In this podcast episode, Ilona Brannen interviews Lesley Vossenkemper, founder of Scale Up Strategies. Leslie shares her background in the education sector and her passion for helping businesses grow and achieve their goals. She explains how she transitioned from working in a corporate environment to becoming an entrepreneur. Leslie discusses the importance of being a spark of change and shares her experience in serving clients across sectors. She emphasizes the need for consultancy services that support startups in scaling and innovating, regardless of their industry. Ilona and Leslie explore the significance of developing a data-driven culture within organizations. They discuss the challenges companies face in leveraging data effectively and how to approach this with clients. Leslie highlights the value of win-loss data and the insights it can provide about competitors, market trends, and marketing opportunities. She also emphasizes the importance of measuring engagement and client satisfaction as leading indicators for retention. * Leslie talks about her extensive experience in the education sector in senior leadership positions and how EdTech has evolved during her career. * Leslie shares her own entrepreneurship journey from the impact of the pandemic to now and what she has learned along the way * Leslie emphasises the importance of data-driven decision-making and building a data-driven culture within organisations. * Leslie suggests focusing on key metrics that align with business goals and using data to track and improve those metrics. * One example of a leading metric is win-loss data, which can provide valuable insights into competitors, market trends, and potential opportunities for improvement. * She also highlights the significance of client retention and engagement metrics in understanding customer satisfaction and identifying areas for improvement. This episode is a must if you are interested in learning more about EdTech, entrepreneurship and how data (even the smallest amounts) can revolutionise the way you work.

In this episode of the Still Loading podcast, host Ilona Brannen interviews Febronia Ruocco, a marketing expert with extensive experience in the FMCG sector. Febronia shares her insights on cultural intelligence and the importance of understanding local perspectives when working on global marketing projects. She discusses her early career at Cadbury Schweppes European Beverages, where she collaborated with marketing directors from different countries, emphasizing the need to negotiate and influence while respecting diverse cultural nuances. The conversation also delves into the role of AI in marketing, highlighting its potential to streamline data analysis and creative design processes. In this episode we explore: - The role of AI - can it replace human connection? - The value of empathy and personal relationships - How to develop cross cultural teams and insights - Coaching and the power to unlock your potential This episode offers a combination of marketing expertise, insights into cross-cultural dynamics, discussions on AI in marketing, and reflections on leadership in the digital age. You wouldn’t want to miss it! Link to connect with Febronia Ruocco https://www.linkedin.com/in/febroniaruocco/ Hofsted Insights Comparison Tool: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison-tool Link to purchase the book Radical Candor: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radical-Candor-Kickass-Without-Humanity/dp/1250103509

In this episode, we dive into the world of remote leadership and the challenges faced by leaders in the digital age. Our guest, Peter Benei, founder of Anywhere Consulting, shares his expertise in leadership development for remote leaders and provides valuable insights for startups and growing companies. Peter highlights the common operational mistakes made by founders, stemming from their background in enterprise leadership or a lack of business-building knowledge. He emphasises the need for leaders to adapt to the fast-paced and reactive nature of startups, particularly when transitioning from an enterprise setting. The conversation explores the key differences between traditional and remote leadership, focusing on the importance of intentionality, pre-communication, and written communication in remote work environments. Peter argues that these practices should be embraced by all leaders, regardless of having a physical office, as they foster collaboration, support, and effective communication. Drawing attention to the power of leaders' habits and behaviour’s, Peter discusses how modelling positive behaviour influences team members more effectively than mere instructions. He emphasises the significance of self-reflection for leaders to identify their negative behaviours and their potential impact on their teams. One valuable practice Peter suggests is the creation of a user manual, enabling leaders to outline their communication preferences, collaboration styles, trigger points, and other important information. This manual fosters self-awareness and promotes better understanding within teams while challenging stereotypes and assumptions to improve communication and collaboration. The episode also delves into the significance of intentionality, empathy, and written communication in bridging gaps between team members with different social skills and cultural backgrounds. Written communication is highlighted as an inclusive tool, benefiting introverts and ensuring everyone's ideas are heard and considered. We talk about the need to on improve facilitation skills and creating inclusive meeting environments to enhance team engagement and productivity. With uncertainty prevailing in leadership due to the unpredictable nature of the current times, Peter sheds light on how the people-first approach is gaining prominence, with workplaces treating employees as individuals working collaboratively towards a shared goal. What about the future of work? We share insights on the anticipated impact of AI in the workplace in the coming years. Leaders must stay prepared to adapt and navigate these changes to create thriving work environments that embrace technological advancements while prioritising their teams. Join us for this thought-provoking episode as we explore the nuances of remote leadership, the power of intentionality, and the evolving landscape of work in the digital age. Are you ready to learn more? You can find more out about Peter and the work that he does at https://anywhere.consulting/

