Manage Smarter

Dana Pharant grew up in a cult and in her journey to healing became a Dominatrix. She's the author of "Become a Badass in Business.” These days, she has changed gears to help leaders show up with true authenticity and confidence by standing in what she calls the Inner Dominatrix energy. Her training and philosophy show leaders how to become a badass in life and business by being unique and standing in your own personal power. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Dana discuss:  -Definition of Badass Leadership and how leaders can transition from submissive leadership to dominant leadership styles -Inner Dominatrix energy channeling for leaders -Finding the courage to make bold decisions outside your leadership comfort zone -How her cult upbringing drove her to the business philosophy she has today showcasing empowered leadership -Tangible exercises to shift your mindset "For the term dominatrix, most people think in terms of what Hollywood presents. But what a dominatrix is actually about is taking pe

Jody Grunden co-founded Summit CPA Group (Summit) in 2002, which merged with Anders CPAs + Advisors (Anders) in 2022. Summit, now a division of Anders, was the first fully distributed accounting firm. As the leading provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America, Summit provides professional Virtual CFO Services for over 100 companies across the United States, helping business owners dive deep into the financial side of their business to maximize profits, minimize taxes, and increase cash flow. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Jody discuss:  -The Four Most Important Financial Metrics for Growing Your Business -Cash flow as it relates to profit -Jody’s recommendations on accurate financial forecasting -How to preserve the bottom line no matter what changes happen in real time -How to grow the company financially while maintaining firm control and agility  "The biggest mistake managers make is not knowing or understanding their non-financial KPIs.”– Jody Grunden  Build Credibility and Effective

David Horsager, MA, CSP, CPAE is the CEO of Trust Edge Leadership Institute, Trust Expert in Residence at High Point University and The Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Trust Edge, The Daily Edge, and Trusted Leader. He is also a podcaster, creator of the Enterprise Trust Index™, and director of one of the nation’s foremost trust studies, The Trust Outlook. ® Horsager has advised leaders and delivered life-changing presentations on six continents, with audiences ranging from Delta, FedEx, and Toyota to the New York Yankees, MIT and the Department of Homeland Security. His work has been featured in prominent media such as Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and MSNBC. Through speaking, training, consulting, and coaching, David and his team at Trust Edge Leadership Institute make it their mission to develop trusted leaders and organizations. With his trademark 8 Pillar Framework, David breaks trust down into tangible steps that can be leveraged right away to build a high-trust culture— because high-

Jon Morris is the founder & CEO of Ramsay Innovations and a serial entrepreneur. Prior to Ramsay, he established Rise Interactive in 2004,with prize money from his second-place finish in the University of Chicago’s prestigious New venture Challenge. Over the next 16 years he grew Rise from a one-person shop to one of the largest independent marketing agencies in the world, selling in 2018. While pondering his next move, he realized that he was most energized when connecting and helping fellow entrepreneurs grow their businesses. Ramsay Innovations’ mission is to transform marketing agencies by providing them with world-class, agency-specific finance management and strategic planning at a fraction of the cost. In this episode, Lee, Audrey and Jon discuss: -Current landscape of agencies in the U.S. and prediction for 2023 given a possible recession -The huge opportunities Jon sees for agency sales reps this year and methods to grab more market share -How to expand owned and earned media -EBITA for agencies and

Joining us today is Ron Ross, President and COO of Everee, a payroll platform that eases the payroll process for both employers and employees. Ron is a seasoned finance executive with 15 years of experience leading accounting, finance and operations teams at fast-growing companies. Ron came up with Everee after seeing firsthand the negative impact of waiting two weeks for a paycheck. His daughter had a job making enough to cover her expenses, but she kept running out of money because the timing of her payday and bills didn’t match. Realizing what a huge problem this was for so many Americans, Ron decided to challenge the status quo and created Everee to make faster paydays a reality. Since founding the company in 2018, Ron has grown the team by 5X and raised Seed and Series A financing rounds totaling $14M in April 2019 and 2020 respectively In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Ron discuss:  -Why the Payroll Industry Still Supports Outdated Pay Cycles -How a daily payroll is more attracted to talent

