Speaking to Influence

Scott Miller is the guest on this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence. The Co-Founder and CEO of YESLY Water speaks to Laura about how he handled pushback and set boundaries to move forward.

In this episode you will learn:

• How Scott used individual time with his team members to be vulnerable during a personal diagnosis, which resulted in galvanizing his team to become closer as they ended up opening up new levels of conversation.
• How Scott used transparency in order to ensure that his company’s intentions were understood.
• How Scott uses his company’s pillars to lead conversations with his team to ensure that they are living their ‘We’ culture.
• How to frame your contributions during an interview when you want to avoid sounding like you’re bragging…and how showing that you are a contributor’ could be the ‘It’ factor that CEOs might be looking for.

24 Hour Challenge:

Dream something awake! Then think of a process to make that dream awake come true.

Mentioned in the Episode:

“The Summit Mindset: Winning the Battle of You Versus You” – Scott Miller

About Scott:

Scott Miller is an exceptional visionary leader with a remarkable track record in thebeverage industry. With over 30 years of experience and nearly two decades as ahighly effective CEO, Scott is renowned for his transformative leadership style.

As the driving force behind Essentia and acquisition by Nestle, Scott fearlesslynavigated the company through unprecedented challenges during the globalpandemic and economic crises. Under his leadership, Essentia adopted a People-first culture with its foundational 4 Strategic Pillars, empowering the entire team to create a daily positive impact.

Throughout his tenure as CEO of Tampico Beverages, Inc., Scott orchestrated the company's successful expansion into a mid-size international organization and skillfully led the sale process of Tampico to one of the largest ESOP funds in the nation. Scott teamed up with Ken Uptain to create their shared vision of the #1 Enhanced Flavored Still Water in the nation, Yesly. Empowering, but edgy, Yesly is set to reach national distribution by the end of 2023 cementing Scott as a leader in the beverage & CPG industry.

An avid runner and fitness enthusiast, he lives by the motto of "doing the reps," always striving to bring out the best in others. Scott's leadership is centered around unity and collective success, exemplified by his powerful mantra, "It's never about 'one' of us. It's always about 'all' of us."

You can connect with Scott in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-miller-38a5748b/
• Web: https://yeslywater.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeslywater/

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

In this episode, Dr. Laura Sicola and guest Vivian Wesson explore the importance of curiosity over judgment in inclusive conversations, emphasizing the transformative power of small gestures and acts of kindness in creating an inclusive society and highlighting the positive impact of smiles.

In this episode you will learn:

• The surprising relevance of improv skills in leadership
• The importance of replacing judgment with curiosity
• The impact of silence on DEI efforts
• The power of greeting and acknowledging others

24 Hour Challenge:

Stop apologizing! Distinguish when situations require a ‘pardon me’ rather than a true ‘I’m sorry’.  Empower yourself by changing your language around the situation, and pass it on!

Mentioned in the Episode:

“Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It” - Chris Voss

About Vivian:

A Fordham law school graduate, Vivian currently serves as Executive Vice President, Corporate Secretary and General Counsel for The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Board of Pensions offers a broad range of benefits to congregations, agencies, and affiliated institutions, serving more than 65,000 members nationally.

Prior to joining the Board of Pensions, Vivian held the position of Chief Intellectual Property Counsel of Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc., for which she worked for over 16 years. Her areas of expertise include intellectual property, software licensing, mergers & acquisitions, strategic investments, benefits, corporate governance, reinsurance regulation, records retention, and business entity management.

Vivian has authored several articles on social justice issues, including “How AI and Facial Recognition Can Chill Access to Justice,” “Why Facial Recognition Technology is Flawed,” and “Environmental Racism: How Lawyers Can Help Close the Climate Gap.” Aside from her work with the Board of Pensions, Vivian chairs the New York State Bar Association’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and is a member of the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate. In June 2021, Vivian was appointed as a delegate to NYSBA’s House of Delegates. Vivian also serves as a Director of Phillips Exeter Academy’s General Alumni Association.

You can connect with Vivian in the following ways:

• LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivian-d-wesson-9a71076a/
• LinkedIn (business): https://www.linkedin.com/company/board-of-pensions-of-the-presbyterian-church/

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Joining Laura on this week’s episode of ‘Speaking to Influence’ is Johann Wrede, Chief Experience Officer at Emburse. Johann shares how he manages group dynamics among key stakeholders to keep them from hijacking meetings with their own agendas so that his plan stays intact.