Heather Hansen is a global communication consultant who helps companies navigate the challenges of communication in multicultural and multilingual settings. She emphasises the importance of conscious communication, confident communication, and connected communication in her approach. The "unmuted" framework she developed from her award winning book, focuses on self-awareness, skill building, and creating inclusive environments. Heather works with companies that have recently undergone strategy revamps and helps them implement their new strategies by ensuring effective communication throughout the organisation. This involves engaging employees, aligning their roles with the strategy, and maintaining communication channels to drive strategy execution. She possesses the expertise to empower clients in conquering communication and cultural hurdles when venturing into new markets or collaborating with diverse teams. In this episode we explore: 1. The subjective and Westernised nature of professional presence and how this impacts bias and progress. 2. Gender influences exert a profound impact on professional expectations and leadership dynamics. While men are readily accepted as powerful leaders, women often find themselves navigating a delicate balancing act, striving to be perceived as both powerful and attractive. 3. The challenges faced by women, particularly minority women, are even more daunting, as they constantly grapple with societal expectations regarding their appearance, manner of speech, and behaviour in order to be taken seriously and avoid succumbing to negative stereotypes. 4. The intersection of gender and language further amplifies biases and discrimination. Women with accents, unfortunately, encounter even stronger bias compared to their male counterparts with accents. 5. The COVID-19 pandemic cast a glaring spotlight on the paramount importance of communication skills, thereby leading to a surge in demand for Heather's expertise as organisations recognised the urgent need for effective communication and seamless collaboration. 6. Successful cross-cultural communication necessitates unwavering clarity, constant checks for understanding, and heightened awareness of the unique challenges faced by non-native English speakers. 7. Asynchronous work affords numerous advantages by enabling individuals to tackle tasks at different times, thereby injecting fresh perspectives into the workflow. To harness its potential, leaders and managers must adopt novel approaches to work allocation and distribution. 8. The advent of asynchronous work dismantles the limitations of the traditional 9-to-5 paradigm, granting teams the ability to work around the clock and endowing startups with a remarkable competitive edge, facilitating rapid growth. 9. The values of authenticity and vulnerability are now highly esteemed in leaders, who are expected to possess a well-defined strategy and stand firmly for their principles. 10. Leaders must employ diverse modalities to articulate their ideas and ensure comprehensive understanding among team members. Utilising visual prompts, repetition, and embracing various communication styles are vital! 11. In order to transform the existing leadership landscape, it is imperative to establish role models who embody vulnerability and authenticity in their leadership approach. You can connect with Heather Hansen on LinkedIn or at her website www.heatherhansen.com and pick up a copy of her award winning book, Unmuted, from any good book store.

In this episode of the Still Loading Podcast, host Ilona Brannen interviews Owen Dearn, a recruitment consultant specialist in the tech sector. They discuss the unique aspects of recruiting in the tech industry, the impact of remote work, and the changing employee benefits landscape. Owen shares insights on how companies are adapting to hybrid work models, and highlights the importance of intentional efforts to create an attractive office culture. They also explore the evolving dynamics between employers and employees in the job market. Key takeaways: - The job market in the tech industry has been chaotic since COVID-19, with shifts towards remote work and changes in hiring trends. - Many companies are transitioning to hybrid working models, repurposing workspaces, and emphasising the importance of in-person collaboration. - Flexibility and freedom have become important employee benefits, and companies are adapting their offerings accordingly. - The pendulum has swung in favour of employees with more power and freedom in choosing their employers, but it may gradually shift back as the market stabilises. - When reviewing CVs/resumes, Owen looks for evidence of outcomes, problem-solving abilities, and tangible achievements rather than jargon. - Selective communication is important, where important information is shared with the team while protecting them from unnecessary details. - The middle layer of management plays a crucial role in translating and communicating business objectives to both upper management and the team members. - In a hybrid working model, the visibility of different leadership styles and organic conversations in the office environment is beneficial for development. - Leadership qualities in the tech sector include immersing oneself in the subject matter and showcasing expertise through personal branding, as well as adopting a "player coach" approach of being hands-on while leading and mentoring. - Younger professionals seek mentorship, guidance, and management from middle managers to support their career growth and development. - Good management and mentorship are often considered as additional benefits or perks for early-career individuals. - Communication is vital for addressing issues and ensuring alignment between managers and employees. Three top tips for leaders in the digital age: network and immerse yourself in your subject matter expertise, be a player coach, and be genuine and true to yourself. This conversation focuses on the importance of effective communication, leadership development, mentorship, and personal branding in the digital age. Reach out to Owen and his team at Owen@3search.io