Bryan Adams is the CEO and founder of Ph.Creative, a global employer branding agency. He is a prominent employer brand thought leader, podcaster, speaker, and author of “Give & Get Employer Branding.” Ph.Creative has built world-class employer brands and talent engagement strategies that have worked with the world’s top brands. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Bryan discuss:  -Definition of an employer brand -Examples of how to let prospective employees have a realistic view of what working at your company is really like -Timing of employer brand rollout in the hiring process -Why an employer brand can decrease regrettable employee losses and increase retention  "What is employer branding? It’s very important if you own or run a business, or even manage a team. It’s a strategic approach to employer brand that aligns your business strategy with attracting and retaining the people you need to win.”– Bryan Adams Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast Join hosts A

Maria Victoria Albina (she/they) is a Master Certified Somatic Life Coach, UCSF-trained Family Nurse Practitioner and Breathwork Meditation Guide with a passion for helping humans socialized as women realize that they are their own best healers by reconnecting with their bodies and minds, so they can break free from codependency, perfectionism and people-pleasing and reclaim their joy. She is the host of the Feminist Wellness Podcast, holds a Masters degree in Public Health from Boston University School of Public Health and a BA in Latin American Studies from Oberlin College. Victoria has been working in health & wellness for over 20 years and lives on occupied Munsee Lenape territory in New York’s Hudson Valley. FREE MEDITATIONS FOR MANAGE SMARTER LISTENERS: victoriaalbina.com/salesfuel In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Victoria discuss:  -Signs and signals leaders should look for indicating they aren’t well -Why people pleasing and likability are a recipe for bad health for leaders -How past tra

Anthony Iannarino is a writer, speaker, salesperson, sales leader and entrepreneur. He publishes a daily blog at www.thesalesblog.com. His new book is called Leading Growth: The Proven Formula for Consistently Increasing Revenue . The book is an expert guide to enabling revenue growth in your sales team. Anthony Iannarino was frustrated with how sales were going at his staffing company when he discovered that there was a bigger problem at hand - the sales conversion process. Anthony dedicated 11 years to researching, developing, and testing his sales formula. This resulted in a proven framework that enables sales managers to seamlessly complete the competency transfer process. Over the next decade, the sales teams he worked with consistently hit their aggressive sales targets through value creation, differentiation, and knowing exactly what to say to advance the sale. Today Anthony is a 3-time best selling author, keynote speaker, and has helped 321+ companies maximize their conversions. In this podcast for m

Darrin Jahnel is the founder and CEO of Jahnel Group, a 150-person software consulting company headquartered in upstate New York. Darrin leads with energy and is maniacally focused on creating an amazing work environment for his team. Jahnel Group has made the Inc 5,000 list 6 years in a row and has won multiple best workplace awards for their amazing culture. One of the keys to success is tying your love and experience playing basketball by applying those concepts to special teams. Prior to starting the company in 2012, Darrin worked as a Senior Software Engineer on Wall Street. Darrin has led numerous engineering teams on multi-million-dollar projects and is a member of MENSA. He is happily married and has 4 children (2 adopted children and 2 birth sons). Darrin’s oldest son, Gideon, is from Nigeria. Although Darrin and his wife refer to Gideon as their son, they were not able to officially adopt him. Gideon has parents and 5 siblings back in Nigeria. Last year, Gideon worked 60 hours a week, all summer lon

David Saltzman is the Principal at The Saltzman Group and a 20-year nationally-published monthly columnist, an accomplished stage and keynote speaker, and a seasoned marketer. For the past 15 years, David has focused on helping others create story-based marketing that cuts through the noise in their marketplaces and creates the first step toward enduring relationships. As a Certified StoryBrand Guide, David and his team employ the StoryBrand framework to structure and focus the story their clients use to win business and attract customers. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and David discuss:   -The StoryBrand Process -Why are some stories memorable and spur action while others are ineffective -What are some of the pitfalls of the storytelling approach to watch for? -Why you should Always be Yoda and never be Luke Skywalker -The role of emotion in corporate sales "The number one mistake managers make is making themselves the hero of the client’s story.”– David Saltzman    Build Credibility and Effectiv

