Kickoff Sessions

Neal Schaffer is a digital marketing expert, podcast host, author, and lecturer in areas of digital and social media marketing. Neal is a guest lecturer to executives at Rutgers Business School, the Irish Management Institute, and the University of Jyvaskyla in Finland. Some areas of expertise include influencer marketing, social selling, digital transformation of sales and marketing, social media strategy and content marketing.Neal is the author of three books on social media including The Age of Influence educating the why and how every business should leverage the potential of influencer marketing. Check out Neal’s podcast, Maximize Your Social Influence where Neal presents his views on all things social and digital.Our conversation deconstructs the value in building a personal brand to support your digital identity. Neal discusses how to begin creating content to share with your audience and monetize your personal brand. We discuss the difficult nature in publishing content and how to actively work on areas of public speaking and writing amongst many others. Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction (02:43) Neal Schaffer's background (07:36) Strategic pivoting & new opportunities   (11:14) The importance of a personal brand(14:47) How to build a personal brand  (18:52) Leveraging the content of experts(23:00) Sharing your perspective & experiences(27:12) How to monetize your personal brand (32:23) The influence of Instagram & partnerships (38:32) How to become an effective communicator (41:37) Becoming multilingual & challenges(46:35) Outro Follow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Darragh Lucey is cofounder of Yooni, alongside his best friend and business partner Nathan Mayes. Yooni is a machine learning career guidance tool which simplifies the university course searching process. The youthful and vibrant platform uses machine learning, Yooni's Assessment Tool and Yooni Fit that enables students to discover their best-fit university courses.Darragh is also the founder of Grade Academy which aims to transform the way Leaving Certificate students study. Grade Academy is an online platform that provides tuition in the form of concise and exam-driven revision courses that students can access on any device, anywhere, anytime.We discuss how to utilize subject matter expertise to create products that are aligned to your experience. Darragh discusses his founder’s journey, the struggles, and challenges to manage your workload and excel in a variety of fields. We exchange some thoughts on the primary elements behind successful entrepreneurs, professionals, and the steps to take to begin your journey.  Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction (02:28) Darragh Lucey's background  (06:31) Access to university information   (09:14) Career advice & data insights   (13:19) Building a platform & minimal viable products (17:10) Machine learning & data science platforms (20:50) Outsourcing advantages & responsibility(25:42) Working in the business versus on the business (29:50) Advantages of cofounder relationships  (33:36) Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl(36:13) The Strangest Secret & Alan Watts(39:24) Drive & determination in entrepreneurship  (43:10) Risks/reward paradigm & long term thinking (46:10) Competitiveness & hard work Follow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Paddy Ryder is cofounder of Covid Interns, a social enterprise established to connect businesses with university students and graduates to help combat the commercial challenges of Covid-19. Paddy is a recent graduate from Trinity College Dublin and currently pursuing a masters in Finance & Accounting in Imperial College London.Covid Interns has placed over 300 students into internships by scaling operations to 50+ universities worldwide, onboarding over 2000 organisations and students in the process. Placements now consist of a mix of short term projects, internships and full time graduate positions that have taken place across Ireland, UK, Germany, France, New York and Singapore.Our conversation deconstructs the business model behind Covid Interns as we share our experiences in a rapidly evolving job market. We discuss how to balance side projects with your career and the value this creates. Lastly, Paddy and I dig into topics such as learning, productivity and time management. Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:33) Paddy Ryder's background & Covid Interns(06:54) Cancelled internships & job demand(11:21) Covid Interns application process(14:29) Supply shrinkage & demand shocks(17:22) Expansion, organic growth & marketing(20:30) Content deficit vs. content abundant platforms (24:10) Hiring experts & outsourcing(27:00) Accessing options & balancing side projects(32:00) Neuroplasticity & learning(35:19) Fear of failure & managing expectations(39:04) Productivity tipsFollow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Colin Bryar joined Amazon in 1998, four years after its founding and spent the next 12 years as part of Amazon's senior leadership team as Amazon grew from a domestic seller of books to a global, multi-dimensional powerhouse and innovator. Colin served as Vice President at Amazon, and for two years was Chief of