In this episode I’m chatting to Dr Pradeep Sacitharan who has had an extraordinary life. He went from a war refugee, teenage gangster, and a high school dropout to award winning scientist at Oxford and Harvard in 7 years. The he went on to discover drugs as a professor and become Vice President of a Biotech with a revenue of 1.6 billion USD. Not stopping there, Pradeep challenged the system, quit his career, and founded his own 8-figure company. He is passionate about speaking topics including today topic on mindset and leadership and in this episode he talks about how the most impactful leaders know how to use risk and have a higher risk tolerance than others. That’s how you get to do groundbreaking things! To get in touch with Pradeep you can find him on LinkedIn and his company website http://www.donsfield.com/

I'm excited to bring you a conversation with Kevin Ignatius, an L&D expert at Omnipresent, a digital company that focuses on global employment operations. Omnipresent is not only adapting to the digital age, but shaping it with their innovative approach. With Ominpresent being a remote-first culture, Kevin and I had the opportunity to design a leadership development program that truly reflects the needs of the digital age. In this episode, we delve into Kevin's perspective on leadership as a behavior, not just an ideal, and share best practices for leading in a remote-first world. We'll also hear about a simple yet effective tip for leading remotely and why context is key. Join us for a conversation that'll inspire you to evolve in your own leadership development. (00:35) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR Omnipresent is an innovative company that started as a response to the pandemic They are remote only and needed to design their leadership development in a meaningful way (05:03) Who is a leader that influenced you? Leadership is often a byproduct of the company’s culture Understanding why we perform certain leadership behaviors becomes really critical (13:23) The gift of giving feedback in a constructive way Creating an immediate sense of safety and desire to see team members succeed (18:42) Who is a leader that influenced you? You observe what’s happening around you and turn those into theories and learnings to then cultivate your own leadership style (32:27) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey The concept of followership as a dynamic form of leadership Leadership ends up being an outcome of the designed workplace culture ChatGPT vs human to human connection Understanding our emotions and building our emotional intelligence (45:44) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age? The strategies you have so far will constantly be challenged and it’s going to be important to be emotionally secure enough to stay open-minded to changes, new perspectives, and new ideas Be intentional about your leadership practices and always think about culture first Create space for all the voices in your company Resources from this episode: Kevin Ignatius LinkedIn Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey? Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE! Connect with Ilona below! Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA - Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Join me as I wrap up and reflect on season 4 of the Still Loading podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on the future of leadership in the digital age based on the observations and learnings from throughout this season.

We’ve had a diverse range of guests on the show who’ve offered some fantastic thought-provoking conversations. From insights on scale-ups and startups to challenges and successes with customer success, marketing, and leadership. We’ve covered it all and there will be more to come! Tune in to hear what we have in store for season 5!

(00:34) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• We’ve explored the expertise and wisdom of leadership, both as a concept and what it looks like in the digital age

(01:36) Hype around ChatGPT and its effects on the workplace for the future

• Leaders in the digital age will need to be adaptable in this face-paced world of ever-evolving tech, but nothing will replace the emotional human-to-human connection that companies need to successfully grow and lead

(04:11) The importance of company culture

• Team members need to feel psychologically safe to voice their thoughts, opinions, and ideas

(7:35) Understand what your boundaries need to be as a leader

• Learn where you are willing to flex in those boundaries and where you aren’t and clearly communicate that with your team

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Ben Norton shares his unique journey in the ever evolving tech industry. Offering insights on the cultural differences between agencies and larger corporations, the challenges of remote work and maintaining employee engagement and cohesion, and how difficult it can be to have an authentic leadership style and be a visionary for the company.

