Professionally Offensive

Pradeep Ittycheria, CTO at Vericast, is a Technology Executive that believes that when human connection and engineering are in balance, anything can be achieved.  Technology has been a common thread in Pradeep’s career and at a young age he was inspired by the joy and problem solving that technology provided humanity. Along with his strong interest in technology, Pradeep shares that having incredible role models as parents, taught him how to treat people, which ultimately created a strong desire to work well with others. He shares stories about how well his father, who was a senior military officer, took care of his troops and how natural his mother, who was a teacher, showed compassion for her students. Pradeep’s strong connection with people has led him to live by a simple principle- Be Kind. He says you never know what others are going through and showing compassion can go a long way as a Leader and colleague. Empathy especially comes in handy when working with technology Teams. Pradeep shares the misconceptions many folks have about engineers and developers- One being that it is just 1’s and 0’s. In reality, developing technology is most akin to art and creating a masterpiece takes time, thoughtfulness and patience. Pradeep also shares that the best engineers desire to understand how their creations impact overall business outcomes. The best technical artist want the whole picture. Pradeep also dives into the current wave of job changing, aka the “Great Resignation”, and how companies and employees can both benefit from this event. Companies need new blood to push growth and innovation, while employees should be confident in their abilities to add value, wherever they go. Pradeep shares his passion for talking with folks about believing in themselves and understanding that everyone has an incredible opportunity for employment, but it must start within.

Tim Ginn, General Manager at Republic Services, shares his unique journey from politics to waste management. Tim always had an interest in how communities work and what allows them to thrive.  Much of this passion came from an early age and watching his grandfather's involvement in all the small town happenings and politics.  From his first job of working for a small Texas town, to helping shape policy in the Governor’s office, he learned the ins and outs of keeping a community running. Helping create, shape and execute policy is no easy task, but an important one.  Tim believes that folks should be involved in their communities, because after all, it is a community's direct input that ultimately shapes policy.  After spending the beginning of his career in public service, Tim decided he wanted to take a more private sector approach to his passion and took a chance on waste management.  Not the normal job one would get after earning an MBA, but Tim says this was one of the best decisions he has ever made.  He talks about the incredible people that he gets to work with and how the tenures in this industry can be decades long, because people know they are directly making their communities better.  Running a waste management operation is an enormous endeavor, that requires a balance of process and grit.  Tim dives into the nuances of trash, misunderstandings about recycling and the intricacies of running a landfill.  What you may not know is how waste management sites are able to gather and replenish water, as well as harvest gas for reuse.  Running this operation is more like running a mini-city.  Tim is excited about he future of waste management and their focus on sustainability and environmental impacts.  Without the hard work of everyday folks who keep their communities clean, our world would be a very different place.

Steve Stoll, Fmr. Special Forces Green Beret and Sr. Talent Partner at Twilio, has spent his career connecting with people from all walks of life. Steve shares lessons learned from leading his Special Forces Team through some interesting situations, like being dropped in the middle of Honduras and having to make friends quick.  Steve says that it's all about finding one thing to connect on- whether that is music or good whiskey, it just takes one piece of common ground to start a meaningful relationship.  After leaving the Service, Steve found that his innate gift to connect with people, allowed him to be effective in business and it was the soft skills that ultimately allowed him to climb the corporate ladder.  From Dell to Twilio, Steve has found that clear communication, being open to input and spending the extra time to get to know people, leaves an impression.  So much so, that Steve now spends most of his days helping tech executives find the right people.  In a world where data and resumes are abundant, Steve says that nothing beats an in person conversation with a potential Teammate.  Often it is intuition that helps you make the right call, on a hire.  Years of experience making quick decisions on someone's character has led Steve to many hires where senior Leaders were unsure, but ultimately turned out to be beyond successful.  It is almost never the lack of technical or hard skills that cause companies to look for new talent, it's because folks didn't play well with others or possess that level of commitment that is hard to teach.  It may take time, but Steve believes that folks can work on their soft skills by putting themselves in Team situations that are uncomfortable and require creativity.  Steve also shares that his perspective gained, while in the military, allows him to live life with gratitude.  Having seen unrest and harsh environments reminds him to live his best life everyday and prioritize the moments in front of him.

Morning Huddle w/ Joseph Cabrera, host of the Professionally Offensive Podcast.  In this episode, Joseph talks about why the "Change" part of Change Management can be so problematic.  Most managers come into a new role and immediately want to start shaking things up, then wonder why nothing really is improving.  Simple answer: You did not build the understanding, rapport and foundation to actually create progress- If anything, you created new friction and enemies.  Before you can make something better, you have to really understand the current situation and where your Team is.  Change Management is tough as it is, without further creating a moving target of symptoms that you have to treat.  Leadership may have hired you to create immediate change,  but it is your patience and observations that will ultimately make you successful.  One thing not to be underestimated, is how you rally the folks that will ultimately help you create lasting and positive change- Your Team.  Honor the blood, sweat and tears already expended to create what has already been built, then look to improve.  Spending the first few months building connective tissue and a real human relationship, will create the conditions for success. 

