaram. 

Baskar is Founding Director of Baachu, UK based Market Development advisory. He is an award winning entrepreneur and is ranked #1 advisor to investors in business services industry. Baskar established Baachu Scribble, learning platform for bids and proposal community in 2019. Scribble is APMP Approved Training Organisation and has supported 170 professionals in 29 countries attain APMP Certifications. 

He launched Scribble Scholarship in 2019 for aspiring bid and proposal professionals honouring his mentors Howard Nutt and Tony Birch. Recently Baskar launched Scribble at Home free and low cost programmes and is normally the co-host of this podcast, Scribble Talk. 

Prior to founding Baachu, Baskar served as Head of Business Development at Serco where he worked for 11 years. Baskar received a Bachelor of Engineering from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, India and Master of Science from Imperial College, London. Baskar is APMP CP, a Chartered Accountant/Chartered Manager and has degrees and professional qualifications in electrical engineering, accounting, coaching, finance, law, proposal and project management. 

Baskar has supported clients on ~50 major deals, co-created 15+ strategic sales development frameworks, trained ~500+ people in all aspects of bid lifecycle. He published Bid Buddy - self-improvement journal for bidding professionals in 2016, Proposal Specialist Guide - Pathway to APMP Foundation certification in 2019 and Sales specialist guide in 2020. 

His High Inspiration Programme gives work experience opportunities to 20 Croydon College students every year. In 2020, Baskar launched Baachu pledge 2020 - Donate by Doing community driven social impact movement encouraging low carbon healthier habits and sustainable living. 

Baskar educates 220 children in India. Baskar is an active member of BSA and APMP. His awards include APMP 2017 40 under 40, Entrepreneur of the year and Business in the community. 

Life priorities  - Health and Relationships

Interests  - Trekking, TAMIL, Travel, Buddhism, Asian HISTORY, FOOD

In this episode, we will discuss Baskar's 

Life and Education 
First job at KFC 
Serco career 
Memorable training efforts including the recent Time Blocking Webinar 
Version of Full Stack Bidder 
Entrepreneurial journey with Baachu and how has the company evolved over the years including Baachu Scribble and Baachu Rain? 
Baachu pledge 2020 - why do we need to donate by doing? 
Baachu Scribble mission is to "Democratising Bidding Knowledge"? 
Memorable Bid Con - New Orleans 
Scribble scholarships story 
Mentors - Howard Nutt and Tony Birch 
Books  
Most influential people in his life and career?
Advice to bid and proposal colleagues 
Covid19 #fmheroes story 

Few random questions 

•  If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be?
• What's your favorite TV show of all time and why?
• If you could be anywhere else right now, where would it be?
•  What's the first thing you do when you get home from a trip?
•  What random stranger has had the biggest impact on your life? 
•  Tell us about a unique or quirky habit of yours?

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/




Today's guest is Chris Simmons

Chris has 30+ years business development consulting experience including Deloitte Consulting and CGI/AMS. Chris is Founder & Principal at Rainmakerz Consulting LLC (served 200 customers and has won tens of billions in new business for his clients). An APMP Fellow and Certified Practitioner, Chris is former APMP National Capital Area Chapter (NCA) Vice President and Membership Chair and was also APMP NCA Mentor of the Year. Chris won the first ever John Elder APMP Journal Award for the topic  (How to Create Winning Proposal Themes). Chris has presented at numerous APMP International, NCA, other APMP chapters events. Chris was also voted as Consulting Magazine’s Top 25 Consultant. ​Chris has his MBA, Information Technology, University of Massachusetts (Amherst) and BA, Psychology, Boston College, Magna Cum Laude

In this beautiful episode, we will discuss Chris's 
Early life and career 
Entrepreneurial venture Rainmakerz 
APMP contributions and Fellowship
NCA Chapter association 
First ever John Elder award-winning article
Singing gig with Mike Parkinson coordinated by Randy Richter 
Adventure to Hawaii.. 
People influential in his life and career?
Philanthropy initiatives 

Few random Questions 

• What is the best and worst purchases you’ve ever made?
• If you were given a one-minute ad slot during the Super Bowl that you couldn’t sell, what would you fill it with?
• What’s the best Wi-Fi name you’ve seen?
• If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume you had done?
• What would be the worst “buy one get one free” sale of all time?
• What’s the biggest lesson life has taught you?
• What trait do you like the most about yourself?
• What's the naughtiest thing you have done in school?
• What have you observed lately that reminded you that people are good?