Ben Norton is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of experience in B2B sales and marketing strategy and execution. He is an expert in communication and presentation and has held executive positions in SaaS services. With a proven track record of building successful international teams and solving complex problems, Ben is a go-to market specialist and a strategic thinker. He brings a wealth of experience and expertise to any organization.

(00:34) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• Ben Norton shares his journey as a seasoned veteran in the tech industry and what that’s looked like from a leadership perspective

(04:58) Transitioning from an agency to a major corporation

• It can take much longer to grasp the identity and the workflow for a role in larger organizations

(08:40) The biggest challenges in remote first environments

• Establishing a desirable workplace culture that can make up for the lack of human-to-human connection and offer something of value to the organization

(14:35) The balancing act between delegation and micromanaging

• Allowing freedom and ownership of a role while still achieving the desired results for the company

(20:41) A new perspective on authentic leadership

• Challenging the concept of it being possible to be an authentic leader and navigate a highly complex environment

(25:35) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• The idea of two types of leaders, the human leader and the visionary. What’s the difference and why both are necessary

(41:09) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• The importance of grooming your team to become the next leaders in the business, making sure there isn’t much a of difference between who you are at work vs who you are at home, and setting expectations for your team

Links for resources from this episode:

Ben Norton’s LinkedIn

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Have you given up on the idea of setting goals for the new year? Before you do, let’s see if we can help set you up for success! In this episode, I’m sharing my top tips and helpful exercises to help you finally achieve your goals - or at least get you a lot closer to them! (Which is a win that many people forget to give themselves credit for).

Ready for a new perspective? Hit play!

(00:48) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• For many reasons, it can be easy to feel unmotivated about a new year and a new beginning, and that’s fair
• Let’s rethink how we approach setting and achieving goals with some new ideas

(01:01) Break down your year into smaller periods of time

• Focusing on one goal for 12 weeks at a time
• Breaking down your bigger goals into smaller ones

(02:26) The best ways to keep yourself motivated and held accountable

• 3 fantastic exercises to help expand your mind, build your belief and become more confident
• Working with coaches, mentors, and accountability partners

(12:10) Choosing your own start to a “new year”

• Winter is a hard time of year to naturally feel renewed and rejuvenated
• Instead spend winter resting, reflecting, and planning for what's to come

Resources from this episode: FREE 12-Week Year Template created by Montelle Bee

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Working remotely isn’t always as luxurious as it seems. Many people in remote positions struggle to stay motivated in their work and greatly miss human connection. So what can we do from a leadership perspective to alleviate the emotional pitfalls that remote teams often experience? Thankfully, Melissa Romo, wrote a book to show us the way.

Melissa Romo is a veteran of global business management, having held executive roles in Warsaw, Paris, London and New York for some of the world’s most recognized companies. Melissa has built and managed high-performing teams around the world in office-based, hybrid and fully remote settings.

She is the author of the forthcoming book “Your Resource Is Human” (2023), a practical guide to empathetic leadership for building culture and connections in the remote and hybrid workplace. Melissa’s book has been lauded by workplace and leadership experts as “the book 21st century leaders and followers have been pining for.”

(00:40) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• The human connection through empathetic leadership in the digital age
• Beginning to understand cyber psychology

(05:13) About the book

• Identifying the truth behind what it’s really like to work remotely
• Learning how to support your remote team

(18:31) What do leaders in the digital age need to do differently?

• Why it’s important for leaders to have a diversified skillset
• Companies need to decide if they want to be 100% remote or hybrid

(29:08) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• Understanding what it means to have a sponsor
• Ken Chenault - carrying yourself with unwavering conviction

(35:07) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey

• Melissa’s baptism by fire story of managing a team in another country

(42:07) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field?

