In this episode of The Recode Podcast, I explore many dimensions with my friend Kelly Gonyo; Founder and President of Blue Line Insurance Agency, Inc. Kelly is a business owner, leader and compassionate professional in the insurance industry. You’ll hear how she pushed through the challenges of a low college GPA to build a thriving business in the challenging, bustling and heavily regulated financial landscape that is New York State. 

During this “Women’s History Month”  I am honored to celebrate her success, and truly inspirational journey. You’ll hear how she renews and recharges her commitment to her team and our industry by spending time in nature and with family. 

Kelly is a beacon of light that spotlights the remarkable difference that women make in the workplace, her parents played a significant role in the woman she has become today and she does not mince words in giving them the credit they deserve for the tough guardrails within which they raised her and siblings. 

The conversation is boisterous, we laugh out loud, banter through substantive tools for success in life. “You must care for people, be respectful and be respected”...
conventional words of wisdom that are not so conventional these days. 

Thank You Kelly!

My guest is Ebenezer Ikonne, Author, keynote speaker, leader at Cox Automotive, father, thinker, and also my friend. Hear the inspiration behind his book "Becoming a Leader in Product Development" and Video log Channel titled "Joy at Work". We dive deep and lose track of time bouncing from topic to topic; I didn't bother to edit the episode; so what you'll see and hear is one straight take in all its purity. 

We tackle benefits of growing up in a third world country, religion, family, the current reflection of leadership and future expectation from both past and future generations and the giving of oneself beyond altruism.

Ebenezer reminds leaders to challenge even our deepest held beliefs. I know you will come away feeling challenged and inspired at the same time. 

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Katelyn Johnson is the Managing Director at American Fam Ventures. Listen to her expose some of the challenges startups are facing in our ever-changing business landscape. She also brings her energy to the conversation through her unique lens in the insurtech ecosystem. Her passion is captivating and her mechanical engineering background is evident in her structured diction. 

She also shares some strategies for budding insurance industry investors like me. Katelyn is quite the dynamic insurance industry leader so naturally, we dove into leadership topics and styles. The episode does not disappoint.

In this week’s episode listen to Francis O. Osuyah recommend strategies to bring more Nigerians in the Diaspora back home to give Nigeria’s leadership a fighting chance to create the Nigeria of our dreams. Though still considered a third world country, Nigeria is blessed with an overwhelming amount of natural resources that the rest of the world depends on. We discuss using AI to improve our GDP across the continent of Africa, his run for Presidency, tough career choices, professional risks he took and his mentors. Though not a political podcast, we cannot escape the direct impact of electing leaders with integrity on the larger society including the business world. The episode is guaranteed to thrill. 

In this episode, I sit and chat with my friend Rick Figueiredo an executive who is an advocate for more human centric technology. 

Rick and I agree on many things and share similar worries about human and tech interfacing way into the future. We dissect Page alive, leadership, AI, small business, his podcast and touch on religion. A spirited conversation for sure. Enjoy!

My Father always wanted to be a radio and TV personality. He visualized himself in those roles, prepared and practiced daily and one day he made his way to anchorman on prime time TV and host of a few political talk shows. We went on to create a school of journalism and found many other businesses all of this without a formal college education or degree. In this episode, I sit down and reflect on his journey. It is always a pleasure to sit down with a mentor. My #1 original business mentor happens to be my own Dad. 

In this episode the host Emmanuel Osuyah dives into the concept of finding good employees from the book "Recode" 8 Mind Hacks for the Small Business Owners. If you can't find them, you can make them; if your purpose is clear enough.

Clarity of purpose is the superpower of superpowers. A company culture can be strengthened if there's a clarity of purpose.  Many of us make things up as we go and that inconsistency leads to employee dissatisfaction with the workplace. 

There is a much easier way to set a foundation for your company standards and your handbook. Every business owner can learn from some of these tips. 

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In this episode the host Emmanuel Osuyah introduces his new book "Recode" 8 Mind Hacks for the Small Business Owners with Hack #1 "Believing is Seeing" because when he started out in business he could not find resources to support his tiny company. He expresses it was easier to find information on and resources for large corporations like Apple, Starbucks, Target, Walmart etc. He had to learn to change his mindset to look inward, take risks, and organize his company in the direction of his written goals. 

Every business owner can learn from some of these tips. Follow and subscribe for more.