Staff to Jeff Bezos working directly with him advising on technical and business areas.After Amazon, Colin relocated to Singapore where he served as Chief Operating Officer of the e-commerce company RedMart, which was subsequently sold to Alibaba. Colin is now co-founder of Working Backwards LLC where he coaches executives at both large and early-stage companies on how to implement the management practices developed at Amazon.Check out Colin’s new book, Working Backwards which is an insider's break down of Amazon's approach to culture, leadership, and best practices: https://amzn.to/3t9wFWbOur conversation discusses the principles applied by Amazon to achieve rapid growth from the early stages. We discuss the factors which make a company truly successful from scalability and operationalisation to the product development lifecycle and customer obsession. Lastly, Colin offers his advice for young professionals navigating their career at the moment.Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(03:52) Colin Bryar's background & Working Backwards(07:15) Amazon & Jeff Bezos/scalability/long term strategy(10:22) Customer centric focus/competitive edge/leadership principles(13:11) How to scale successfully/creating & inventing(17:22) Single threaded leader & Fulfilment by Amazon (FBA) (21:33) Taking risks/failure/product development lifecycle(26:56) Defining metrics & success criteria(29:48) Core principles & repeatable processes(32:37) Competition/capital/finding a niche(35:51) COVID-19 shift towards e-commerce/Brexit/regulation(40:57) Careers advice/building on your interests/passions(47:30) When to change company & find new challengesFollow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Simon Ree is a best selling author, options trader and senior finance and investment professional with over 28 years of experience with leading global investment banks including Goldman Sachs, Citibank, and Credit Suisse. He has significant experience across all major asset classes in areas of equities, derivatives and fixed income. Other specialties of Simon include asset allocation, wealth management and portfolio management.Simon recently published his first book, The Tao of Trading, which focuses on building wealth and managing risk by learning the techniques and processes to trade effectively. His book has consistently ranked amongst the best selling trading and investing books on Amazon. Check out Simon’s book here: https://amzn.to/39l9WP8 Our conversation focused on the soft and hard skills required to break into competitive roles of all industries. We discuss the full end to end process such as the initial application, interviewing, and career progression once in prestigious companies. Lastly, Simon discusses the principles of options trading, risk management and steps to take to build an investment strategy that is aligned to your personal preferences. ⏺️ Voics: https://www.voics.co/🎙️ Podcast University: https://bit.ly/3Dqip2S🎤 Podcast Accelerator: https://bit.ly/3f1ir81📞 Schedule Free Call: https://bit.ly/3GsNyTU Follow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Ernest Cantillon is co-founder of Kinsale Spirit Co and director of both Electric and Sober Lane. He has over 10 years’ experience in the hospitality and beverage sector and previously the president of the Cork Business Association. Kinsale Gin, owned by Kinsale Spirit Co was awarded Gin of The Year, Gin Producer of The Year, and a Double Gold at the highly prestigious Bartender Spirits Awards in 2020.Our conversation touches on how small businesses have been forced to pivot due to continuous restrictions in the economy. Ernest shares his perspective and what he has learned from restructuring his own business model. Ernest has ambitious plans to scale up operations in the US and Chinese market and we discuss his strategy behind the expansion. We break down various career paths and how to pursue avenues you are interested in right out of university. Lastly, we look at the recovery of the hospitality and beverage industry in both a domestic and international environment. Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:42) Pivoting traditional business models(05:50) Pursuing different opportunities(07:25) Changing priorities in life/resilience/diversification(11:17) The ability to sell & confidence(14:53) Expanding into US & Chinese markets(20:54) The China Hustle(24:06) Careers out of university & following interests/passions(33:50) Keeping up with competition & making adjustments(36:50) Recovering from restrictions & finding new opportunities (42:25) Bars & clubs new opening hoursFollow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Bernard Walsh is head of pensions and investments at Bank of Ireland Investment Markets. Bernard has worked in pensions and investment-related roles in Bank of Ireland for over 15 years. Before that, he worked with Ulster Bank Markets and Barclays Bank.Our conversation focused on deconstructing the different elements of pensions and investments. Looking at the benefits of starting a pension scheme, tax advantages and opportunities that comes with this. After which, Bernard and I exchange ideas of investment opportunities for young professionals and how to allocate a certain proportion of your earnings in different market conditions. Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:40) Bernard Walsh's background(03:35) Principles of financial literacy & wellbeing(07:29) Contributing towards financial goals/targets(09:13) Filling the financial knowledge gaps/systematic processes(13:09) The importance & value of pension funds(19:06) Managing your pension/default strategy/lifestyle strategy(22:52) Begin with the end in mind/pension drawdowns(24:55) Optimal percentage of pension contribution(27:37) Generating income from different asset classes(30:34) Pension funds tax criteria(33:50) Logical & sustainable investing/euro cost averaging/risk & reward(40:27) Analysing different assets/macro views/ETFs(44:02) Rebalancing a portfolio/strategy mistakes(47:44) Resources and information to learnFollow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow me on LinkedInFollow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

Nick Leeson is CEO of Bull & Bear Capital and former derivatives trader notorious for the collapse of Barings Bank, the United Kingdom's oldest merchant bank. Nick was the “Rogue Trader” who made fraudulent, unauthorized and speculative trades, and his actions led directly to the 1995 collapse of the bank, for which he was sentenced to prison in Singapore.🎙️ Podcast University: https://bit.ly/3Dqip2S🎤 Podcast Accelerator: https://bit.ly/3f1ir81📞 Schedule Free Consultation: https://bit.ly/3GsNyTU(00:00) Introduction(02:51) Nick Leeson's background(04:35) The collapse of Barings Bank(10:04) Trading emotionally, immaturity & stress(16:15) Social media & communication(20:26) Lessons from prison(25:15) Mental challenges of prison(32:12) Man's Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl(39:29) Happiness & careers(42:59) Pursuing interests & passions (46:23) Professional success & ultimate focusPlease leave a review:- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36RrL9Y- Apple: https://apple.co/3uCwViFSocials:- YouTube: https://bit.ly/3HleVy2- Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3EE3FuG- Apple: https://apple.co/32ArW7D- LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3FCS3JA- TikTok: https://bit.ly/314iZD6Services:- Career mentoring: https://bit.ly/3FCS3JA- Podcast consulting: https://bit.ly/3aYzm5w- Newsletter: https://bit.ly/3JqwkXASupport the show

From a small town in Canada to CEO of a hedge fund and former member of NY Federal Reserve Investor Advisory Committee, Garth Friesen has unique insights into financial markets as a successful trader. Garth is currently CEO of III Capital, a hedge fund management company specializing in fixed-income and credit.Garth has served as a member for five years on the esteemed New York Federal Reserve’s Investor Advisory Committee on financial markets, advising the Fed’s senior management on financial, economic and public policy issues. He is a regular columnist for Forbes and Yahoo Finance, and has been featured in various media, including CNBC, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal, and many others.In Garth’s book, Bite the Ass Off a Bear, he discusses how hedge-fund traders thrive by developing the interpersonal skills necessary to act and react in a high-stakes field with integrity, reliability, and stress manageability. For aspiring and experienced professionals, having a strong work ethic, persistent attitude, and likeable personality are just as essential as mathematical and computer acumen that will advance your career.Purchase Bite the Ass Off a Bear here: https://amzn.to/2P37d5O   Timestamps:(00:00) Introduction(02:54) Garth Friesen's background(05:04) The retail investor movement(10:33) Trading vs. investing principles(21:10) GameStop/WallStreetBets(26:36) Cryptocurrency & hedge funds/institutions(33:15) Asset allocation/private markets(42:00) Interview preparation and careers(45:47) The top 20% rule(47:10) Improving interview skills(54:30) Completing additional courses/degrees(58:55) Side projects/multiple purpose skillset Follow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInConnect with me on LinkedInConnect with me on Clubhouse as Kickoff SessionsSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show

In this session, I break down five lessons learned after working from home for over a year. Remote working has previously been scrutinized for its inefficiencies before coronavirus. Now, one year later, everyone has adapted to a new way of working.This episode discusses how to build a healthy routine that increases both productivity and engagement. Most importantly, how to take sufficient steps to detach and separate from a lifestyle driven by work.Follow Kickoff Sessions on Spotify to keep updated with new sessions!If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing the session on Instagram or leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts. Tell everyone I'm a semi-decent guy and it really helps to grow the show!For show notes and more episodes, visit Kickoff Sessions website. Sign up to the Kickoff Sessions email list for regular updates and content.Follow Kickoff Sessions on LinkedInConnect with me on LinkedInConnect with me on Clubhouse as Kickoff SessionsSupport the growth of Kickoff SessionsSupport the music artist FarsiThank you internet people!Support the show