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Todays guest is Steve Skeldon

Steve is APMP Certified at the Practitioner level and currently works as a Senior Proposal Manager for Vectrus. He has more than 8 years of proposal experience across the Federal services industry, managing and supporting bids for a variety of customers across civilian and defense sectors of Government, with heavy support to Navy and Army clients. He is heavily involved in APMP at the local and international levels, receiving the distinction of being named a 40 under 40 in 2018 at the APMP International Conference in San Diego. Steve currently serves as the Vice President for the APMP National Capital Area Chapter and previously served as the Conference Co-Chair for the APMP NCA MAC 2019 conference. He holds a Bachelor degree from Roanoke College and a Master of Professional Studies from The George Washington University.

In this relaxed episode, we will discuss Steve 's 

Early life and career 
Flying passion 
Experience at APMP’s Bid and Proposal Con and NCA Chapter 
Memorable capture and proposal effort 
Mentor Jeff Leitner 
People influential in his life and career 

Few fun Qs 

• Name three similarities between flying a plane and managing a proposal
• What is your all-time favorite book, movie, or TV show?
• If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?
• A six-year-old child asks you if Santa Claus is real…. What do you say?
• If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume that you had done?

and more 

Get to know APMP 40 under 2018 winner and emerging bid leader, Steve Skeldon 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Today's guest is Jeff Leitner

Jeff Leitner has 30 years of experience supporting proposals, capture, and business development across the public sector. Currently Vice President of Consulting for Red Team Consulting, he leads the company's proposal, capture, and growth strategy consulting practice, working with Red Team’s clients and consultants. He also leads the company’s proposal best practices and develops and delivers proposal training. Jeff earned his Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Michigan, so he is literally a rocket scientist. He is active in the Colorado Chapter of APMP and regularly presents at APMP conferences and delivers webinars to APMP members. Jeff is known for his dry, witty humour. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his two teenage children and passionately protesting environmental destruction, civil rights injustices, animal cruelty, and gun culture.  


In this episode, we will discuss Jeff's 

Early life 
Rocket scientist studies 
IBM career 
Red Consulting journey 
Views on best and least about consulting?
Leadership views 
Sailing 

Few fun questions 

• After you survive the apocalypse, what will your job be?
• If you had the power to shrink anything and take it with you, what would you do with it?
• If you were invisible for 12 hours, what would you do?
• If you had to be renamed after one of the planets in the solar system, which would you pick?
• If you were the captain of a pirate ship, what would you name your ship? And what would your title be?
• If you were attending a Halloween party, what would your costume be and why?
• What kind of secret society would you like to start?
• If you could be any male/female sports star, who would you be?
• Which is more difficult? Raising teenagers or running proposals?

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/




Ajay leads SMA, Inc. as President and CEO. SMA, Inc. is the world’s largest advisory firm dedicated to improving its client’s competitiveness across their entire program lifecycle from market and competitive strategy to capture strategy and bid/proposal development to profitable program execution for public sector markets.

Mr. Patel has over 35 years of consulting, business development, operations, program management and systems engineering experience. Prior to coming to SMA, Ajay was a Director at Deloitte consulting in the Aerospace and Defense practice. He was a Senior Partner at the Monitor Group for twelve years, and created and led it’s global National Security practice. During the 1990s, Ajay served in various roles at SMA including Vice President of Business Development, Executive Vice President of SMA’s Proposal Management group and as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer. Previously, Ajay was at TRW serving in technology development, systems engineering, program management and business development roles. 

Ajay enjoys travelling and is an avid reader. His has a particular fascination with typography—the latest fun addition to his library is Simon Garfield’s book “Just My Type: A Book About Fonts.” His favorite bookstore on the planet is Daunt Books in London, United Kingdom.