Megan Thornton, Chief People Officer at SwagUp, is in the "People" Business and with her extensive experience in culture, training and development she has helped companies from Ford to FinTechs nurture their most valuable asset- Their People.  Megan's start as a teacher is what accidentally landed her first job in human resources, which she admits was not a profession she ever imagined doing.  Her passion as a teacher to help young people chase their dreams, perfectly positioned her to be an effective people advisor.  Megan shares some advice for those looking to get into the People Profession and that the credentials are not the most important thing.  Megan says that her time in the Peace Corps brought along a humble perspective and belief that you must honor a place, before you start to change it.  Adding value to a company, only happens after you really understand what's going on, but that takes time.  Training and development for employees is typically an area where budgets are cut or the process is overlooked- Megan shares her philosophy around onboarding and how the "first day of school" never stops, even as an adult.  Taking the time to make new employees feel welcome and giving them the tools to be successful is not only good for the Teammate, but also for a company's retention strategy.  Megan's role in advising CEOs on people concerns has showed her that the office of the CEO, can often be the loneliest.   In the end, Megan has found that Teams better operate when they live out their values (not just some words on a wall, in the lobby) and understand that everyone from the entry-level employee to the CEO are just people, with regular people stuff (family, money, fears, etc), and that we are more the same than different.  After all, business is just a collection of ordinary people trying to do the extraordinary.    

Tony Nash, Army Officer, Got Your Six Podcast Host and Great American, believes that intentionality is the key to a fulfilled life. Tony shares what it means to do “less better” and how being in the moment not only has allowed him to absorb happiness, but also accomplish more. It may be counterintuitive, but the more focused you are in the moment, the more you actually accomplish. Tony also talks about the importance of reflection and how tracking your wins and failures can be transformative. Using data to help inform your process of becoming the best version of you, is something that requires discipline, but it's worth it. Tony maintains his commitment to intention with tactics like his “Night Before Journal” and continuously surrounding himself with great people. At an early age, life dealt Tony a tough hand, but because of the people he surrounded himself with, he was able to pursue a dream he didn’t even know existed. Tony talks about his current and continued journey of Service- he is still excited everyday to wear the uniform and honored to work with other servant Leaders.  Tony is paying it forward with his Podcast “Got Your Six”, where its mission is to encourage those in and out of uniform, that the best days of your life are in front of you and that we all can learn something from each other. Listen to the “Got Your 6” Podcast w/ Tony Nash on all platforms and you can get his “Night Before Journal” here: https://thetonynash.gumroad.com/l/NightBeforeJournal.

Joe Stephens, Sr. Asst Dean & Director at the McCombs School Of Business (University Of Texas), has lived in both the private sector and higher education. His calling ultimately brought him back to higher education, because of his passion for helping people grow.  Joe says there's nothing better than watching someone's journey to being a better version of themselves. Joe is also an avid hunter and shares how the skills learned in the woods translates to admissions, education, strategy and even family. Being spatially aware, patient and in the moment with mother nature has allowed Joe to better understand the nuances of people, which in turn allows deeper discussions.  Joe dives into the art and science of putting a great MBA class together.  What makes a strong MBA candidate isn't just their academic aptitude.  One’s ability to reflect, be honest and genuine with their future classmates are critical factors when assessing the right candidate.  It's about the whole puzzle when choosing each puzzle piece, because who you select in each class, should also enhance the experience of their classmates. Joe believes that even though someone can get much of the academic content in public domains, nothing replaces the human connection of enduring a challenging program together, like an MBA. He shares that much of his success and the success he has witnessed in his students, have come from fellow classmates vouching for each other, because those closes to you, really know how you are.  It’s not only about what you learn in a book, but it’s the relationships you build that ultimately bring you forward in life.

Alex Santiago, Seasoned Warrior, West Point Grad, MBA and Major US Army, trades war stories with host, Joseph Cabrera from their time at a small outpost in Afghanistan, called Wilderness.  Alex says that trust is not earned, but bestowed which is why those that respect this gift can grow from it.  Alex and Joseph talk about their time as young Leaders and discovering their rhythm on leading Teams, in extremely hostile environments, with limited resources.  Much of their early molding came from working with special men, who reminded them about the burdens of leadership and how the job of a combat Leader was to manifest a plan worth dying for and that everyone deserves excellent Leadership.  Although war can be tough, the forging of life-long relationships are second-to-none.  Alex shares that many of the reasons we do the "impossible" is for no other reason than humanity- because you genuinely care about the person next to you.  Alex also talks about what it means to be a "true professional" and using one's worth ethic to instill confidence within your Teams.  Whether you realize it or not, those you lead are watching you, so put the work in and don't let them down.

Nathan Baumeister, CEO of ZSuite Technologies, believes that businesses don’t have to be flashy to be successful and fun. In a world where everyone seems to be starting a business, Nathan focusses on a straightforward idea- Does your business solve a problem? ZSuite Technologies has filled a gap in the market where escrow, deposits and rent collections have been a headache for most. This simple idea to fill in where others have ignored, has allowed Nathan and his Team to grow strong and quick. Nathan also shares how important it is to internalize the emotions behind a thought or concept before communicating it. His experiences traveling the world, forced him to communicate outside of just using words. That ability to lead with thoughts and emotions has allowed him to more simply articulate business concepts. Nathan also talks about his passion for creating things, while finding the discipline not to continuously chase new things. He finds that what most entrepreneurs struggle with is focus and execution.  Execution is typically underrated in business and a major reason why companies don’t make it. Nathan shares how he is able to scratch his creative side through building culture and working with people.

Morning Huddle w/ Joseph Cabrera, host of the Professionally Offensive Podcast.  In this episode, Joseph talks through the philosophy of hiring the right person, not the best.  We often use resumes, qualifications and check lists to determine if someone is going to be what is "best" for the company.  Fast forward a year later and we find ourselves in a familiar position, where that new Teammate hasn't really moved the needle. What happened?  The "Right" person may not always be obvious, but certain traits and experiences can propel an organization forward.  Look for folks with high levels of "Figure-It-Outness", something to prove and a strong sense of Team.  When the going gets tough, you want the right people on the Team.