In this episode of This Professional Life, we sit down with Mike Mack, founder of X5 Management, to unpack the highs, lows, and lessons of building a successful executive coaching and training business over nearly two decades.

We talk about:

•How Mike made the leap from a corporate job to entrepreneurship

•Scaling from a solo consultant to a thriving 9-person team

•Why resilience is the most critical trait for any entrepreneur

•Client growth tips and relationship-building strategies that work

•The importance of saying “no” to the wrong opportunities

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In today’s fast-paced digital world, where networking often happens through clicks and likes, the art of genuine relationship building is more critical than ever. Yet, in business development and sales, it’s becoming a lost skill.

In this episode of This Professional Life, we sit down with Steve Elliott, a business development guru who has mastered the long game of authentic connections. Steve shares his secrets on:

• How to build trust quickly in a fast-moving digital landscape
• The long-term habits that keep you top-of-mind in your industry
• Why face-to-face relationships still matter in B2B sales
• The power of follow-ups, personal touchpoints, and remembering key details

Whether you’re an aspiring sales professional or a seasoned business developer, this conversation is packed with strategies to help you build and maintain high-value professional relationships.

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In this episode of This Professional Life, we sit down with Kelly Kennedy, founder of Capital Business Development and host of the successful Business Development Podcast. We'll explore the evolving landscape of personal branding as we head into 2025.

Kelly shares his journey from reluctant car salesman to influential business development expert, discussing how authenticity, vulnerability, and strategic relationship-building were key to his success. We chat about the power of personal branding, the challenges of content creation, and how to stand out in an AI-saturated world by embracing genuine human connection.

Kelly's insights on leveraging LinkedIn, balancing authenticity with professionalism, and sustaining long-term content strategies will inspire and empower you to build a brand that truly resonates.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of "This Professional Life", we dive into the overlooked dimensions of artificial intelligence, where we explore the hidden layers of AI's impact on society, regulations, and environmental concerns. We attempt to uncover the intricate web of artificial intelligence beyond its technological marvels, focusing on the pressing need for comprehensive AI regulation, the environmental footprint of AI related computing centers, semiconductor fabrication facilities, and the profound implications of data usage and privacy. This episode sheds light on the critical conversations we need to have about AI's role in our future, urging a balanced approach to its development and application.

Thank you to Daniel Stanley of Future Narratives Labs futurenarrativeslab.org and

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation for commissioning the article from Dan https://www.jrf.org.uk/ai-for-public-good/what-we-dont-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-ai

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• The importance of talent attraction and retention policies that focus on company culture and values rather than treating people like commodities
• Diversifying Alberta's energy sector into renewable energy, clean tech, hydrogen, carbon capture, and critical minerals
• Leveraging Alberta's expertise in sustainable resource development to provide emissions reduction solutions globally
• Ag tech innovations happening in Alberta like meat packaging technology to keep meat fresh for 2 years and plant-based proteins
• The concept of circular economy and the symbiotic relationships between companies reusing each other's waste and byproducts
• The value of targeted strategic partnerships that align with a region's authentic strengths and specializations
• Cool innovations Lynette has seen like stingless bees, mushroom protein mimicking meat, and unexpected partnerships between Alberta and Brazil
• The need for better storytelling to inspire youth, retain talent, and shift outdated perceptions of Alberta

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.