What does it really take to master AI in marketing and build a powerful brand in the digital age?
In this episode, Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Aimee Gindin, a Boston-based executive leadership coach who shares her incredible journey from mental health clinician to unpaid marketing intern to Chief Marketing Officer.
Aimee unpacks the real-world evolution of marketing, how to leverage technology on any budget, and why authenticity is now just as important as creativity.

If you're looking for practical strategies to build your brand and stay ahead in the AI age, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:47 – The Evolution of Marketing Careers
05:19 – Marketing on Different Budgets
09:42 – Leveraging Technology and AI in Marketing
15:24 – Building and Maintaining a Personal Brand
26:29 – Business Branding Essentials

Guest:

Aimee Gindin
Leadership Coach & Marketing Strategist | www.aimeegindin.com
LinkedIn

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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Turning a struggling sales team into a group of top performers starts with a rock-solid process and the right people. This episode is a masterclass on how to build a high-performance sales team from the ground up.

We sit down with sales performance coach Joe Sulima to unpack his essentials for success.

Learn what it takes to motivate teams, mentor through challenges, and stand out in a competitive market.

Joe shares why empathy and confidence are non-negotiables, and how great communication builds lasting relationships.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:53 – The Importance of a Sales Process
04:16 – Motivating Sales Teams
07:46 – Customer Service and Differentiation
14:13 – Mentoring and Addressing Underperformance
25:15 – Effective Communication and Relationship Building

Guest:

Joe Sulima
Fractional Sales Manager & Sales Coach | LinkedIn

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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In this episode of Executive Connect, Melissa Aarskaug speaks with Stacey Giulianti, Chief Legal Officer at Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, about the power of smart delegation and how it fuels organizational growth. Stacey shares his inspiring journey from consumer attorney to executive leader of one of Florida’s largest homeowners insurance providers. They dig into the importance of understanding the customer perspective, scaling through effective delegation, and building teams that take initiative. Stacey brings practical wisdom and proven strategies from his decades of experience—making this a must-listen for leaders and business owners alike.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
01:56 – The Role of Luck and Hard Work in Success
04:03 – Understanding Customer Perspective
08:31 – Effective Delegation Strategies
13:45 – Balancing Speed and Quality in Service
23:19 – Empowering and Supporting Team Members

Guest:

Stacey Giulianti
Chief Legal Officer, Florida Peninsula Insurance Company
LinkedIn

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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In this powerful episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug talks with Matt McCarthy, a personal development coach who helps individuals navigate trauma, build emotional intelligence, and pursue fulfillment. Matt opens up about the impact of trauma on achievement and how leaders can work through emotional barriers to live more meaningful, intentional lives. They explore how emotional intelligence shapes coaching, how to set purpose-driven goals, and what it really takes to stay prepared when life throws curveballs. If you're striving to grow, recover, or lead with deeper empathy, this episode offers tools and mindset shifts that can help. Timestamps:
00:00 – Understanding Emotional Intelligence in Personal Development
03:22 – Addressing Trauma and Achieving Personal Growth
16:37 – Meaningful Goal Setting for Fulfillment and Preparation

Guest:

Matt McCarthy
Personal Development Coach | Emotional Intelligence Advocate

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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Guest:

Raj Shroff
Director of Applied AI Research | Blu Artificial Intelligence

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Raj Shroff, Director of Applied AI Research at Blu Artificial Intelligence, to dive into the real-world impact of AI on business. From smarter decision-making to redefining workflows, Raj unpacks how AI is becoming a core part of business strategy. They explore how AI can boost efficiency, reduce risk, and even help companies get ahead in areas like cybersecurity and sustainability. Raj also breaks down the ethical side of AI adoption and why governance matters now more than ever.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction
10:12 – The Evolution of AI in Business
15:05 – Key Business Problems Solved by AI
21:00 – Cybersecurity and AI
27:00 – Generative AI in Various Industries
34:00 – Ethical Considerations and AI Governance

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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Guest:

Kylie van Luyn
Founder, Elevated Coaching & Consulting Global | NLP Master Practitioner

