Make Training Stick: Purposeful Engagement Tips with Learning Designer Renee Koster

Host Mary Czarnecki welcomes learning designer and consultant Renee Koster to discuss how leaders can turn ideas into structured, engaging training—especially for nonprofits onboarding volunteers, interns, and seasonal workers. Renee explains a common pitfall: relying on a video or binder alone without reinforcement, which fails to help learning “stick.” Drawing on adult learning principles, she emphasizes that learning is active and improves when trainees take actions—physically moving, writing, role-playing, or practicing in the real environment—to support recall and application. Examples include walking through a workplace during safety training to identify accident spots, using scavenger hunts for orientation, and adding playful role plays to increase engagement. Renee’s key tip is to break training into smaller steps and tie a purposeful action to each step to avoid information overload. She shares that listeners can find her on LinkedIn or her podcast, Learning Experience Design for Change Makers.

ABOUT RENEE:

Renee Koster is a learning experience designer and strategist who helps museums and mission-driven organizations create thoughtful, audience-centered programs that engage children, families, and communities. Through Koster Creative Learning and Design, she brings together anthropology, education, and storytelling to create experiences that go beyond simply informing audiences. Her work focuses on creating meaningful connections, encouraging participation, and helping organizations advance both their mission and long-term sustainability.

KEYPOINTS:

• Make learning active, not passive. 🧠 Simply providing a video or training manual isn't enough. Build in actions and touchpoints that help people remember, recall, and apply what they've learned.
• Make training engaging and fun. 🎯 Even dry topics like safety training can be more impactful through activities such as role-playing, scavenger hunts, or hands-on exercises. Engaging the body and creating memorable experiences can help information stick.
• Break training into smaller, actionable steps. 📝 Instead of overwhelming learners with an entire process at once, break the training into two or three smaller steps and connect a purposeful action to each one. This makes it easier to determine what information is needed and how learners can apply it.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-koster/

Website: https://www.reneekoster.com/

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WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

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LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

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Mary Czarnecki explains why discounts often fail to increase revenue and profits and urges business owners to “do the math” before offering dollar or percentage discounts, since the reduced price typically comes directly out of profit while delivery costs stay the same. She recommends calculating how much additional sales volume is required to break even on any discount and avoiding promotions that can’t realistically be offset. As alternatives, product-based businesses can add value with free gifts or bonuses using slow movers or high-perceived-value, low-cost items, while service-based businesses can offer scalable informational products (guides, videos, quizzes, or courses) that complement the service without consuming more time. She invites viewers to share what’s worked for them and what questions they have about discounting and alternatives.

KEYPOINTS:

1. Never offer a discount without doing the math.

Before launching a promotion, calculate how much profit you're giving up and how many additional sales you'll need to make up for that loss. More sales don't always mean more profit, so understanding your numbers is essential before reducing your prices.

2. Add value instead of cutting prices.

Discounts aren't the only way to attract customers. Product-based businesses can offer high-value, high-margin items as free gifts or bonuses, while service-based businesses can create digital resources like guides, videos, checklists, or quizzes that provide value without increasing delivery time or significantly impacting profits.

3. Turn your expertise into a scalable marketing asset.

If customers frequently ask the same questions, consider turning those answers into an informational resource. A downloadable guide, video tutorial, email series, or mini-course can educate prospects, build trust, and generate leads—all while saving you time by allowing you to create it once and share it repeatedly.

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Mary Czarnecki explains why niche and target audience profiling matters for small business owners who aren’t getting responses to their offers or feel stuck at a growth level. She stresses that better marketing comes from listening to past clients—surveying them, running focus groups, or having one-on-one conversations—to learn what actually drove their purchase decision instead of making assumptions. Using those insights, she recommends building an “emotional profile” (wants, needs, and deeper insights) alongside basic demographic or business details. She also advises cataloging customers’ hot-button issues and choosing one to focus on, using a childcare example to show how different segments can share the same need but have different wants and messaging triggers. She answers a live comment about serving product businesses and suggests further segmenting by what keeps each group up at night.

