While companies often approach consumer insights with a certain direction in mind, today’s guest believes strongly in the power of surprises. In this episode, we are joined by Kelly Garrett Zeigler who has two decades of experience in consumer insights, in a career that has spanned across organizations such as Mattel, Vans, Vanity Fair Corporation, and now Pearson. Kelly shares where this intention came from to want to be surprised despite having a direction in mind and explains that the best insights come from “messy humans”. She also talks about questions to drive consumer understanding, the importance of empathy, and the unexpected sensation that accompanies a true consumer discovery. For tips on how to construct a diverse constellation of collaborators, things you can do to establish an insights culture in your team, and some of Kelly’s favorite go-to resources and tactics to stimulate fresh thinking, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:A creative achievement that Kelly is proud of: bathtub track sets for Mattel.The expectation resetting process that Kelly went through when doing this project.How the best insights come from “messy humans” and what she means by this. What questions Kelly asks to increase her likelihood of stumbling over a surprise.Why this product felt more like an obvious rediscovery than innovation. How this guilt from overlooking something obvious turns into passion that turns into action. How Kelly applied the same energy and approach to her job at Vans.Thoughts on how empathy is at the root of consumer insights. How Kelly negotiates the balance between interacting with the consumer and fulfilling the other job requirements.The challenge of figuring out what’s important to a consumer from a leadership perspective. The importance of acknowledging that the consumer is multi-dimensional.A tool, trick, or technique that Kelly is almost embarrassed about but works: Looking at photos.How logo clash has helped her figure out the role their product plays in the consumer's expression of their identity. How Kelly and her team communicate internally the surprises they find to then inspire actions.Why Kelly surrounds herself with people that are as different from her as possible. How she knows what’s different from her, and avoids blind spots in her diversity circle, personally and professionally. A few specific things Kelly has done to establish this insights culture on her new team. How Kelly sets goals for a team and knows that they’re on the right track.Resources Kelly recommends for anyone interested in insights: Futures Laboratories and WGSN.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Kelly Garrett Zeigler on LinkedInKelly Garrett Ziegler on InstagramMattelVans The Future Laboratories WGSNJeremy Utley Marcus Hollinger

When music producer and entrepreneur Wes Pendleton lost a sixty-thousand dollar deal over a licensing dispute that should have been easy to solve, he asked himself whether anyone else had experienced this infuriating problem. Fast forward to the founding of Soul Surplus, a full-service production company that creates original music compositions and digital media for music producers, filmmakers, content creators, and brands. Having built his personal music library for over a decade, Wes co-founded Soul Surplus in 2016 as a response to the recurring issue he was experiencing in the music industry as a producer and entrepreneur. We talk with Wes about the founding of Soul Surplus and how his observations about the marketplace helped him realize that he couldn’t do it alone. Wes shares how he and his team got together, what they each brought to the table and why he’s so grateful that none of them have a big ego. He describes the circumstances where they nearly lost everything in 2019, and how, despite major setbacks, they were still able to reach their goal and be successfully acquired by another company. Wes also explains how being a lifelong learner has shaped his life and why he dedicates three hours every day to learning. It was an honor having Wes on the show, he has a wealth of knowledge and we can’t wait to have him back on for part two!Key Points From This Episode:Introducing today's guest Wes Pendleton a music producer, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Soul Surplus.The difficulties that Soul Surplus faced during the summer of 2019 and how they almost lost it all.The advice Wes would give to his younger self in 2018: take your time.How Soul Surplus was still able to achieve its goals and be acquired despite major setbacks.What Wes considers to be one of his greatest creative achievements.Wes shares his approach to assessing talent and empowering people to do their best.What Wes observed about the marketplace that helped Soul Surplus stand out as a company: you can get more done with a team than with one person.The concept of the three-headed monster and how it informed the structure of Soul Surplus.How Wes’s experiences as a black man informed their exit strategy.Why it was important for Wes to separate his love of music from his business decisions.How Wes recognized a problem that needed to be solved and built his company around that.The posturing that Wes has observed in the music industry and why he chooses not to operate like that.How Wes schedules his day to include several hours of learning.A breakdown of what Wes includes in his learning hours, and what he included on the day of recording.Two moments in Wes’s life where he decided to take a low-pressure job to allow his mind the freedom to step back.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Wes PendletonWes Pendleton on LinkedInWes Pendleton on InstagramSoul Surplus