• Authentic leadership is a hot topic but many are still trying to discover what it actually means and how to adapt

(48:07) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• Spend time with your people, trust your team and don’t fuss with the detail, but also get your hands dirty

Links for resources from this episode:

Podcast episode: Kenneth Chenault; What’s in your Glass? With Carmelo Anthony

Book: Decoding Sponsorship; The Secret Strategy to Accelerate Your Career and Launch Into Leadership by maggie Chan Jones

Melissa Romo LinkedIn

Melissa Romo on TikTok

Subscribe to Melissa’s Newsletter, Showing Up

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

The side hustle economy is on the rise! With more and more people developing an interest to launch there own thing, it’s predicted that by 2030 there will be more side hustlers than full-time employees. But even with this rapidly growing trend, most side hustlers are afraid to inform their day-time leadership, fearing that it’ll be perceived as a distraction from their day job. But Mary Agbesanwa, founder of female millennial entrepreneurial community, ‘Now You’re Talking Network’, shares her insights and perspectives on how side hustlers have the potential to become great leaders in a larger organization.

Mary is passionate about how technology is transforming and democratizing the financial services industry and supporting millennials to achieve their full potential. Now she works at a B2B fintech leading sales and she also runs the 'Now You’re Talking Network' which has over 850 members and aims to help women earn more and be more confident. The network runs regular events and workshops for their community of women and staff at over a dozen leading companies including PwC, WeWork, Multiverse, Henley Business School and British Land.

(00:47) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• How can we embrace the holistic nature of people’s interests and skill sets and bring it into the working environment?
• As a leader, how can you think about broadening your understanding of the ways of work?

(18:15) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• How Michelle Obama is a great role model for leadership in the way she speaks, in the way she acts, and by the way she exudes confidence and belief in herself

(21:43) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey

• The power of networking and how it can help you further your career in a leadership role
• The importance of communication in-person and remotely and why there is such a difference between the two

(33:16) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field?

• Seeing leaders be more empathic with their team
• Employee’s putting a lot of trust in their leaders to support them
• Employee’s profiling a company for the right cultural fit

(39:47) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• The importance of continuing to educate yourself in your industry
• Continue building relationships with new people in your industry and those similar
• Take the time to work on your confidence

Resources from this episode:

Find all the links to connect with Mary and the Now You're Talking Network here: https://linktr.ee/millennialmarya

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

How do you successfully manage and lead a team remotely? This is a question that comes up a lot. When it comes to remote vs. in-person, the basic principles of good leadership remain the same. The only difference is the method in which we are interacting with others and our surrounding environment, however, it does require a different skillset to be able to develop those crucial soft skills and deliver them online.

In this episode, I’m having a conversation with my business collaborator, Nicola Scott, all about her leadership journey in the digital age. Nic is an experienced learning and development consultant, facilitator and Coach and is building her own thriving business, pulling together all her knowledge and experience. Through years of hands on frontline experience of supporting others to grow and develop, and as an L&D consultant, Nic has developed a passion for coaching in all its forms, delivering team, personal development, leadership, wellbeing and career coaching. She truly believes in the potential of others and feels that it is a real privilege to support others through their learning journeys.

(01:25) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• Insights into our philosophy and approach to remote first leadership
• Remote leadership not being as new as it may seem

(06:08) What was it like to transition from working as a employee to doing your own thing?

• Took advantage of temporary roles during the transition
• Normalizing career changes, shifting roles and encouraging learning and development

(15:37) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• Leaders who were very supportive in my aspirations and dreams and who stood up for their beliefs and exercised thought leadership in that way

(27:33) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey

• Having an organization invest in my leadership development because of potential they saw in me, not because I requested it
• Someone else believing in me before I did and leaning on the support of a coach

(41:06) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field?

• Organizations investing in coaching support for their team
• Giving colleagues the opportunity to connect and network with others in similar roles

(46:24) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• Genuinely connecting with your remote team on a regular basis
• Taking advantage of the talent and diversity in this digital age
• Taking care of yourself

Links for resources from this episode:

Nicola’s LinkedIn: nicola-scottlearning

Nicola’s Instagram: @seeds_coaching

Nicola’s Email: nic@seedscoaching.co.uk

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Poor leadership could mean the difference between a thriving business and one that’s struggling to survive. So what does it mean to be an effective, and respected, leader in your organization? It means connecting with your team on a human level and giving them the support they need to succeed.