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug talks with Kylie van Luyn, a Master Practitioner of NLP and international leadership coach, about using neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) to elevate leadership performance. Kylie shares how NLP techniques like timeline therapy and anchoring help leaders break through mental roadblocks, make better decisions, and lead with confidence. This conversation is packed with insights for anyone who wants to lead with emotional intelligence, align purpose with action, and build a values-driven leadership style.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction
2:23 – Understanding NLP and Its Benefits
4:27 – Key NLP Techniques for Leaders
9:18 – Success Stories with NLP
15:11 – Essential Qualities of Effective Leaders
19:43 – Aligning Values, Purpose, and Mindset

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaug
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In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Dr. Benjamin Ritter, founder of Live for Yourself Consulting, to talk about the psychology of fear and how to navigate it to live a more empowered life. Dr. Ritter breaks down fearlessness—not as the absence of fear, but as the choice to move forward in spite of it. He shares practical strategies to interrupt fear cycles, reframe limiting beliefs, and take small, consistent steps toward growth. From the workplace to personal ambitions, this conversation is packed with actionable insight on how to shift your mindset, take healthy risks, and lead with confidence.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Unleashing Fearlessness
04:44 – Differentiating Healthy Risk-Taking from Recklessness
10:48 – Making the Thing You Want More Important than Fear
25:28 – Fearlessness in the Workplace: Being Authentically You
32:32 – Conclusion: Taking Small Steps to Overcome Fear

Guest:

Dr. Benjamin Ritter
Leadership & Career Coach | Founder of Live for Yourself Consulting

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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Guest:

Jeremy Lessaris
Serial Entrepreneur | Founder & CEO, Payment Brokers

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug speaks with Jeremy Lessaris, a seasoned serial entrepreneur who has built and sold eight companies across different industries. Jeremy dives into the realities of entrepreneurship—from the wins to the wipeouts—offering candid insights into the evolution of payments tech, the growing influence of AI, and the art of scaling a business sustainably. Whether you're in the early stages or planning your next exit, this episode offers practical guidance on staying ahead without burning out.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
05:30 – The Evolution of Payments Technology
09:03 – Impact of AI and Machine Learning
19:33 – Strategies for Scaling Businesses
20:36 – Mentorship and Networking
27:35 – Balancing Work and Personal Life

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaug
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Guest:

Jacqueline Rinehart
AI Strategist | Expert in Emerging Tech and Collective Intelligence

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Jacqueline Rinehart to unpack the rise of artificial intelligence and what it means for our personal lives, businesses, and future. Jacqueline dives into the concept of collective intelligence, where the power of human insight meets machine learning to create smarter, more impactful outcomes. From virtual agents to predictive analytics and robotics, she shares real-world use cases of AI and breaks down the differences between traditional AI and generative AI (GenAI). Plus, she tackles the ethical minefields and investment opportunities shaping the AI frontier.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
00:31 – The Transformative Power of AI
03:13 – AI in Health and Science
04:07 – AI in Personal Life and Retail
05:05 – The Difference Between AI and GenAI
06:18 – Considerations for Investing in AI
12:18 – The Role of AI Startups
29:53 – Ethical Dilemmas and Considerations in AI
34:57 – Closing Thoughts and How to

Connect Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
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Guest:

Diane Kenyon
IT Leader | Community Builder | Career Coach | Advocate for Tech Inclusion

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Executive Connect | Website
YouTube: @ExecutiveConnect

Episode Overview:

In this episode of Executive Connect, host Melissa Aarskaug sits down with Diane Kenyon to explore the art (and impact) of intentional connection. With decades of experience navigating both tech and community spaces in Austin, Diane shares why community-building is more than just showing up — it’s about being thoughtful, proactive, and consistent. They dig into strategies for engaging both in-person and virtually, how to maintain strong professional relationships over time, and why meaningful connection is essential in today’s hybrid work world.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction
03:27 – Being Intentional in Community Engagement
06:40 – Community's Impact on Professional Growth
12:37 – Effective Connection Management
19:19 – Navigating Community in Hybrid Work Environments
22:29 – Actionable Steps for Community Building

Connect With Us:

Podcast Website: https://www.executiveconnectpodcast.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExecutiveConnect

Social:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-aarskaug/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@melissa_aarskaug
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