When it comes to the intersection of design, biology, and engineering, today’s guest has a few ideas about what people in these fields can learn from each other! Whitney Burks is a designer, scientist, Stanford softball player, and all-around incredible creative. In this episode, she sheds light on her creative strengths and how they manifest themselves in other aspects of her work.  She explains how she mixes mechanical engineering and biology in her job and why she sets up her biology experiments like an engineer. She also shares her thoughts on experimentation: how biologists are skeptical of feedback, how designers are not, and why designers should not only be more skeptical but also do more assessments and assess more values. We discuss the importance of finding time to allow meaning, data analysis, data synthesizing, and creative ideas to evolve, and the tension of doing this while also working towards deadlines. For some fascinating insight from someone who understands these very different fields, as well as some great tactics for capturing inspiration every single day, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:A creative accomplishment that Whitney is proud of: a present she made for a friend.How Whitney’s creative strengths manifest themselves in other aspects of her work.How she mixes mechanical engineering, where one has control of the outcome, and biology, which is more experimental. Why designers should be more like biologists when it comes to being skeptical of feedback. How designers can benefit from doing more assessments and assessing more values. The importance of establishing a success parameter early on.  How creating success parameters translates into Whitney’s non-professional creative life. Finding time to let meaning, data analysis, data synthesizing, or creative ideas come to her.How she deals with the tension of letting things take time and working towards deadlines.An example of when Whitney asked for more time for a better result and it worked!The role that inspiration plays in driving Whitney’s creative thinking.  What a ‘goosebumps journal’ is and how Whitney uses one in her creative process.How she reviews goosebumps and whether or not they graduate into other aspects of her life. A book Whitney recommends: The Overstory by Richard Powers. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Whitney Burks on LinkedInWhitney Burks on TwitterThe OverstoryHebru BrantleyJeremy Utley on LinkedIn Stanford d.schoolMarcus HollingerReach RecordsPortrait Coffee

Raised in a community where men weren’t allowed to show their feelings, together with an unhealthy concept of what being a man was all about, Ashanti Branch stuffed his feelings, ate emotionally, and had panic attacks. When he became a high school teacher, however, he wanted better for his students. What started as a meeting with some students to figure out how he could become a better teacher evolved into an entire movement and, today, we are honored to be joined by Ashanti Branch, Founder of the Ever Forward Club and the Million Mask Movement, which helps young people understand how connected they are when it comes to the masks we wear. In this episode, Ashanti sheds light on the struggles he faced as a child when it came to dealing with his emotions and shares a potentially-triggering and emotional story of a trauma he experienced as an eight-year-old. Please note that this episode carries a trigger warning for sexual assault. He also explains how he became involved in a men’s circle and learned to stop suppressing his feelings. To hear the magic sentence Ashanti heard from one of his high school teachers that had a profound effect on his life and how he has gone on to impact the lives of so many others, plus so much more, tune in today! We invite you to take off your mask and listen to this inspiring conversation. Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to change-maker Ashanti Branch.Ashanti explains the mask activity he does with students and gives examples.What it was like for him to grow up in a community where he couldn’t show his feelings. Ashanti’s unhealthy childhood perception of what being a man was all about. TW: For listeners who wish to avoid Ashanti’s account of sexual assault, please skip audio between [0:07:17] and [0:11:57].The traumatic story of what happened to Ashanti as an eight-year-old. How Ashanti learned to start stuffing his emotions and comfort eating. How he became involved in a men’s circle and learned to stop suppressing his feelings.What men supporting men looked like to Ashanti at the men’s retreat he attended.How he created a place to support young men six years before he found a place that supported him. How he first created Ever Forward to become a better teacher. The profound effect that a ‘magic sentence’ he heard from another teacher had on his life.An example of a magic sentence Ashanti used on one of his students and its impact. How Ashanti went from failing horribly as a teacher to leading a movement. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Ashanti Branch on LinkedIn Ashanti Branch on InstagramAshanti Branch on TwitterEver Forward Club #100kMASKSThis is Life with Lisa Ling