In this episode you will learn:

• What a great customer experience is really about.
• What exactly a Chief Experience Officer does, and why more C-Suites should think about adding one to take collaboration of departments to integration.
• How Johann was able to bridge the divide between his expertise on the technical side and his creativity when it came to talking to customers through sales.
• How Johann went about getting prepared to be assertive in a meeting with other executives in order to keep everyone focused and achieve his objectives and ensure his meeting didn’t get hijacked by other stakeholders’ agendas.
• The approach of a ‘Yes we can do it, here’s what I need’ perspective during negotiations, and how you can use it to show you are collaborative as well as to highlight alternative options.

24 Hour Challenge:

Go to every person you run into in your business and ask them how the work they do impacts the customer experience.

About Johann:

As the first-ever Chief Experience Officer at Emburse, Johann is responsible for leading a cross-functional marketing and customer success organization, with the goal of delivering a world-class customer experience from first awareness through subscription renewal.

Over the course of the last 25 years, Johann has written, implemented, sold and marketed a variety of customer database, CRM and customer experience (CX) products. An evangelist for customer experience, he has spoken to keynote and media audiences in 18 different countries.

Prior to Emburse, Johann served as Chief Marketing Officer at Xactly Corporation. Before joining Xactly, he held several executive leadership positions within SAP Global Marketing, including the first-ever Creative Director for SAP.

You can connect with Johann in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannwrede/
• Web: www.emburse.com

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/laurasicola-inc
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Dr. Laura Sicola
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @drlaurasicola
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Happy New Year! Dr. Laura Sicola is back with Part II: The Big Reveal. In this episode, she unveils her rebranding journey, discussing the issues and challenges her Vocal Impact brand had, and introduces the audience to her new brand: LauraSicola.com.

In this episode you will learn:

• How and why your brand should accurately reflect the value you provide and resonate with your target audience
• Why words and language play a crucial role in communicating your brand’s message
• How you can use feedback and the words of others to describe your work and gain a better understanding of how you are perceived
• Why you should make a practice of looking at other thought leaders in your industry for inspiration and to understand what works

Mentioned in the Episode:

• www.laurasicola.com

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://laurasicola.com
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Dr. Laura Sicola: Sneak Peek- What’s Even Better than VIP?

This week, join Dr. Laura Sicola for Part I of a two part series where she talks about defining and claiming your brand…or more specifically, HER brand! Join us for a sneak peek in the episode of an exciting development.

In this episode you will learn:

• The beginnings of Vocal Impact Productions and the lessons Laura learned along the way about branding
• The challenges she originally faced in finding a niche
• How Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, impacted the evolution of Laura’s client base
• The development of Laura’s trademarked ‘three C’s’: “Command the room, Connect with the audience, and Close the deal”.. And where she’s preparing to take them from here.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

On this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence, join Clate Mask, CEO of Keap Small Business Automation, as he tells Laura about when he knew it was time to put his career on the line by giving an ultimatum to his company, rather than continuing the battle of trying to persuade.

In this episode you will learn:

• The importance of business automation for business owners and overburdened team members, and the need for entrepreneurs to have effective systems and processes in place to conquer chaos and achieve growth, freedom, and profit
• How Clate handled his frustration with the direction of his company and finally mustered the courage to send an email to the lead board member, expressing his concerns and giving an ultimatum rather than continuing to try to persuade.
• How to script conversations to bridge the gap between intentions and actions.
• How Clate had individual conversations with team members to gather feedback and create a safe environment for open discussion, modeling vulnerability and encouraging others to give and receive feedback, following the principles from Patrick Lencioni's book, "Five Dysfunctions of a Team."

24 Hour Challenge:

Have repeat conversations with someone when your message has not landed. Reflect on where there may have been a gap and try again.

