Corporate Graduation

Mark Freeman (data scientist, entrepreneur, and LinkedIn celebrity) joins us in the studio! We can all admire his unrelenting fixation on solving large-scale societal problems and his deep understanding of how to nurture an online community. He goes behind the scenes on his career, as we discuss his navigation into various high-impact communities (startup, data science, Web3).  Tired of feeling "caged" at work? Here's your key to freedom. *** TAKEAWAYS On social media, think of every follower as a mentor — make sure you're finding ways to learn from them. Apply the "dead flip" approach (pinball) in career and life: understand when to pause, reset, and validate your target. Breaking into data science doesn't necessarily require deep technical skills. Start by understanding how you can provide unique business value, and craft your role from there. Side hustles can be useful beyond their monetary value. Think of them as testbeds to prove hypotheses, test your interests, and continually validate your passions. Use your online interactions to increase the odds of serendipity in your life (plant many seeds, and see which ones sprout over time). *** TIMESTAMPS [2:00] The dead flip [5:02] How chess played a pivotal role [5:50] Mark’s professional journey [10:28] Driven by meaning, open to pivoting [11:48] Diverse inroads into data science [18:14] TRIBE framework — move forward together [20:00] Community & two-way value exchange [23:12] Operating a job creation “funnel” [26:21] Mark’s entrepreneurial ventures [36:00] DeFi participation (CharlieDAO)  [41:37] The power of “collisions” [42:57] Rapid-fire questions *** RESOURCES Connect w/ Mark on LinkedIn Related episode: Creators + Web3 (w/ Chris Cochran) Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter: @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

Chris Cochran is co-founder and CEO of Hacker Valley Media, where he co-hosts several podcasts centered on technology and human performance. He drops by the studio to discuss what it means for a tech professional to flourish as a "creator" today. We introduce Web3, and how its features are enabling an exciting set of opportunities for individual professionals to enhance their career trajectory and overall life.    Create more career freedom: subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS A creator is anyone who can distill the ideas floating through their mind and package and deliver them to the world (mediums: sketches, words, multimedia, code, etc.).   You can separate your creative side from your corporate role...or marry the two. There are no hard rules. Do what gives you energy. Web3 is completely upending the "known" internet — changing economics, finance, business, and so much more. (Check out a short "Ethereum 101" podcast from Alex Lieberman.) ExIST: Explore, Immerse, Study, Translate (Transform) — a framework for pursuing excellence in the pursuit of human endeavors. Credentials have their value, but nothing beats experience. Experience doesn’t necessarily mean working in a professional job.  Be authentic (DON'T be "normal"). Actively break out of your small comfort zone. *** TIMESTAMPS [3:56] “Creator” defined [5:17] How “creating” changed Chris’s life [7:53] Balancing job & authentic self [10:52] Intro to Web3 [14:17] How to test Web3 (ExIST framework) [18:47] New mindset for education [24:33] Credentialize > credential-collecting [28:07] Why we’re still bad at cybersecurity [31:47] Best advice Chris received [34:15] The law we all need to follow [36:33] Closing message: find your tribe *** RESOURCES Connect w/ Chris on LinkedIn Hacker Valley site (including the Web3-focused show: Metaversable) Web3 primer video (8 minutes) Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

We all live in some version of the Matrix — where we take our situation as given. But what would it look like to wake up? To see more clearly and direct your life? This episode is about awakening to the limitations you've subconsciously accepted in your career and doing something about it: creating freedom. Listen in to discover your real potential. Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS The Matrix movie trilogy suggests that everyone is capable of making the choice between the real world and an artificial one. Career-wise, we're taught to choose from an existing corporate system, and just make the most of it. Betting your livelihood solely on "gutting it out" in corporate will leave you miserable. John Marty suggests we deploy a "dual-path" strategy: Utility (corporate) + Authentic Self. Sometimes we're climbing the wrong hill, and we need to have the guts to walk down and start another climb. You can create more freedom in your life if you start embracing self-reliance. *** TIMESTAMPS [1:34] What the Matrix teaches us [2:31] How this plays out at work [3:47] The dual-path strategy [7:20] How Matt is pursuing both paths [9:10] Are you climbing the wrong hill? [10:15] Our real aim: a sense of freedom *** RESOURCES Related episode (#17): Self-Reliance John Marty's "dual-path" video Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

OVERVIEW We're joined in this episode by Elayna Snyder, Founder of Indigo Collectiv. She focuses on helping thought leaders fuel their strategy by being their authentic selves. She delivers a masterclass on harnessing your individuality. Her premise: your knowledge and ideas need an outlet, and that outlet should create an impact. Improve your LinkedIn game: How to Build Your Hidden LinkedIn Funnel™ in 3 Easy Steps (resource from Elayna) Tired of being "stuck" in your tech career? Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS Our "authentic self" changes based on the context that we’re in.   There are many roads to a destination, but they differ in timeline and effectiveness You must make decisions that align with who you are on the inside. A well-shaped personal brand helps you scale your ideas, build meaningful relationships, and create the impact you crave. An established personal brand isn’t a prerequisite to contributing and getting to know the community you want to build or contribute to.  LinkedIn is NOT a glorified resume platform or virtual conference; it's a place to be social and create a world of opportunities. *** TIMESTAMPS [6:30] Transcending your credentials [9:09] Client creation [11:25] Applying your “fire” (corporate & side hustle) [13:25] Personal brand: greatest long-term asset [18:00] Shaping your personal brand [19:17] Why & how to harness LinkedIn [21:25] Building your community [24:03] Serving your tribe (& monetizing) [26:55] Your forcing function for growth [28:25] Elayna on the hot seat *** RESOURCES How to Build Your Hidden LinkedIn Funnel™ in 3 Easy Steps (resource from Elayna) Connect w/ Elayna on LinkedIn Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