Throughout her life, Vivian Shen always wanted to do the thing that would help her learn the fastest. Eventually, she realized that the best way to do this would be by defying how her peers defined success and starting a business herself. Vivian channeled her passion for education into Juni Learning, an online platform that offers STEAM courses in real-world subjects we all wish we could have learned in school like coding, storytelling, investing, and more. Her vision is for every student to be prepared for the real world and have the tools to really make their mark. Today she joins us to share her story with us. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Vivian studied creative writing at Oxford, how this minor is often more useful than her engineering qualification, and why she believes in cultivating a breadth of interests. You’ll also hear what led Vivian to decide that she wanted to start a business, what the most challenging part of it was, what she wishes she had done differently, and what young women can do to assess their fit with the entrepreneurial life. To hear what it looks like for Vivian to always be learning, her advice for anyone who is going through any sort of failure trauma, and how to cultivate grit, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:A creative accomplishment that Vivian Shen is proud of: creative writing at Oxford. How her creative writing minor is often more useful than her engineering qualification.  What it looks like for Vivian to always be learning.   Why Vivian reads more fiction than non-fiction and how this helps her learn. The challenges of defying other peoples’ perceptions of success and starting Juni.Vivian’s advice for anyone who is going through any sort of failure trauma. Insight into what Juni is and Vivian’s goals for the company. How they work with a student on grit and what that looks like.  How Juni helps parents and teachers to not step in and help kids when they feel stuck. What Vivian think's about David Epstein's argument: generalization versus specialization. What led Vivian to decide that she wanted to start a business.  What made Vivian prioritize learning over other things such as generating income. Thoughts on how to convince more women to feel confident enough to start a company. The community or network that Vivian leans on for support when making decisions.What Vivian believes is the most challenging part of starting a company.At what point Vivian realized she was starting the company and there was no going back.Institutional versus angel money and what Vivian wishes she had done differently. What young women can do to assess their fit with the entrepreneurial life. Insight into the entrepreneurship class offered at Juni.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Vivian Shen on LinkedInVivian Shen on TwitterJuni LearningN.K. Jemisin Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World Jeremy Utley on LinkedIn 

If there’s one thing that today’s guest, Phoebe Yao, learned from the pandemic it's that innovation comes from lucky chance encounters. Phoebe is the founder and CEO of Pareto, a software company that automates mundane tasks for business founders. With a company that operates in eight different time zones, Phoebe joins us today to explain the importance of creating space for serendipity and chance encounters in the world of remote work and how she goes about this. We discuss the tension between breaking down barriers between work and personal relationships while also advocating for self-care and personal time. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Phoebe overcame her hesitancy to talk about work in social interactions, how she overcame the fear of being vulnerable in front of her team, and how she supports her own self-care. To find out how to show up as a manager and leader as your full self at work, how to foster a culture of openness across cultural divides, and how to kindle serendipity on a remote team, tune in today!Key Points From This Episode:An introduction to Phoebe Yao and her company, Pareto.Phoebe’s revelation that innovation comes from lucky chance encounters. How Phoebe overcame her hesitancy to talk about work in social interactions.Thoughts on the Esther Perel quote: “The quality of your relationships is the quality of your life,” that helped Phoebe level up in business. How Phoebe overcame the fear of being vulnerable in front of her team. An example of a situation where Phoebe failed to show up as her full self. How the company’s key values and principles foster a culture of openness.The boundaries Phoebe sets for herself in light of the fact that her business operates in eight different time zones. Meditation, journaling, and other things Phoebe does to protect herself from burnout. How Phoebe kindles serendipity on a remote team.The way Phoebe leads meetings and makes sure everyone gets what they need. How Phoebe decides between protecting her boundaries and sacrificing her time to help her team. Why Phoebe recommends seeing a therapist to anyone who wants to advance more quickly in their career, as well as the book The Great CEO Within.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Phoebe Yao Phoebe Yao on TwitterPhoebe Yao's EmailPareto Esther Perel The Great CEO Within

This week we get together with Amy Yin, CEO and Founder of Office Together, a company that delivers manager empowerment and scheduling tools to achieve the full potential of a flexible workplace. We talk with Amy about her unique life experience and how it influenced her mindset and career. She describes how her parents raised her to have a CEO mindset and be comfortable with risk and how this differed from the upbringing of her peers who share her American-born Chinese identity. We hear from Amy about her decision to drop out of Harvard to pursue an opportunity to be part of a start-up with her professor in Paris, and why the opportunity was so valuable despite the company ultimately not succeeding. Next, we discuss Amy’s work experience at companies like Hired and Coinbase and how her experiences with working remotely prompted her to found her own company. Amy goes on to explain why she was determined to hire her friends, why she is proud of her choices, and how she maintains those relationships with clear boundaries and expectations. You’ll also hear how Amy nurtures creativity and inspiration in her daily life and why she is a big proponent of conscious leadership. Join us today for this inspiring conversation on what it means to start a company!Key Points From This Episode:Get to know today’s guest Amy Yin, CEO and founder of Office Together.Amy’s company Office Together and how they are helping managers by selling empowerment and scheduling tools to run a hybrid office.How Amy started Office Together after being inspired by the quiet time inherent to lockdown measures and working from home.Amy’s upbringing and how it diverges from many of her peers who are also the children of immigrants.Why Amy’s parents raised her to take risks and have a CEO mindset and how that affected her education, career, and attitude towards risk.How Amy dropped out of Harvard to build a company and how her parents’ support was integral to that.Why this experience was hugely formative and positive, even though the company didn’t succeed.The Conscious Leadership framework and how it manifests in Amy’s attitude to work and life.Amy’s decision to hire many of her close friends and their experiences organizing other events together.What Amy has learned from working with friends like setting clear boundaries and expectations.Some of the ways that Amy encourages people to think outside of the box at social engagements.How Amy recognized the moment that she should start a company.Why it was difficult for Amy to leave her job at Coinbase and start her own company.Amy’s search for a co-founder and how she became a solo founder.How to determine whether you have a customer and whether something is worth building.How Amy used her connections to interview companies to test the viability of her product idea.How Amy nurtures creativity and inspiration in her daily life.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Amy YinAmy Yin on LinkedInOffice TogetherHiredCoinbaseJeremy UtleyMelissa MirandaMar HershensonThe Paint & Pipette Podcast