Sean Georges, J.D., LL.M. and John Buford, Ph.D. are the co-founders of On Mission Leadership. With over 80+ years of combined experience throughout their extraordinary careers, they have been students, observers, mentors, and teachers of leadership development.

Sean is a Naval Academy graduate who served in the Marine Corps for 13 years, the bulk of them as a military lawyer. For the past 22, years he has served as the senior vice president of human resources and general counsel for a publicly traded retailer with 380 stores and more than 5,000 employees. He is a leadership coach and mentor, co-founder of On Mission Leadership, serves on a variety of nonprofit boards, and a frequent public speaker.

John Buford served as a Marine Corps officer for more than 20 years, conducting operations overseas and teaching at officer training schools. He is the co-founder of On Mission Leadership, college professor, a certified leadership coach, professional wilderness guide and outdoor educator, human performance consultant, and board member of several nonprofit organizations.

(01:16) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• Inspiring perspectives of leadership development through decades of experience

(17:06) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• Impactful leadership isn’t just about what you say and do, it’s also about how you care of your team

(25:45) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey

• Accountability and remembering to be a human

(40:57) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field?

• Leadership is about having authentic relationships and it takes time
• Quiet quitting and how it is a direct result of poor, or lack of, leadership

(00:00) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• Be intentional about investing in your development
• The discipline of empathy
• You cannot lead without genuinely caring
• Leaders put effort into serving their team

Links for resources from this episode:

onmissionbook.com

Onmissionleaders.com

“The Essence of Authentic Leadership”

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

In this episode, we’re reflecting on the stories, expertise, and the wisdom of our guests so far. Tune in to hear my take on developing sales skills, building relationships as part of your marketing strategy, and the importance of focusing on your customer’s journey after they buy your product.

Let us know what part of these conversations resonated with you the most! Email us at hello.stillloadingpodcast@gmail.com

(00:38) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• Adapting to think like the customer
• What’s the problem and how do you communicate a solution that connects with the customer?
• What are you doing to support your customer’s success?

(01:44) Key learnings from episode 34

• Curse of Knowledge - “The curse of knowledge is a cognitive bias that occurs when an individual, who is communicating with other individuals, assumes that the other individuals have the background knowledge to understand. This bias is also called by some authors the curse of expertise.”

(07:50) Key learnings from episode 35

• Increasing visibility as a brand
• Honing in on your messaging
• Building influential relationships

(11:24) Key learnings from episode 36

• Customer experience with your company
• What are the touchpoints?
• Is the customer supported?

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

You don’t have a business without your customers - but are you focusing on customer success?
To build momentum and survive in the market, start-ups have to evolve rapidly, and oftentimes that means that there’s a tendency to solve problems from the top down instead of from the bottom up. It’s easy to think that hiring a more senior role with a specific set of skills is the right solution for customer success but a lot of times, that’s done too soon.

Digital transformation leader and customer success expert, Rebecca Jones, shares about the challenges of customer success in the start-up world and how taking a deep dive into the customer journey can make all the difference. After 15 years in the corporate financial services industry, Rebecca took her experience and started making waves in the FinTech start-up world, doing all things digital transformation and customer success.

She shares more about building a community for customer support and the importance of properly managing it, understanding the customer journey, and understanding the role of customer success in your business.

(00:40) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR

• Customers need to be at the forefront of what you’re developing, regardless of your business
• How are you incorporating the customer’s voice in your business?

(20:14) Who is a leader that influenced you?

• So much experience and growth came from being trusted with big opportunities and getting feedback often
• I was provided a safe space to fail

(27:57) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey

• Understanding how quickly everything is going to change and setting those expectations

(35:28) What project are you currently working on?

• Higher and Old - Opening up the conversation about hiring candidates that have invaluable experience although it may not be the exact experience you’re looking for

(47:03) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age?

• Learn to say no to the customer, be your customer’s advocate, and understand that customer success is a part of everyone’s role

Links for resources from this episode:

Rebecca’s LinkedIn

Rebecca’s Twitter

Websites: https://www.hireanold.com/, https://www.customeralchemy.co/

Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey?

Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE!

Connect with Ilona below!

Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen

Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk

LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA

-

Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Building relationships is a fundamental key to growth in your business. Whether it’s relationships with your customers, partners, or employees it’s crucial to establish and maintain that trust and comfortability with your brand from the inside out. Lucy Woolfenden has 20 years' experience of launching brands and developing them across multiple markets. Lucy is the Founder of The Scale Up Collective, working with a wide portfolio of challenger brands and her experience includes launching Skype for Mobile, Starling Bank and Yolt. Lucy also mentors startup founders and teams from disadvantaged backgrounds. We discuss developing in to the kind of leader that empowers team, collaboration, innovation, and motivation within the walls your company. (00:52) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR Having people in your corner who will be your champion Who is that person in your life? (10:16) Who is a leader that influenced you? Creating relationships to build trust and get results Leveraging relationships to motivate people (16:23) What are the characteristics of a good leader/founder? Understanding that you need sales and marketing to make a business Being an open and active listener to your mentors, your team, and your audience (20:01) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey Figuring out where your strengths lie and learning how to use that as your superpower (23:19) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field? The concept of customer first vs profit first (37:53) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age? Progress over perfection, transparency within your team, and collaboration vs competition Resources from this episode: Thescaleupcollective.com Linkedin Newsletter: Power Up In Brief by Lucy Woolfenden Lucy Woolfenden LinkedIn Coaching Conversations Audio Book, Take Control of Your Life by Mel Robbins Heads Together podcast, Episode 021, It’s Not too Late…It’s the BEST Time Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey? Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE! Connect with Ilona below! Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA - Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Welcome to Season 4 of the Still Loading Podcast! We've got some amazing guests lined up for this season and we’re kicking things off with Monika Holland. Monika is the strategic advisor and founder of BOLD Business Decisions and a go-to-market specialist for early stage startups. She helps talented technical founders develop sales skills to successfully bring their product to market. We discuss how important it is for leaders to continuously develop new skills in order to sustainably grow in business, what to be aware of when it comes to mentorship, and learning how to put yourself out there to build customer relationships. (00:54) Ilona’s Reflections; TLDR Developing skills in sales, marketing, and leadership to grow your startup The shift in personal development that’s required to show up differently for your business and your team (15:05) Who is a leader that influenced you? Recognizing leaders that you are anti-influenced by Taking care of the people who take care of your customers; Servant leadership Being self aware and willing to do the inner work to become the leader you want to be (24:29) Tell me about something that helped you on your leadership development journey Lessons learned from Monika’s first leadership position as a hotel manager Learning leadership skills the hard way vs. seeking out helpful resources and education (29:48) What are the trends in leadership that you are seeing in your field? How connecting and communicating with people online has never been easier but it takes a certain level of confidence to put yourself out there (34:33) What are your 3 top tips for leaders in the digital age? Surround yourself with the right people, don’t underestimate the power of personal growth, and take care of yourself Links for resources from this episode: Mailchimp: Ben Chestnut on How I Built This with Guy Raz Monika Holland’s LinkedIn Want to know where you’re at in your leadership journey? Download our FREE leadership assessment tool right HERE! Connect with Ilona below! Instagram: @ilona.f.brannen TikTok: @ilonabrannen Website: www.slatedigital.co.uk LinkedIn: Ilona Brannen FRSA - Podcast Editor & Strategist: @episodeready

Season three has reached its finale and to celebrate, I invited my editor Victoria Spooner to reminisce about some of our favourite moments from the season. In this episode, we listen back to some highlights from the season, revisit some of the lessons we learned, and share some of our own reflections - from servant leadership, being an inclusive leader and personal branding I share my learnings and insights on how to be a leader for the digital age. Victoria is a freelance podcast editor and producer. She also writes about folk traditions, nature, and music, plays the bass, and is making her own podcast about albums. You can find out more about Victoria at https://victoriaspooner.carrd.co

Personal branding is one of the keys to success in the digital age and can be and confusing road to navigate. Thankfully, we have knowledgeable experts like this weeks’s guest, Ioana Jago to help us figure it out. Ioana is a Personal Branding and Growth Strategist and founder of IVENTUM UK, a growth marketing agency. Ioana breaks down the importance of creating a personal brand, how to slowly and steadily build your online presence as a leader, and shares how her experience of living and working in Japan inspired her approach to leadership. Check out IVENTUM and learn about the branding academy at https://www.iventum.uk/home Podcast edited by Victoria Spooner