OVERVIEW We're joined today by Shiv Singh, Founder of Emerge Management Consulting. Shiv is a compelling example of what it means to "look inside" and figure out what you've been put on this planet to do. We hear a lot about "find your why," but Shiv demonstrates how to put the concept into action — even if it requires going against societal norms. Lots to learn here, from both a career and life perspective. Tired of being "stuck" in your tech career? Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS "Early life" pressures (e.g., educational success) might be subconsciously driving your career and life choices — to your detriment. An overemphasis on external validation is dangerous; we must balance it with finding success internally. Your "why" is your compass (and your criteria) for making daily micro-decisions that add up to a meaningful, fulfilled life. Diving into entrepreneurship removes the safety net and forces you to gauge what you're truly capable of. Rather than fixating on an exact route to a single career destination, stay nimble and explore multiple paths that feel directionally "right." *** TIMESTAMPS [2:12] Pillars of life [8:12] Associating academic & career success [13:23] Striving for never-ending external validation [17:15] Taking a leap of faith “on myself” [22:20] The forcing function for your growth [26:28] Don’t obsess over goals; one meaningful step at a time [32:44] Joys & hardships of being on your own [34:38] The Pathless Path [37:09] Reconciling your professional & personal selves [41:10] Mental health in management consulting *** RESOURCES Related episode (#17): Self-Reliance Connect w/ Shiv on LinkedIn Check out Shiv's business: Emerge Management Consulting Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

OVERVIEW We're joined today by Ben Dundee, VP and Head of Data Science at Dekeo. Ben delivers sharp advice on how to become influential with data — changing hearts and minds across an organization. Empathy and community are key elements of his personality and success. Lots of lessons in this one!  Tired of being "stuck" in your tech career? Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS Don't let your past define your future; learn to say "thank you, next." Product Management is a great space to learn what the business cares about (you gain diverse perspectives). A data leader's role is often to ensure all people (technical and non-technical) believe in the value of the data effort. Don't waste time on data perfection (objective truth) — a simple model that's 80% correct is often the key to success. "Dance with fear" — embrace discomfort; this is how you build a great career and life. *** TIMESTAMPS [2:15] The self-branding journey: Physics PhD to Data Science VP [11:35] Using business knowledge and relationships as leverage to create impact [16:27] The mysticism of data science  [20:35] Skills for the mid-career tech professional [26:53] The worst advice to follow [31:34] Ben's advice to his younger self  *** RESOURCES Related episode (#19): You Don't Need an MBA Connect w/ Ben on LinkedIn Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

OVERVIEW For decades, there's been an assumption that you need an MBA to be a business leader. This creates a challenge for rising digital leaders — those that come from technical backgrounds and feel a desire to be an influential force within the organization. Do they need to sink their time and money into nabbing this credential? Today, Matt argues why an MBA isn't necessary for tech professionals while getting to the essence of what we're really after. Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS We've been lulled into thinking an MBA is a "must do" for reaching the highest realms of business leadership. What people really want with an MBA: Mastery, Badges, Attention. “We’ve reached the post-content age. Content is no longer scarce in education. It’s either free or low-cost, and it's abundant.” Millennials and Gen Zs place significant value on community, which will transform the future of education. EdTech platforms, such as those enabling Cohort-Based Courses, are opening faster and cheaper alternatives to the MBA — with similar benefits.  *** TIMESTAMPS [3:30] Why people really chase an MBA [5:15] Mastery, badges, and attention [6:55] The problem of self-motivation [8:56] Power of new education models *** RESOURCES Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

OVERVIEW Does technology really make life better? Not necessarily. While digital technology is inevitably at the core of your organization's mission, we must be careful how we adopt it. We can’t look at any piece of technology as a silver bullet. We can’t let ourselves fall in love. Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS Technology trends don't have to be as inevitable as they might appear. “Our inventions are [nothing more than] improved means to an unimproved end.” — Thoreau Culture always pays a price for technology. There are always winners and losers in technological change. Technological change is not additive; it is ecological. *** TIMESTAMPS [2:29] The insanity of silver bullets [3:16] Change happens on the inside [4:44] Neil Postman's 5 ideas on technological change *** RESOURCES "Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change" by Neil Postman (1998) Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter

Explore the transformative teachings of Ralph Waldo Emerson on self-reliance. Discover how trusting yourself and embracing nonconformity can elevate your career in technology. The conversation emphasizes the importance of solitude for self-discovery and the courage to forge your own path. Ultimately, it's about asserting your unique vision in a world that often pushes conformity. Greatness lies in the integrity of your own mind and the freedom to define your success.

OVERVIEW Politics is about more than nasty conversations between two political parties. Humans resolve conflicts and move forward through politics. In this episode, learn why aspiring digital leaders need to have their eyes on this skillset. We discuss how to enter the organizational politics arena and the key skills for elevating your career.   Go deeper with the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter. *** TAKEAWAYS Politics stems from a diversity of competing interests, which must be resolved in some way.  You not taking an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won't take an interest in you. The 4 types of organizational politics: Weeds, Rocks, Highground, Woods. People in tech are perceived as merely serving the organization and not leading it. That’s wrong! We must lean in and engage. We cover 10 ways to start building your political muscle. *** RESOURCES Connect w/ Matt on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter @MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube Subscribe to the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter