TOP5_DefinedTalent

According to the CDC, 61 million adults in the United States live with a disability. This week's guest, Christopher Myers, share his personal story with Tara Thurber and illustrates the importance of his platform - ReAbility.

ReAbility is a service providing real-time information to individuals with disabilities -  parents, caregivers, case managers, etc. – to improve the quality of their lives. This information includes but is not limited to resources, leisure activities and networking opportunities.

Christopher currently lives in the greater Memphis area as an adjunct professor of marketing at the University of Memphis, owner of a consulting practice and author of 11 books. He is a loving husband to his wife Susie and their 4 adult children.

To learn more about ReAbility, please visit: https://www.dreamscapereability.org/ 

Alaura Lovelight, R&B Recording Artist and published writer/producer/host of 'The Alaura Show' on New Jersey Television joined Tara Thurber for this week's Top5 podcast.

 Alaura shares her new e-book The Mindful Creative, her Mindful Creative Coaching Program and her Top5 Ways to Tap into Conscious Creativity.

Tune in for a great, mind-opening conversation!

Top5 Ways to Tap into Conscious Creativity

1. Meditation
2. Appreciation
3. Contemplation/Visualization
4. Creation
5. Celebration 

Alaura Lovelight BIO

Alaura Lovelight is an RnB Recording Artist, published writer, producer and host of 'The Alaura Show' on New Jersey Television. Her music has played on radio worldwide with over 7 million plays on Tiktok. Her new EBook The Mindful Creative is out now, available for free at @alauralovelight on Instagram. This book teaches creatives the programs to use to create and share the most leading edge content and the life skills necessary to create in a mindful way. Along with producing positive and inspiring content through shows, social media, music and writing she coaches other creatives through her Mindful Creative Coaching Program. Her new show "The Conscious Creative" is premiering on Youtube in March 2024. 

THE CONSCIOUS CREATIVE

This show/series is called "The Conscious Creative" from the Creator of The Alaura Show on New Jersey Television. Join us on a journey to uncover the deepest exploration of our highest consciousness through science and spirituality and expand consciousness through the manifestations of our creativity on the highest level as well as learn how to create the most meaningful life experience.

THE MINDFUL CREATIVE COACHING PROGRAM

This program is called The Mindful Creative, created by international recording artist, published writer, and producer and host of "The Alaura Show" on New Jersey Television Alaura Lovelight. It is a program to teach creatives how to take a more mindful approach to their creativity while learning how to niche down and then monetize their creativity.

It is a 90-day program with a weekly meeting for 12 weeks as well as individualized review and refinement.

The first 30 days is to Create & Refine. This time is to get clear and refine the goals of your projects, who your target audience is, and organize any numbers you might have (such as streams, downloads, website views etc) and packaging them to prepare to contact brands.

The second 30 days is all about learning how to secure brand deals and sponsorships for your podcast/creative projects. We will go over how to implement things like product placement, links, ads in emails, on websites etc. We will also find brands and sponsors that are a perfect fit for you. Then we will go over how to get in touch with brands/sponsors, who to get in touch with and how to finalize the deal. 

The Third 30 days is all about promoting through a mailing list, website, and social media. Learning how to grow your mailing list, increase your google ranking, get more press etc. 

*Bonus* You will also have access to all my contacts as part of the program as well, including 3000 radio contacts worldwide, 150 personal press contacts, 1500 brands and sponsor contacts, 1400 Blogs and Websites, 3000 Music Fairs and Festivals. 

This program is not a good fit for everyone. It is designed for people who are creative, already committed to their creativity, willing to learn, work hard and be open minded and who are making a difference and an impact through their creative projects .

This is the pre-launch of the program that will be fully launched in March, so I am only taking a limited number of clients. The program comes with a guaranteed ROI, which means that I guarantee you a return on investment through brand deals and sponsorshi

Today we are hunting for elephants with The Purpose Hunter, Matthew Berrafato! Joining Tara for an amazing conversation, Matthew showcases his Top5 Ways to Find Your Purpose. Tune in as he asks important questions and answers we should all a ourselves as we find our true purpose.

1. Explore your gifts
2. What are you passionate about?
3. Determine who you can serve with your gifts and your passion
4. Legacy - Who taught you your greatest lessons?
5. Try a different combination of steps 1, 2 & 3 and don’t stop trying!

The Purpose Hunter podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/53qftyrMnFdhCqPlUZlGIq?si=f3698f12d97e49c9

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-berrafato-83528113/

YouTube channel: Mattelephanthunter

Blog: Matthew Berrafato EHI One Bite Connection

Twitter: @OneBite31

Facebook: Matthew Berrafato

847-757-2467

In alignment with our 2024 intention-setting and personal growth goals, our Top5 podcast episode features powerhouse guest Bertha Robinson. As president of the NJ Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO), an affiliate of The Trusted Advisors Network and founder of Star One Professional Services, Bertha shares her professional journey with Tara Thurber as they eagerly set attainable intentions for 2024 and beyond. 

Bertha shares her insights, inspiration from mentors like Tony Agurs and a powerful tool for goal and intention-setting for 202"Foreward"!

Listen to the full podcast!

Top5 Reasons to Hire an Executive Coach

1. Strategic Planning and Decision Making
2. Emotional Intelligence and Relationship Building
3. Adaptability and Change Management
4. Work-Life Balance and Well-Being
5. Enhancing Communication Skills

Bertha Robinson Full Bio

Bertha C. Garcia-Robinson is the founder of Star One Professional Services, a business coaching and consulting firm that helps visionary business leaders move beyond goal setting to goal achievement. Her unique background and varied experience qualify her to help enhance and develop potential in people and business. Bertha works with leaders who take a people-centered approach to ensure results by developing leadership, communication, team engagement, and critical thinking skills. Bertha is the president of NJ Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) and is an affiliate of The Trusted Advisors Network. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. 

Individuals referenced in this episode

• Tony Agurs, founder of Mastermind 2 Success: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-agurs-317b628/
• (TAN) Trusted Advisors Network: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trusted-advisors-network-llc/
• NJAWBO: https://www.linkedin.com/company/njawbo/

Books referenced in this episode

• The 12 Week Year: Get More Done in 12 Weeks than Others Do in 12 Months by Brian P. Moran and Michael Lennington, et al.
• High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way by Brendon Burchard
• The One Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, et al.
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• Outwitting the Devil: The Secrets to Freedom and Success by Napoleon Hill 

Currently, 63% of companies are investing or have plans to invest in AI solutions for talent acquisition problems.* As a response to this, Sean Wood, Founder of Human Pilots AI shares his Top5 Predictions for 2024 AI Recruiting with Tara Thurber.

Together, they discuss AI's endless possibilities and inherent biases and the proper way to utilize ChatGPT for resume writing/editing.

*Human Pilots AI is a company that assists businesses in adopting AI and uncovering its benefits while avoiding its inherent risks. Learn more: https://humanpilots.ai/

Top5 Predictions for 2024 AI Recruiting

1. *It’s going to be tough, but we can get through it!*
2. Exponential Worldwide Change
3. Explosion of Human Creativity
4. Self-Reflection on Unique Human Qualities
5. Human-centered Future

Sean Wood Bio

Sean is a change agent for human-centered AI and Founder of Human Pilots AI. He helps leaders navigate the risks and rewards of Generative AI as a senior advisor.  His career focuses on creating new business practices, products and organizational transformation. As a Design leader at IBM, Sean piloted the AI intelligent experience strategy and Executive adoption of AI for customer experience.

*https://hrexecutive.com/4-trends-every-ta-leader-needs-to-know-about-today/

Chief Executive Officer of Encouraging Women Across All Borders (EWAAB) Sam Collins,  joins Tara Thuber for a discussion on the Top5 Ways to Develop Young Talent.

EWAAB is a nonprofit dedicated to building a bridge to a world where women and non-binary individuals can enter and rise in any professional field they choose.  The Bridge Program serves undergraduate students by providing them with the tools and confidence needed to scale a traditionally male-dominated industry like STEM or finance.

To learn more about EWABB, please visit: www.ewaab.org

Top5 Ways to Develop Young Talent

1. Mentorship
2. Peer-to-Peer Learning
3. Allow Failure & Provide Feedback
4. Provide Space for Creativity & Ownership
5. Be Consistent

About Sam Collins:

Sam Collins first joined EWAAB as a volunteer, eager to impact young students, and has since made significant contributions to the development and expansion of the organization's core program, Bridge. Following her impact as a volunteer she was asked to step up and lead EWAAB in the next phase of its growth.

She has earned a B.A. degree from Union College, NY and M.A. degree from Teachers College Columbia University. Additionally, she has a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University. A passionate advocate for gender inclusion and equity, Sam uses her experience in higher education to help EWAAB build a world where women and non-binary folks can enter and rise in any field they choose.

1. Action Matters
2. Make an Impact
3. Educate
4. Apply Your Learnings
5. Build Your Community

 Some of her notable accomplishments include managing the expansion of two Ad agencies on the West Coast due to company growth and leading successful Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives for Hill Holliday Advertising agency.  Solange is a change agent in DEI within Advertising and other industries such as Standard and Poor 500, Tech industry and Entertainment.  Solange is currently consulting with various organizations on return-to-work post covid initiatives and providing talent acquisition for clients such as Tory Burch, The NFL, Deutsch, Worthy.com, Association of National Advertisers, Springhill Entertainment etc. 

Meet Michele Daly:

Hi, I’m Michele Daly. My professional joy is in connecting creative talent with creative opportunities. I have 25 years of experience as a creative recruiter in the advertising industry, building relationships with extraordinarily creative people, and building environments of positive culture where talent flourishes and businesses thrive.

In 2016, I founded my recruitment consultancy, The Daly Connective, partnering with all kinds of creative companies who are seeking talent to create content. Prior, for many years as Global Director of Creative Talent for advertising giants Saatchi & Saatchi and Y&R, I helped form award-winning creative departments and led creative recruitment & talent advocacy across hundreds of offices globally. 

I am a proud co-founder of Allies in Recruiting (AIR), a collective of recruiters who together champion for diversity, equity, and inclusion across the advertising and marketing industry. In the process, we are each learning so much.

About AIR:

Tara Thurber is joined by Checkr's VP of Product and Customer Marketing, Bryan Sise to share the Top5 Ways Checkr Makes Background Checks Easy & Seamless.

Checkr platform and solutions make background checks faster, easier and more compliant. 

Top5 Ways Checkr Makes Background Checks Easy & Seamless
1. Speed
2. Time Savings
3. Compliance
4. Fairness
5. People of Checkr

Speaker Bio:

Bryan Sise, VP of Product and Customer Marketing at Checkr here to share the Top5 Ways Checkr Makes Background Checks Easy & Seamless

As VP of Product & Customer Marketing at Checkr, Bryan is responsible for educating current and prospective customers about the value and use of our products. He is passionate about understanding the needs of companies and candidates who use Checkr, and helping them get the most from the platform. Bryan has built and led marketing teams at Process Street, ActiveCampaign, Twilio, SendGrid and Twitter. He holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Today, Tara Thurber is joined by Co-founder and President of Alchemy Media, Deana Graffeo Weeks. Amiss the surge of AI updates and apps, Deana reveals her Top5 Ways for Using AI to Develop Content Strategy.