KEYPOINTS:

1. Stop making assumptions. Start listening to your customers. Don't guess why customers chose your business. Instead, survey past clients, conduct interviews, or have real conversations to uncover the true reasons behind their buying decisions. These insights can transform your messaging and help you attract more of the right customers.

2. Build an emotional profile, not just a demographic profile. Knowing your audience's age, location, or job title isn't enough. Great marketing comes from understanding their wants, needs, fears, motivations, and aspirations. When you define your audience's emotional profile, you can create messaging that resonates on a much deeper level.

3. Dig deeper to uncover the real motivations behind buying decisions. There's a big difference between what customers say they want and what they actually need. Ask follow-up questions and keep probing to uncover the deeper emotional insights driving their decisions. Those insights become the foundation for marketing that builds trust, connection, and action.

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Renee Hribar, a sales strategist focused on helping women confidently sell their expertise, interviews storytelling and messaging consultant Mary Czarnecki, who helps founders, leaders, and brands communicate their value clearly and consistently.

Mary shares how her “translator” strengths developed from childhood observation through studying ecology at Princeton and earning joint MBA and Environmental Management Masters Degrees at Yale, later applying those skills in brand management at Johnson & Johnson.

They discuss her work with organizations such as Disney, the U.S. Army, LEGO, Estee Lauder, and Dole, emphasizing starting with what a story must accomplish before crafting messaging.

KEYPOINTS:

1. Your unique value comes from connecting your experiences.
2. Great communicators are great translators.
3. larity creates consistency.

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Mary Czarnecki hosts the Sticky Note Marketing Show and interviews editor and advisor Robbie Caploe about AI and LLMs in business, focusing on decision-making rather than tool tutorials. Robbie explains leaders should first get clarity on what AI is already being used, whether policies and governance exist, and what is safe to share with LLMs, especially in regulated industries. She recommends identifying business pain points before choosing vendors to avoid costly missteps, and forming cross-functional AI task forces that include IT, legal, HR, and communications. As a practical step, Robbie suggests leaders run a short internal survey on AI usage, while employees should experiment with free versions of tools like Claude, Perplexity, and OpenAI. She shares examples including Yahoo’s AI “comms day” and Edelman’s company-wide AI training, and offers an updated AI glossary on her Substack.

ABOUT ROBBIE:

Robbie Caploe is an editor and publisher in advertising and media. She writes about AI and LLMs as a media surface and advises a small number of small B2B and media‑focused businesses. Sparkling Ice‑obsessed.

KEYPOINTS:

1. AI Is a New Media Channel, Not Just a Tool: AI and large language models are changing how businesses get discovered. It’s no longer just about using AI internally, it’s about making sure your business is visible and relevant within AI-driven platforms.
2. Better Decisions Matter More Than More Tools: The real value isn’t in learning every AI tool. It’s in understanding where AI actually solves friction in your business. Without that clarity, businesses risk wasting time and money on solutions that don’t move the needle.
3. Everyone Is Still Learning, and That’s an Advantage: There are no true “experts” yet because AI is evolving so quickly. The best approach is to stay curious, admit what you don’t know, and keep learning. Businesses that adapt and learn fast will have the biggest advantage moving forward.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

Substack: https://robbiecaploe.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robbie-caploe-4397356/

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Executive Coaching vs AI: How to Choose the Right Coach & Unlock Meta Performance | Jason Brown

Host Mary Czarnecki interviews executive coach Jason Brown of Novus Global about the value of human coaching in the age of AI, including the power of making commitments to another person, reading nonverbal cues, and strategically disrupting clients’ limiting stories. Jason contrasts neutral coaching with Novus Global’s approach, shares examples of noticing body signals and turning tough feedback into action, and explains their “performance pyramid” from low performance to “meta performance,” focused on asking “What am I/we capable of?” He introduces the “Intuitive Sense” tool to identify goals that feel possible versus impossible and shows how reframing timelines with questions like “Would that thrill you?” can accelerate vision and execution. Jason suggests coaching may be timely for people with recurring complaints or those wanting more capability with greater happiness.