About Clate:

NY Times best-selling author, Clate Mask, is the entrepreneur’s guide and the CEO and co-founder of Keap, the leader in small business automation software. Keap is an 8-time Inc 5000 winner and is widely used by savvy small businesses to grow with automation. Clate’s passion is helping small businesses conquer the chaos and grow their business using the Six Keys to Success. When Clate isn’t serving entrepreneurs and building Keap, he loves to spend time with his wife, Charisse, their six kids, and their grandkids. He also loves playing golf and watching sports, with serious passion for the Arizona pro sports teams. He is intimately familiar with the balancing act of entrepreneurs, which is what drove him to discover and teach the Six Keys. Because success as an entrepreneur means having a great business and a great life.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• “Conquer the Chaos: The 6 Keys to Success for Entrepreneurs” – Clate Mask
• “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” – Patrick Lencioni
• “Pre-suasion:  A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade” – Robert Cialdini

You can connect with Clate in the following ways:

• Clate LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clatemask/
• Keap LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keap-growing/
• Keap Twitter: https://twitter.com/keapgrowing
• Keap Website: http://www.keap.com

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola

LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions

Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions

Twitter: @LauraSicola

Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions

Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/

Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

Laura welcomes Dr. Shanil Ebrahim, Partner at Deloitte Canada, where he shares how he learned how to stop using layers of technical jargon that were preventing clients from identifying clear, actionable next steps.

In this episode you will learn:

• How Shanil decided to make the pivot from research clinician to consultant due to his desire to have more immediate impact on more complex healthcare issues.
• How ‘branding’ and identifying your brand is relevant and valuable even for roles outside of marketing and communication departments in organizations…including yours!
• How Shanil learned to walk the fine balance between showing expertise and ensuring clarity with his team and his clients after making the mistake of bringing in subject matter experts and used ‘consulting speak’... and ended up getting feedback to improve his ability to communicate.
• How Shanil’s reflection on his discomfort with the idea of ‘power’ and his personal history influenced him to speak up on issues that mattered to him when he found himself elevated to a leadership position in his company - including on issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion within Deloitte.

24 Hour Challenge:

Complete a personal ‘SWOT’ analysis: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats that you are putting on yourself? What do you excel at? Where do you struggle or what criticism do you receive? Is there a need in your organization where you can step up? What obstacles do you currently face (real or perceived), and what changes can you navigate them?

About Dr. Shanil Ebrahim:

Dr. Shanil Ebrahim is a Partner at Deloitte and leads the National Life Sciences and Healthcare Consulting Business in Canada, and served as a Clinical Epidemiologist and a Researcher at multiple institutions in Canada, USA, Switzerland and Netherlands. He is a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders in government, public, and private sectors, and leads complex business and tech-enabled transformations. Shanil is also deeply involved in his community as the Chair of Wellesley Central Residences, which offers supportive housing for low-income seniors and those living with HIV/AIDS, and a Board Director at the Children’s Treatment Network, which provides support for children with disability and developmental needs.

You can connect with Dr. Shanil Ebrahim in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanil-ebrahim-75914a7a/
• Web: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en.html

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

This week on ‘Speaking to Influence,’ Dr. Laura is joined by COO of Expensify, Anu Muralidharan, where Anu shares how she was able to build momentum in her company by having everyone identify their own unique value, and how it mattered in getting the company to their goal.

In this episode you will learn:

• How a COO is like a Swiss Army knife
• The importance of acknowledging and addressing self-doubt and inner critics, and how Anu sharing her own experience helped a coworker overcome her own fears and take on a challenging task.
• About how Anu delivered a company all-hands presentation, aiming to bring transparency and inspiration to her team to work towards core growth by breaking down the problems despite her fear of overwhelming with details and creating an atmosphere of anxiety.
• Anu’s criteria for identifying exciting candidates during interviews, emphasizing the importance of curiosity, ambition, and the ability to collaborate creatively.

24 Hour Challenge:

Reflect on how you want to feel when you achieve success, and to consider if your current goals align with those feelings. What really would make you happy?

Mentioned in the Episode:

•  “Remember the Name” – Fort Minor
• “Grit: The Power of Passion & Perseverance” – Angela Lee Duckworth

About Anu:

Anu Muralidharan, a first-generation immigrant, arrived in the US burdened with $120,000 in debt. Today she is the COO and a board member at Expensify (NASDAQ: EXFY).

Despite her success, Anu battled self-doubt throughout her journey. The promotion to VP, a title she ardently pursued, led her to a profound low marked by crippling depression. This pivotal moment forced her to redefine success and develop three guiding principles to navigate uncertainty.