In this laughter filled deeply insightful episode, Ajay shares 

His early life and education
SMA career 
Monitor and Deloitte Stint
Return to SMA 
Entrepreneurship and leadership tips 
Covid-19 support at his company
3 things that not many people know about him
Influential people in his life and career 
His love of reading
Tips to study american dictionary 
The fonts Steve Jobs created 
A masterclass on Typography 
Book about butter... 
Detective in Caribbean island 

Few fun Qs 
What is your favorite font? Least favorite?
Do you like your handwriting? 
Where is the most interesting place that you’ve travelled?
What is the first thing you do when you get home from a business trip?
If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
What is your all-time favorite book or author?
Have you ever sent a message to a wrong person? 
Would you rather lose the ability to read or the ability to speak?
If you could be a cartoon character for a week, who would you be? 
Whats the most courageous thing you ever done? 
If you could be an Olympic athlete, in what sport would you compete? 
When you are having bad day, what do you do to make yourself feel better? 
What do you cook better than anyone? 
If you had to choose a completely new profession, what would you pick?
What are your favourite pizza toppings? 
If you could be anywhere else right now, Where would it be? 
What’s the most interesting thing that you’ve read or seen this week?
If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume that
you had done?
If your five year old suddenly found himself inhabiting your current body, what would your five year old self will do first? 
What would you if you are the last person on this earth? 

Listen in to know more about Ajay Patel, the leader behind SMA Inc. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Today's guest Robin Davies 

Robin has more than 20 years of commercial and state and local proposal experience. In 2009, Robin established Metre, a successful proposal and sales operations consulting firm that helps healthcare clients win business. Working with start-ups to some of the largest health plans in the country, Robin and her team have helped secure billions of dollars for her clients. She’s proud that over 80% of her work comes from repeat business—a testament to the trusting relationships her and her team build with clients.  Prior to founding Metre, Robin fell into proposals at Health ways and then built the company’s first knowledge management and proposal’s department over the next nine years. Robin is an APMP Fellow, former member of the International Board of Directors, and Chapter Chair of the Rhythm & Harmony chapter, which includes members from Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  Robin describes herself as a brave, passionate, life-long learner. She is driven by the desire to make a positive impact in the lives of the people around her, whether that is helping a client win business through proposals or creating a warm and inviting neighbourhood bar and restaurant in her community.

In this super personal and inspirational episode, we will discuss Robin 's 
Early life and career 
Mindways career 
Entrepreneurial journey with Metre
Restaurant business,Homegrown at Nashville 
APMP Rhythm & Harmony chapter founder leadership
APMP Board contributions 
Advice to aspiring entrepreneurs and proposal professionals 
People influential in her life and career 
Life theme 
Famous Hug :)

Few fun Qs 

• If you had to pick a theme song for your life, what would it be?
• If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
• Of the 24 beers on tap at your restaurant, which is your favourite?
• What does your partner cook better than anyone else?
• Who is your all-time favourite musician or band?
• In your opinion, is hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
• What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read or seen this week?
• If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends and family assume you had done?

and more

Get to know the multi-talented singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, restaurant owner, APMP veteran most importantly big hearted human you will ever meet in your life, Robin Davies

p.s. if you are at Nashville for Bid Con 2020, please do visit
Homegrown Taproom & Marketplace
Located in: Donelson Plaza

Address: 2720 Old Lebanon Rd, Na

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Today’s guest is Kevin Switaj

Kevin is the President and Chief Executive Officer of BZ Opportunity Management. An experienced proposal professional, he has led bids of diverse sizes and requirements for a wide range of Government clients. He has developed, implemented, and refined life cycle processes at firms, resulting in a minimum of a 50% improvement in win rate year-over-year. He is a former member of the APMP National Capital Area Board of Directors and served as a mentor in the chapter’s mentor-protege program for multiple years. He is a well-recognized thought leader in the field who speaks regularly at regional and international conferences. Kevin has won multiple awards for his writing on opportunity management and regularly blogs on the BZ Opportunity Management site. He is also involved in his community, volunteering for his community swim association and his son’s Cub Scout pack.

In this episode we discussed Kevin's 
Early life and career 
APMP NCA Chapter memories 
Memorable APMP Bid Con experiences 
Mentor Jeff Leitner 
Entrepreneurship journey with BZ Opportunity Management
Thoughts on empathetic proposal writing and soft skills for proposal professionals 
Advice to fellow proposal professionals
Accomplishments he is more proud of
Inspirations including Walt Disney and Pixar

Few fun Qs 

What is your favorite Disney movie?
If you could be a Disney character for a week, who would you choose and why?
If you could only eat three things for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
What is your favorite word?
If you could be an Olympic athlete, in what sport would you compete?
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
If you could transport back in time to experience one event from the past, what would you choose and why?

