Uncage Yourself

OVERVIEW We all face a content overload problem. Everything we need for self-development is at our fingertips, but we're drinking from a firehose and unable to focus. Today's most successful leaders know how to cut through the noise and find the signals. They do this by mastering a key skill: curation. Listen in to figure out the why, what, and how of making curation your superpower. For a weekly dose of digital leadership and career advice, try Wednesday Wisdom: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter TAKEAWAYS Before the digital age, people paid to access valuable information. Now, we're drowning in content. To be successful, we need to be intentional with our learning and development. For that, curation is your superpower. With your long-term vision of your future self as a backdrop, follow this step-by-step approach to curate your personal knowledge feed (channels and content). Developing your curation superpower is both intrinsically and extrinsically rewarding. Curation enables you to succeed at multiple levels across your digital career: self, organization, and industry. RESOURCES Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter

OVERVIEW Today we're joined by Simone Petrella, CEO of CyberVista. Simone lives and breathes education, and her organization specializes in upskilling cybersecurity and technology professionals. In our conversation, we explore the radical transformation that the education industry is experiencing, and what that means for the aspiring digital leader.  Unlock more professional freedom with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS There's still a significant divide between business strategy and digital strategy — leaders on both sides of the aisle need to further harmonize their understand and efforts. Especially since COVID, education and employment shifts are changing what it means to be "qualified" in a technology-focused job. CyberVista is working to upend traditional measures for gauging a person's skills — moving from static to dynamic. Being a mother has helped Simone lead with empathy, honor the human condition, and see life as much more than achieving professional goals. Digital leaders are primed to help steer organizations going forward as they work to weave technology capabilities into the heart of customer experience and business strategy. RESOURCES Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter Connect w/ Simone on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-petrella-a213a42/ Follow Simone on Twitter: https://twitter.com/simonepetrella Learn about CyberVista: https://www.cybervista.net/ Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw

OVERVIEW Gatekeeping has long influenced our careers, and it's limiting upward progress for most people. Today, Matthew talks about the five (5) key points that will help aspiring digital leaders better understand the gatekeeper model and how to rocket past the "standardized credentials" game by betting on their uniqueness. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS When America's revolutionary generation died off, dramatic changes in the education system occurred. Standardized education began to push everyone towards the mean. Credentials feel good on the surface, but that doesn't directly reflect capability. In most cases, it just proves we're good at passing standardized tests. It's a game of compliance imposed by gatekeepers. By paying the gatekeeper's game, you'll end up in a crowded space, looking like everyone else. In contrast, a digital leader creates immense impact, steps outside the norm, and champions uniqueness. We're seeing trends of people bypassing traditional higher education systems all together and finding more creative and direct ways to develop monetizable skills. Some industries are dropping degree requirements as a result. Shifts in education and employment encourage uniqueness. The gatekeepers are losing power; now is the time to move beyond credentials. You don't need permission to ascend to higher levels of leadership. RESOURCES Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw

OVERVIEW Today our guest is Alexandra Heckler, Chief Information Security Officer at Collins Aerospace. In our conversation, she lays out why a digital leader should take an "ecosystem" perspective when viewing and engaging the business. I hope you’ll also be inspired by Alexandra’s journey — a story of embracing your uniqueness and delivering uncommon value. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS Lessons from modifying a ‘68 Corvette: before moving forward, sometimes you need to deconstruct the system and see how it works. Think like a diplomat — take a sweeping internal and external view of the environment to gauge where digital capabilities are needed and then go build the relationships that get you there. We can achieve so much more when individuals acknowledge the limits of their strengths and, in turn, partner with people who bring polar opposite skills to the table. A solid cybersecurity strategy rests upon entering the environment with bold assumptions about what “might be” and then ruthlessly testing them — discarding those that don’t apply and updating the approach as you learn. Figure out how to balance macro-culture and micro-culture: sometimes you want to be unified with the greater organization while other times there’s value in pockets of isolation. The quiet, listening leader can be a more dangerous (effective) leader. RESOURCES  Connect w/ Alexandra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrazofia Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Book mentioned - The 48 Laws of Power (Robert Greene): https://bit.ly/3Aa98IS Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter

OVERVIEW Today, we talk with Mission Multiplier CEO Jamie Miller about the skills that technology and cybersecurity professionals need to become potent leaders. Jamie shares his journey on creating more community impact by building a "get what you give" business. Accelerate your professional rise with the new course: Digital Career Flight Plan. Try it: https://matthewdoan.com/flight TAKEAWAYS While technologists generally focus on solving technical problems, their leadership impact comes from how they communicate and align the value of their solution to the business. Mission Multiplier’s guiding belief: when objectives between people and organizations are aligned, the enhancement to the underlying mission is multiplied exponentially. A digital leader can continuously sharpen their skills by working closely with experts and technical teams in synthesizing new ideas. Cultivate many opportunities, find out what you’re passionate about, and be disciplined about it. Don’t let others dictate who you’re going to be in terms of your career. RESOURCES Connect w/ Jamie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiemiller7/ Check out Mission Multiplier: https://missionmultiplier.com/ Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan/ Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw Try the Wednesday Wisdom newsletter: https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter/

OVERVIEW Today, we talk about escaping comfort zones and why it's essential to strategically design your own career. You can't just let your career happen to you — there's too much at stake. To ensure professional success, Matthew introduces a three-part career navigation system that helps digital professionals take and sustain flight — establishing clarity over their long-term vision while also thriving in the here-and-now. Access the free career navigation course: https://matthewdoan.com/flight For weekly digital leadership and career advice, join Wednesday Wisdom at https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter TAKEAWAYS Digital professionals are vulnerable to trends and market changes that can affect their careers if they lack career planning. Your comfort zone is different from your safety zone. Because one-third of life is spent at work, realize that careers are massive investments. Similar to the navigation systems used by modern aircraft, we each need the proper instrumentation to ensure a long, healthy career.  25-5-1: a three-part career navigation system that helps you "fly" and differentiate yourself. More than other disciplines, digital professionals have abundant opportunities that they need to take advantage of. If interested in this navigation system, sign up for the free email-based course: Digital Career Flight Plan at https://matthewdoan.com/flight RESOURCES Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan/ Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw

OVERVIEW Here, we talk with Dr. Andrea Little Limbago (VP of Research and Analysis at Interos) about what it takes for tech experts (usually considered introverts) to elevate into leadership positions. Andrea also shares how her unique background in the social sciences enabled her own growth in the cybersecurity field. Finally, she and Matthew discuss how to think about professional networking and why tech leaders need to operate "human-first" in driving organizational progress. For weekly digital leadership and career advice, join Wednesday Wisdom at https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter TAKEAWAYS For tech experts to find their place in leadership roles, they need to: (1) decide if it's for them, (2) sharpen their communication skills, and (3) be influential team players. Cybersecurity is still stuck with the notion that humans are the weakest link. But at the end of the day, if technology doesn't work with humans in it, it doesn't work. To build key relationships, think like a social scientist. Connect with key individuals that get you closer to your goal without being self-serving with your personal agenda. The leadership myths that need busting: (1) you have to be an extrovert to be a leader, (2) leave the people component to HR, and (3) bring solutions, not problems. Having a professional "squad" is vital to your professional and social health. RESOURCES Connect w/ Andrea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-little-limbago/ Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan/ Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw

OVERVIEW  Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Rising Digital Leader show! Here, we set the scene for your self-transformation: from a digital (technical) star into a masterful business leader. Following a brief introduction from Matthew, we dive into what it means to be a rising digital leader and then unpack your massive career opportunity in pursuing this journey.  For weekly digital leadership and career advice, join Wednesday Wisdom at https://matthewdoan.com/newsletter  TAKEAWAYS  The 2020s are a ripe time for those in digital (technology) fields: cloud, cybersecurity, data science, human-centered design, and the like.  A “rising digital leader” is an ambitious professional who leverages their technical background and transforms into a business leader — a person that has significant organizational impact and unlocks a better personal life.  Recent research shows how companies with digital-savvy executive teams outperform competitors by 48% (growth and valuation).  But only 7% of companies even have digital-savvy leadership teams in place — this is your opportunity to capture.  There are several types of digital leaders: CxO, professional services (consulting) leader, product leader, or entrepreneur.  While you can choose your ideal destination, the path is similar.  By following the learnings from this show, you’ll create a better professional experience and live a more thriving personal life (freedom of wealth, health, and time).  TIMESTAMPS  [2:20] A short bio on Matthew and what he brings to the table  [5:40] Definition of a rising digital leader  [11:11] Types of digital leaders  [15:53] Upgrading your mindset and skillset  [18:10] Why undertake the digital leader transformation?  RESOURCES  Connect w/ Matthew on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewdoan/  Follow Matthew on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewRDoan  Check the show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZeCjHjtq3g7mIuPwvKRrjw