ABOUT JASON:

Jason Brown is an executive coach who helps leaders grow from the inside out, becoming who they want to be while pursuing what they most want to build. He creates space for leaders to name the vision rumbling within them, especially when it feels ambitious, fragile, or seemingly impossible.

For more than three decades, Jason has walked alongside leaders and teams in real, complex settings, coaching hundreds of individuals, supporting leadership teams, building organizations in the nonprofit space, and speaking to thousands along the way. Those experiences have shaped his conviction that meaningful change happens when people feel truly seen and are invited to grow with intention.

Jason works with leaders who sense that their vision matters not only to them, but to the world around them.

KEYPOINTS:

• Human Coaching Offers What AI Can’t Replicate
• Move Beyond High Performance to “Meta Performance”
• Breakthroughs Often Come from the Right Questions

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

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

Novus Global Profile: https://www.novus.global

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

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LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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How to Turn “Boring” Business Decisions Into Marketing Gold (Ask Why x3) | Sarah Tjoa

Host Mary Czarnecki welcomes agency strategist Sarah Tjoa, who has 15+ years of experience and now works at Noble West, an agency specializing in food and agricultural products, bringing modern marketing to the “oldest economy.” Sarah explains how she helps CEOs and operations- or finance-led teams translate investments like efficiency, yield, and food-safety upgrades into meaningful consumer value by starting with business challenges and uncovering the “why.” She shares the “rule of three” for asking why to move beyond features and benefits into emotional, human narratives, and gives an example of helping Ocean Mist Farms make artichokes more accessible by reducing prep time and cognitive load. Sarah also shares how she stays informed through Substack, citing strategist Zoe Scaman’s newsletter.

ABOUT SARAH:

With over fifteen years in agencies big and small, Sarah has proven she knows how to build impactful campaign platforms that not only drive conversation; but also, business impact. With a background in all things “the good life ” - from sports to hospitality, travel to food, education to aviation - Sarah brought her expertise to Noble West to bridge knowledge gaps across the food system. 

Sarah’ s professional tenure has been marked by an unwavering commitment to cultivating creative solutions for business problems, no matter the category or challenge. Her expertise in account planning, brand positioning, data analyzation and stakeholder engagement has allowed her to spearhead initiatives that transform organizations for the better. Whether it' s the launch of a new product, navigating a crisis or creating new avenues for relevance and resonance, Sarah has been fearless in how she leads teams in their pursuit for better. At Noble West, Sarah' s role as Managing Director is central to the agency ' s success in empowering clients to navigate the complex challenges of the modern food landscape. With a deep passion for human resilience, a wealth of strategic acumen and a relentless drive for positive change, Sarah seeks to empower her teams to deliver first-to- market work that excites clients and consumers alike.

KEYPOINTS:

• Curiosity Leads to Better Strategy
• Use the “Rule of Three” to Find the Real Why
• Turn Business Decisions Into Marketing Stories

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

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

Email: [email protected]

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Mary Czarnecki hosts Ondar Tarlow on the Sticky Note Marketing Show to share practical guidance on building brand partnerships and collaborations that drive business growth, especially for brands without massive ad budgets. Ondar explains the need to start with clear company strategy, goals, and audience definition before pursuing sponsorships, and outlines common mistakes such as not fully understanding the sponsor’s asset list, valuation, ROI potential, and the operational burden of ticket/hospitality packages. He highlights underused opportunities like community and philanthropic collaborations with teams and athletes, warns about league-specific rules that limit athlete access, and recommends planning integration across social, email, websites, and partner guidelines. He cites Oracle and Red Bull F1 as an example of a hands-on, mutually beneficial partnership, discusses Fast Lane Drive’s member experiences, and emphasizes the enduring value of in-person events post-COVID.