Get to know industry leader spearheading empathy and soft skills in proposal industry, Kevin Switaj. 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


Today’s guest is Marina Goren 
  
Marina Goren is the President/CEO of Smart BD Consulting – a successful MD/DC/NVA area Capture and Proposal Development firm. Over the past 7 years she has successfully grown her company to over 150 consultants serving over 50 Federal Government contracting clients. She teaches numerous Proposal Development and Capture courses and was an APMP speaker since 2014. Ms. Goren continues to personally support her clients in pioneering new frontiers and winning large strategic bids, while running her company. Ms. Goren has been instrumental at Billions of Dollars in wins for her clients (including a recent single award $1.2B win). Prior to starting her own company, Ms. Goren was a Vice President of Business Development at ASRC Primus and helped grow the company from 2 to over 1,600 FTEs in just a little over 5 years. Ms. Goren had a progressive career in IT, Operations and Business Development for the past 23 years.

In this energetic episode, we will discuss Marina 's 

Early life in russia and her shift to USA
Computer Science degree at North Western University
Career with Raytheon 
Entrepreneural journey supporting 50 Fed clients and 150 consultant  
Advice to bid professionals on maintaining positive attitude and how to stay calm
Details capture - the why? and her approach to capture management , how it has evolved over the years 
Experience at APMP’s Bid and Proposal Con
Memorable capture and proposal effort 
Advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs 
#avidNASAfan 
People influential in her life and career 

Few fun Qs 

• What do you miss most about childhood?
• What one thing (modern convenience) could you not live without?
• If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?
• If you had to be a flower, which one would you be and why?
• Do you like Tom or Jerry?
• You are being chased by Godzilla, what do you do?
• If you could take five things to a deserted island, what would you take

and more 

Get to know the capture super star, Marina Goren 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

With Scribble Talk reaching the 20k downloads' mile stone, we are excited to kick-off the hunt for our Super Fan through our latest campaign and shower our biggest fan with amazing prizes.
You are invited to take the SCRIBBLE TALK SUPER FAN QUIZ and win a chance to get life time access to all podcast seasons and grab amazing Amazon Voucher Cards.

Take the quiz now: https://baachuscribble.com/scribble-talk-super-fan-contest-2022/


A former college professor, stand-up comic, and founder of two successful firms, Dr. Tom Sant was named the world's foremost authority on winning sales proposals by the American Management Association and one of the top ten sales trainers in the world by Selling Power Magazine.  He was named one of the first-ever Fellows of the APMP in recognition of his contributions to the profession. Tom is the author of the best-selling Persuasive Business Proposals, which was named one of the ten most important books in sales Inc. magazine. He is also the author of the highly acclaimed The Giants of Sales and The Language of Success.  

As a consultant, Tom has written over $30 billion in winning proposals for clients in every industry sector, including General Electric, Honeywell, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, VMware, Accenture, BAE Systems, and dozens more. 

In addition, he invented the world's first proposal automation tools, ProposalMaster, RFPMaster and PresentationBuilder, used by 1000s of sales and proposal professionals worldwide as the Upland Qvidian system.  

In this very insightful yet humorous episode, we will discuss Dr Sant's 

Early life and career 
Entry to the proposal world
Insights on the stories behind his 3 books 

• Persuasive Business Proposals
• The Giants of Sales
• The Language of Success

Persuasion of David Winton led to first ever exhibitors at APMP Conference 

25 year association with APMP 
Experience of standup at Westminster Abbey 
Co presenting with his son Chris Sant at the APMP Conference 
Design of the worlds first proposal automation tool and how early stage automation tool worked 
Memory of receiving (missing the announcement) the APMP Fellow award 
Live 1 min standup comedy and many jokes 
NOSE framework for pitching 
Shares why its important to laugh everyday and why we should stay on the moment? 
Dad influence on his personality 
Key traits for entrepreneurs 
Experience of mindfulness 
School teacher and wife influence on him 
His major client support in kick starting his consulting career 
Biggest life lesson 
One advice - never take call or meeting without establishing clear outcome in mind 

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