Sabrina Kappe Ramos guest did not receive her ADHD diagnosis until college. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence, with ADHD in women being routinely dismissed, misdiagnosed, and treated inadequately. Kim Schreiber has spent most of her life navigating service providers alongside her younger brother, Stephen, who is autistic, and recognized the challenges that he was beginning to face as a neurodivergent adult. Inspired by their own experiences, Sabrina and Kim set out on a mission to work with adults with disabilities to help them access the services and support they need. Today, you’ll hear Sabrina and Kim’s stories and how they came to be the Co-Founders of NeuroNav, a technology-enabled concierge service that curates individualized supports for adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. In this episode, they talk about discovering the need for a co-founder (and falling in love with the right partner!), broadening the net of inclusion, and both the challenges and unique advantages of being a woman in the fundraising process. We also touch on user-centered design that embraces multiple perspectives, the realities of broader systemic change, and how NeuroNav advocates for the independence of the users they serve, so make sure to tune in today to learn more!Key Points From This Episode:Meet co-founders, Kim Schreiber and Sabrina Kappe Ramos, and learn how they met.Sabrina reflects on the value of really ‘falling in love’ with the right business partner.How Kim knew she needed a co-founder to fulfill her personal vision and mission.Kim speaks candidly about some of the difficult moments she and Sabrina experienced.Learn about the NeuroNav company culture from Sabrina; championing inclusivity and worth.Find out how NeuroNav prioritizes learning and continues to broaden their net of inclusion.Hear about their emphasis on user-centered design that embraces multiple different perspectives and user experiences.The realities of broader systems change; balancing quality of life with cost constraints.How they advocate for the right to self-determination and independence for their users.Sabrina on the challenges of being a woman founder and how she found her confidence.What rock climbing has taught Kim about being a woman in a male-dominated space.Kim reflects on the role that pure, raw confidence plays during fundraising.Sabrina shares a unique emotional advantage of being a woman in the fundraising process.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Sabrina Kappe Ramos on LinkedInSabrina Kappe Ramos EmailKim Schreiber on LinkedInKim Schreiber EmailNeuroNavTrauma StewardshipJeremy UtleyMar HershensonThe Paint & Pipette Podcast

The combination of an idea’s woman and a get-stuff-done woman makes for a powerful duo which is shaking things up in the design space. Their creation, The Landing 2.0., is a social design platform that allows everyone to create together. When Ellie and Miri met at the GSB, their connection was almost instant, and since that day, their relationship, and their business has grown from strength to strength. They’ve adopted a “quest” mindset, and aren’t yet sure where they want to be, but they’re so excited about the journey they’re on, and after listening to what they’ve been working on, you will be too! In today’s episode Ellie and Miri delve into the idea behind the Design Council they created, what its function is, and how it has evolved over time. We also discuss imposter syndrome, advice for dealing with it, the superpowers that Ellie and Miri feel that they have as women in the start-up space, and some of the major realizations they have had through the process of building their business. Key Points From This Episode:Ellie’s number one priority in the morning.Examples of things that fuel Miri’s creativity.How Miri and Ellie become aware that they are having idea problems.Why Ellie and Miri think it is beneficial that they have such different ways of thinking.Ways that Miri and Ellie’s skills complement one another's in a business setting.The value of a project roadmap.Where Ellie and Miri had their biggest learnings. Realizations that Miri and Ellie had during the COVID-19 pandemic. An explanation of the quest mindset that informs how Ellie and Miri run their business.The Design Council; what it is, how it was formed, and how it has evolved over time.What drew Ellie and Miri to one another, and the closeness of their bond now.Superpowers that Miri and Ellie feel that they have as women in the start-up space.Advice for dealing with impostor syndrome.When Ellie and Miri realized they could be entrepreneurs.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:The Landing 2.0Launchpad