ABOUT ONDAR:

Ondar Tarlow is a marketing pro with over 20 years of experience, known for blending data-driven strategies with creative storytelling to deliver results. He’s mastered using AI to boost campaign performance and cut production time. As CMO at Kinecta Federal Credit Union and Pacific Premier Bank, he led campaigns that generated over $1.7 billion in product volume. Now consulting for motorsports, financial, and lifestyle brands, Ondar works with high-profile partners like the LA Chargers and Porsche, using his expertise in sponsorships to connect brands with the right audience. His love for motorsports and focus on precision drives his passion for high-performance teamwork.

KEY POINTS:

• Strategy Comes Before Sponsorship: Before committing to any partnership, you must clearly understand your business model, revenue drivers, and strategic goals. A sponsorship should support your strategy, not replace it.
• Understand the Full Asset List: Don’t just look at logo placement. Evaluate every asset included in a partnership, including hospitality, digital access, community impact, and hidden opportunities that can drive real ROI.
• Create True Win-Win Collaborations: The best partnerships are not transactional. They align audiences, values, and long-term goals to create meaningful, measurable impact for both sides.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

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

Website: www.ondartarlow.com

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Andrew Fritts (Augment CEO) on the Cutting Edge of AI in Sales—and Beyond

Andrew Fritts, CEO of Augment, shares what’s happening on the cutting edge of AI in sales and explores other areas of the business that may not seem like sales at first, but will be seen differently after this episode.

ABOUT ANDREW::

With over 25 years of experience leading strategic sales teams, eight years managing outsourced go-to-market programs for global brands, and three years at Accenture, he brings deep expertise in modern B2B growth. Today, he collaborates with a group of innovators building AI-powered solutions that cut through sales noise, strengthen buyer–seller relationships, and transform traditional B2B selling into a more collaborative, customer-empowered future.

KEY POINTS:

• Fit beats pitch. The best deals happen when both sides are aligned—not when the sales pitch is perfect.
• AI should enhance understanding, not just scale outreach. Sending more messages isn’t the goal—building better relationships is.
• Deliver information the way people actually consume it. Clear, personalized communication increases engagement and decision-making.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-fritts-sf/

Website:  augment.co

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CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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Unlocking Sales Success: Insights with Sales Coach Renee Hribar | Sticky Note Marketing Show

In this episode of the Sticky Note Marketing Show, host Mary interviews sales coach Renee Hribar, who specializes in helping women communicate their value and sell their expertise effectively. Renee shares her strategies for maintaining consistent business leads, dealing with limiting beliefs about sales, and aligning sales methods with personal strengths. They discuss the importance of finding the right sales approach tailored to individual preferences, the significance of setting boundaries, and addressing common misconceptions about the sales process. Tune in for actionable insights and tips to refine your sales strategy and drive business growth.

ABOUT RENEE:

Renee Hribar is a business coach and facilitator who helps entrepreneurs and professionals gain clarity, confidence, and momentum in both their work and personal lives. Known for her practical guidance and supportive approach, Renee empowers her clients to simplify decision-making, strengthen leadership skills, and take aligned action toward meaningful growth.

KEY POINTS:

Sell in alignment — choose sales strategies that match your personality so you can stay consistent.

Value over price — focus on the transformation you deliver, not just what you charge.

Consistency beats perfection — sustainable growth comes from simple systems you’ll actually use.

LINKS MENTIONED IN THE EPISODE:

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

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/renee.hribar?_rdc=1&_rdr#

Website: https://reneehribar.com/

CONNECT WITH ME:

WEBSITE: www.maryczarneckispeaks.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/maryczaronline

INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/maryczarnecki_

LINKEDIN: linkedin.com/in/mczarnecki/

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/43zwg2VNf8nMuqhrAn5L3B

APPLE PODCAST: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sticky-note-marketing-with-mary-czarnecki/id1484391371

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