Now, armed with those principles, Anu empowers young women to embrace their strengths, silence their inner critic, and seek self-approval—a quest that unites and liberates humanity.

You can connect with Anu in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anuradhamuralidharan/
• Web: www.expensify.com

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

We welcome Paul Comfort of Modaxo and Transit Unplugged to this week’s episode of Speaking to Influence where he shares stories from his experiences running some of the world’s largest transportation and transportation technology organizations through potential powder-keg situations and refocused on new ‘north stars’ of safety, efficiency, reliability, and world-class customer service.

In this episode you will learn:

• How Paul, the newly appointed head of the Maryland Transit Administration, faced a crisis during the Baltimore riots, took immediate action, implemented new standards, demanded accountability, and gained the respect of the senior leadership team.
• The difference between skills and abilities, highlighting the successful hire of a director of bus operations who had transferable skills and knowledge from a different background.
• The favorite parts of Paul’s work– the significance of creating a fun and engaging environment for the team, such as organizing MTA Day at the Orioles and bus rodeos.

24 Hour Challenge:

Sit down and take an inventory of yourself. Analyze: 1) what you’re good at (what are your skills?) and 2) what do you enjoy/what are your passions? Focus on where they intersect: your strengths, rather than focusing on improving your weaknesses.

About Paul Comfort:

Paul Comfort serves as SVP and Chief Customer Officer for Modaxo Americas, one of the world’s largest transportation technology companies, and is host of the industry public transportation podcast, Transit Unplugged, heard in over 100 countries, and the new YouTube sensation Transit Unplugged TV show. Paul has authored three Amazon #1 bestselling books: “Public Transportation– From the Tom Thumb Railroad to Hyperloop and Beyond” and 2022’s “Conversations on Equity and Inclusion in Public Transportation”.  His most recent bestseller is a cookbook – “Comfort Food”-- featuring recipes, stories, and photos from over 30 top public transportation leaders around the world. Paul also serves as Executive Director of the North American Transit Alliance. 

Mr. Comfort is an attorney, popular keynote speaker, and the former CEO of one of America’s largest transit systems, the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) in Baltimore. He has also served as an elected County Commissioner and County Administrator for two Maryland counties.

Mr. Comfort is the recipient of the U.S.A’s top individual transportation honor: The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ (AASHTO) “President’s Award”.

You can connect with Paul in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulcomfort/
• Website: https://www.futureofpublictransportation.com/
• Podcast: https://transitunplugged.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@transitunplugged/featured

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

On this week’s episode, Melissa Schoger, Vice President of Finance for Identification Solutions and Vestcom at Avery Dennison talks with Laura about how she helped teams overcome an instance of mixed messaging to achieve mutual understanding.

In this episode you will learn:

• How Melissa made sure the integrity of a message remained intact after witnessing how different leaders in a meeting had varying takeaways
• How she learned to take the time to listen to team members on the ground, rather than assume she knew best from a top-down perspective as their General Manager.
• How she handled her team having the rug pulled out from under them within 24-hours of a deadline, and what she learned about coming to any negotiation with a thoughtful mindset instead of a winning at all cost mindset.
• Why recording yourself before doing a presentation can be the best preparation.

24 Hour Challenge:

If you consider yourself an introvert, challenge yourself to be more vocal in team meetings. Alternatively, if you are an extrovert, give the spotlight to a quieter member of the group.

About Melissa Schoger:

Melissa Schoger serves as a VP at Avery Dennison in their investment and business divisions. She previously worked for almost two decades at RPM International where she held fully integrated P&L responsibility including Finance, Sales & Marketing, Research & Development, Manufacturing Operations, Distribution, and Customer Service, transforming and consolidating 5 distinct subsidiary companies operating in 25 countries into 1 pan-European division during her tenure as well as managed the budget of a large division within a reportable segment of RPM and led 1,400 employees. She holds her MBA in Business Administration from The Wharton School and her B.A in Accounting from Ohio Wesleyan University.

You can connect with Melissa in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-schoger

You can connect with Dr. Laura Sicola in the following ways:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
• LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
• Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
• Twitter: @LauraSicola
• Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
• Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
• Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today