1. Precision & Relevancy
2. Creativity & Originality
3. Ideation & Conceptualization 
4. Audience Development & Segmentation
5. Automation - Scheduling & Determining Cadence

Deana Graffeo Weeks, Co-founder and President of Alchemy Media

Deana is a seasoned content marketer and communications pro with over two decades in the field. As the lead at Alchemy Media, she blends her skills as a story crafter and marketing strategist, delivering results for diverse clients like SaaS and technology startups Copilot.cx, Plixer, Theta, and ClimateAi, and social justice non-profits like White Awake. Through her agency clients, she has spearheaded standout campaigns for FIFA+ Collect, Algorand, GlossAi, Quali, Nostromo, and a host of cybersecurity leaders like Coro, SnapAttack, King & Union, and others

Beyond building compelling strategies and brand positioning, Deana's strength lies in her ability to craft compelling messaging, content, and copy that connects brands to audiences. Her in-house experience extends to renowned companies like the 4A's, AOL, Edelman, and Universal Music Group, where she began her career as a publicist. Notably, she played a crucial role in the success of music startups like Princeton-based MuseAmi and its popular Hook’d music messaging app.

A graduate of NYU's music business program, Deana is also an active board member of the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra and has been a contributing member of Women in Music. She seamlessly bridges her professional expertise with family life from her home base in central New Jersey, where she enjoys spending time with her husband Michael, children Iain and Avalyn, and four loveable black cats.

We are honored to share our latest podcast featuring one of the leading voices in FinTech, Mariquit Corcoran. She joins Tara Thurber to share her Tops 5 Ways to Succeed in Any Job.

Mariquit is a powerhouse. This year, she was recognized by FinTech Futures in their Top 10 Women Blazing a Trail in FinTech and listed as FinTech Magazine’s Top 10 Women in FinTech to watch.

Her previous experience includes positions at Barclay's, FTV Capital and Goldman Sachs - just to name a few!

Tune in now for her tips and delightful insight into the modern workforce!

Tops 5 Ways to Succeed in Any Job

1. Be someone people want to work
2. Don't offer your help to someone unless you're sincere
3. Learn from mistakes
4. Share time, contacts and lessons learned
5. Be kind

Guest Bio: Mariquit Corcoran is one of the leading voices in FinTech, recognized by FinTech Futures in their Top 10 Women Blazing a Trail in FinTech and FinTech Magazine’s Top 10 Women in FinTech to watch in 2023. She was a founding member of Independence Point Advisors and was previously a Managing Director and the Chief Innovation Officer at Barclays.

Mariquit has spent over two decades in the financial services industry, holding positions and leading teams in businesses spanning across fixed income, operations, risk management, finance and banking. Prior to joining Barclays, she led the team responsible for sourcing and closing deals for all strategic engagements of a newly launched FinTech, Marcus by Goldman Sachs. Her past responsibilities included oversight of the global FinTech Accelerator program at Barclays, designed to fast-track the next generation of FinTech businesses, while bringing innovation and application opportunities to Barclays, and leading the Rise Platform.  Rise, created by Barclays is a physical and digital ecosystem where FinTechs around the world can connect, create and scale.

Throughout her career, she has been heavily involved in mentoring, coaching and diversity and inclusion initiatives.  She launched and was the executive sponsor of the Female Innovators Lab by Barclays and Anthemis, aimed at helping female entrepreneurs launch new companies in the US, UK and Europe. 

Mariquit was recognized in the HERoes Top 100 Women Executives in 2021, 2020 and 2019 by INvolve and Yahoo Finance, NYC FinTech Women’s Inspiring Females of 2022 and 2019 and was named in the 2022 and 2021 FinTech Magazine’s Top 100 Women in FinTech. Outside of the office, Mariquit is an avid runner, dancer, tennis, paddle and pickleball player and endurance racer. Mariquit serves on the Strategic Advisory Board for FTV Capital where she is also an LP.  She was a Presidential Scholar and earned a BBA in Finance and Investments from Bernard M. Baruch College, summa cum laude.