Jeb Blount is the author of thirteen books including Fanatical Prospecting, Sales EQ, Virtual Selling, and his latest book, Selling in a Crisis: 55 Ways to Stay Motivated and Increase Sales in Volatile Times - which is the topic of today's discussion. Jeb advises a who’s who of the world’s leading organizations and their executives on the impact of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills on customer-facing activities. He is among the world’s most respected thought leaders on prospecting, sales, leadership, and customer experience. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Jeb discuss:   ·       The real secrets to selling more in a crisis ·       Why you need more than charm and a great personality to close sales in a crisis ·       Why you must stop swimming naked and put your bathing suit on ·       Why you don’t get into buckets with crabs  "We assume we are succeeding because we are so awesome at what we do. But as the saying goes, don’t confuse a bull market with brains. During cycles of abun

Dr. Lakeya Cherry, DSW, MSSW, ACC is an executive leadership coach who has dedicated her career to the growth and development of individuals and the organizations they are a part of. As an ICF Certified Coach, a StartingBloc Fellow, a Google #IamRemarkable Facilitator, and a Certified Dare to Lead™ Facilitator, she believes that when leaders are empowered to reach their fullest potential, they will be able to support those around them more effectively. Dr. Cherry holds the title of Chief Executive Officer of The Network for Social Work Management, an international organization dedicated to strengthening and mobilizing diverse social impact leaders. Her approach is informed by her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Southern California as well as her M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University, and her B.A. in Psychology and Legal Studies from the University of California at Santa Cruz. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Lakeya discuss:   ·       Definition of inclusive managing ·      

Matt Tenney works to develop highly effective leaders and sales professionals who achieve extraordinary, long-term business outcomes – and live more fulfilling lives – as a result of realizing high levels of self-mastery and more effectively serving and inspiring greatness in the people around them. Matt is a social entrepreneur and the author of the highly acclaimed books Serve to Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom and The Mindfulness Edge: How to Rewire Your Brain for Leadership and Personal Excellence Without Adding to Your Schedule. Matt is also an international keynote speaker, a trainer, and a consultant with the prestigious Perth Leadership Institute. His clients include Wells Fargo, Marriott, Keller Williams, Salesforce, United Airlines, and many other companies, associations, and universities. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Matt discuss:   ·       The dynamics of this unusual job market ·       Core needs of your teams to retain talent and reduce

Give Sandra Halling the business equivalent of a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle and she can make it look like the picture on the box. As founder of The Data Mavens, she’s dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and executives design their workflow and systems to feel organized, have peace of mind, and prioritize what matters to them. Sandra is an expert on platforms like Deltek Vision, Notion, and ClickUp but her real priority is helping you develop better work habits by achieving Aligned Productivity—that is to say, aligning your work with your values. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Sandra discuss:   1 - People Before Process and how an empathetic human-first culture can revolutionize a business 2 - Strategic planning to prioritize projects that actually move the needle 3 - Data structure, UI, and how that impacts the user experience when learning new applications 4 - Definition of Aligned Productivity and how it can boost company performance   "The #1 mistake managers make is they do not consider the h

For the past 20 years, Skot Waldron’s work for clients such as J.P. Morgan Chase, CDC, Georgia Tech, Royal Caribbean, Sesame Workshop, The Home Depot, and The Coca-Cola Company has included national and international communication programs. Skot Waldron is an internal communication strategist who uses his extensive knowledge of brand development to build loyalty amongst individuals, teams, and organizations. Unlike most communication programs out there, Skot coaches leaders and employees to become liberators using programs that are simple, scalable, and sustainable for the long term. He believes the influence you have, your alignment as an organization, and your ability to execute effectively all begin with you and how you communicate.  In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Skot discuss:   -Communication challenges all agency types experience -Healthy disagreement facilitation to foster the creative process -Tips on communication, transparency and difficult conversations -The #1 problem leaders have w

John Robertson is the Founder and President of FORTLOG Services. John built his services with a focus on an encouragement-based approach, resolving root causes as opposed to treating crisis and transition in the workplace symptomatically, as is often the practice. A trusted thinking partner with 30+ years of assisting individuals and organizations manage all forms of crisis/ change, John leverages a values-anchored ethos as a leadership development specialist, helping organizations and individuals to define the new norm and thrive. Over the years, John has gained extensive and diverse experiences working with Indigenous peoples [First Nations], first responders, small-medium businesses, non-profits, churches, communities, municipalities, educational, health care, families, and EAPs. John’s qualifications include Conversational IQ™, psychological health and safety advisor, ICF coach, Resilient Leadership, crisis intervention instructor, numerous psychometric tools, Certified Trauma Treatment Specialist (CTTS),

Michelle Tillis Lederman, one of Forbes Top 25 Networking Experts, and MG100 Coach, is the author of four books including the internationally known, The 11 Laws of Likability, and also the book, The Connectors Advantage. Michelle is a connection creator and CEO of Executive Essentials, which provides customized communications and leadership programs for fortune 500, non-profit, university and government clients. A former finance executive and NYU Professor, Michelle is a regular in the media appearing on NBC, CBS, Fox, NPR, the Wall Street Journal, NY Times, CNBC, and others. Michelle is known for helping people work better together and advance their individual impact.   In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Michelle discuss:   ·      The 11 Laws of Likability ·      Michelle’s definition of credibility and trustworthiness ·      What to do before, during and after a networking contact to install likability and boost your relationship networking ·      Definition of the Law of Energy and how to access

Darrell Amy is on a mission to help great companies grow revenue. With 27 years of B2B marketing and sales experience ranging from mid-sized local companies to enterprise organizations, Darrell has diverse experience across the sales and marketing landscape. He has trained thousands of salespeople in solution selling, created digital marketing strategies for hundreds of companies, and consulted with Fortune 500 technology companies. He knows what works—and what doesn’t. He’s the author of the best-selling book Revenue Growth Engine, How To Align Sales and Marketing To Drive Accelerate Growth. He’s the host of the Revenue Growth Podcast on the C-Suite Radio Network and the co-host of the Selling From the Heart podcast. He’s a member of the Forbes Business Council and a C-Suite Advisor.  In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Darrell discuss:   -How to drive higher revenue by sales and marketing alignment -How a revenue focus is a more holistic approach to growing your business -5 Ways to Analyze your sa

Teresa Mitrovic is the founder of ORO Collective, as well as a consultant, coach, course creator and author specializing in performance, psychological safety and trust. In her past life as a corporate leader, when the increasing demands of senior leadership clashed with single parenthood, coaching as a leader was the solution. With workloads reset, team cohesion and alignment gained, performance improved and profit tripled. She has lived and worked internationally, delivering keynotes and workshops to clients large and small and authored the book ‘The Currency of Connection - how trust transforms life, relationships and work’. Now based in Melbourne, Australia with her husband and dog, she works internationally - and virtually - coaching top executives from companies like Barclays, Hasbro, Disney, and Accenture.  In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Teresa discuss:   ·      Why leaders should care about psychological safety and high trust environments? ·      How to create trust that neutralizes work

In the cutthroat world of tech, Neil Day is a battle-tested veteran. With 40+ years of experience in the industry, he’s led technology teams at Walmart.com, Shutterfly, Blue Bottle Coffee, and more. Now he’s fighting a new battle as CTO of R-Zero, the first company built from the ground up to tackle the transmission of pathogens in the COVID-19 era. In this podcast for managers, Audrey, Lee and Neil discuss:   ·      Differences managing at a startup vs. a large tech company ·      Balancing learning quickly and getting to market ·      How tech must support sales so they have max credibility in go to market strategy ·      Leadership who “fly to close to the sun” and mix ego with the brand launch  "One mistakes startups make is overinvesting in platform too early. You just don’t know what your final product is going to look like." – Neil Day  Build Credibility and Effective Leadership with the Manage Smarter Podcast. Join hosts Audrey Strong and C. Lee Smith every week as they dive into the aspects and conc