Best Influential U Podcasts (2025)

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Emmy® Award winning composer & pianist Lisa Coleman, is one half of Wendy & Lisa. At 19, she joined Prince & The Revolution. She still records, works with others, and writes for film & TV. Her solo album ... 41:12

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3d ago41:12

41:12

INTRO 2mins - Waldorf Salad in the early 1970s 3mins30s - Making music as a child with friends and neighbours 5mins - Born into music while growing up in Los Angeles 7mins - Early musical memories 8mins - Dissonance / discordance in music 10mins - Prince's Pop Life...'those chords...it's almost the wrong note every time!' 12mins - 'He knew I had th…

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Ahead of the publication of his Prince biography, in part 2 of this exclusive interview, former editor of Smash Hits and Q magazine John McKie talks to Sam about the mythology of the artist, his recordings ... 35:25

1M ago35:25

35:25

INTRO 2mins - Prince's working methods, a remarkable ability to complete songs...but also dip into his vault of recordings 4mins - Was Sign O The Times the last time that Prince didn't second guess himself artistically? 6mins - Prince's talent for mentoring musicians and artists across the board vs Madonna and MJ working with established producers …

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Former editor of Smash Hits and Q magazine John McKie conducted over 200 interviews to create a biography of Prince. He talks to Sam Bleazard about his extensive new book, but also the recent IMAX release ... 32:11

1M ago32:11

32:11

INTRO 2mins - Just back from seeing the concert movie from 1987 in London, lovingly restored on IMAX screens 3mins - "For me Sign O The Times is the high watermark..." 5mins - Living out a dream at Smash Hits & Q Magazine, as editor...after starting out in music writing and journalism. 7mins - How the book came to be written...John reflects on Prin…

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In part 3 Sophie talks to Sam about Prince's French influences, Anna Fantastic coming to stay and in the 1990s receiving a very special invite, to a very special day. 30:25

8M ago30:25

30:25

Intro 2mins - French influences in '85/86 and Prince's love of Nice and Paris 5mins - How much warning would you get before Prince arrived in Paris? 6mins30s - Anna Fantastic comes to stay... 9mins - Gathering photos of the Prince universe along the way... 11mins - Why the relationship came to an end, Prince moves to Spain and Sophie has a child. 1…

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Crafting Your Career Narrative with Jillian Formentin 28:40

8M ago28:40

28:40

Jillian Formentin's journey to becoming the Australian Professional Engineer of the Year wasn’t just about mastering technical skills—it was about mastering her own narrative. Through intentional career decisions, embracing her strengths, and crafting a compelling story, Jillian has created a career that not only elevates her but inspires others. J…

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In part 2 Sophie Roux talks to Sam Bleazard about looking after Prince's Parisienne residence. For ten years at the height of his fame in the late 1980s, she explains what it felt like to have that unique ... 29:52

8M ago29:52

29:52

PART 2 - Sophie Roux talks to Sam Bleazard INTRO 2mins45secs - Were you nervous? Landing in Paris - just before Prince - to look after this apartment. 'I was a little nervous...but it was something special.' 3mins30secs - Any initial instructions on arrival? 6mins - Sophie tells us about her first interactions with Prince in Paris... 7mins30secs - …

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Classics - How to Coordinate 10K Super Bowl Volunteers with Laura & David Senior Garcia 42:46

9M ago42:46

42:46

As the Personality Diversity Experts chosen to coordinate 10,000 volunteers for the 2017 Super Bowl, Equilibria siblings Laura and David Senior Garcia talk about how studying transactional competence has improved their company's focus and helped bring conscious awareness to a diverse world. Their company works worldwide to help people embrace and l…

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Sophie Roux was studying set and costume design in Nice, France, when Prince decided to film a major motion picture there. What happened next, changed her life. This is part 1 of her story... 28:43

9M ago28:43

28:43

Sophie Roux interview PART 1 INTRO 2mins - Where did Sophie's artistic journey begin...and how did she come to specialise in set and costume design? 5mins - a first sighting of Prince in Nice 1985... 6mins - Asking, and then getting to work on, Under The Cherry Moon...with local, and American crews 11mins - Designing elements for the UTCM film, inc…

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Classics - The "Perfect Job" Fallacy with Helen Kearney 36:53

9M ago36:53

36:53

Helen Kearney is a sales recruiter for a global software company. Her life's journey and her career specialization allow us to examine the question that we all - at one time or another - find ourselves asking: what is my perfect job (or purpose or life's mission)? As she explains, many people are exceptionally naive about their professional value. …

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Classics - The Bankruptcy of Magical Thinking with Kristen Moeller 51:28

9M ago51:28

51:28

In this episode, Kristen Moeller, a literary agent, published author, three-time TEDx speaker, and passionate advocate for personal growth, joins John Patterson to explore the challenges and revelations of pursuing success and fulfillment. From her mountain home in Colorado, Kristen shares her journey of transitioning from hopeful and magical think…

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Classics - A Surplus of Help with Kim Corbett 43:02

9M ago43:02

43:02

Having more than doubled her income and moving her company's market position from #57 to #1, Kim Corbett is an account executive who considers herself a turnaround agent, turning around the sales of failing or emerging companies. She's a top performer with a proven track record for growing revenues and increasing an organization’s profitability. Al…

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Classics - Money is an Exchange of Help with Dr. Khush Cooper 50:03

10M ago50:03

50:03

Her view of money changed (and she made much more of it) when she began to understand that money is an exchange of help, rather than a necessary evil. Dr. Khush Cooper holds a doctorate in social work and her journey is quite relevant to those in the non-profit sector or anyone who has ever struggled with making a living and wanting to do good. Thi…

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Classics - Worst Advice Ever: Follow Your Passion with Joanna Burgraf 50:45

10M ago50:45

50:45

Having endured an expensive journey to consider a career change, Joanna Burgraf found that to follow your passion was the worst piece of advice she'd ever gotten. Joanna is a Chicago-based senior lead for an award-winning creative services team managing ten brands at Enova International, a company using technology to develop innovative financial pr…

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Classics - Can You Survive an Indifferent World? with Sean Gillespie 54:03

10M ago54:03

54:03

Sean Gillespie is a successful artist who creates award-winning abstract sculptures from his one-man studio in Denver, Colorado. His work can be found in exclusive galleries, national juried shows, and in corporate installations across the United States. Influential U's members include business and creative professionals from all over the world; we…

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In part 2 of our interview with former Art Director Steve Parke, we discuss the first Paisley Park Celebration in 2000, magic moments and opportunities beyond his wildest dreams, but also a parting of ... 59:51

10M ago59:51

59:51

PART 2 2mins30s - The Paisley Park studios summer music festival 'Celebration' in 2000 7mins - Prince having extraordinary vision, and being the hardest working person in the building. 10mins - Prince asks Steve very personal Qs, on naming his son and his spirituality... 13mins30s - A Jeep or a BMW?? 14mins - A very magical moment with Prince... 18…

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Classics - Starting Over at 57 with John Baigent 49:48

10M ago49:48

49:48

As a property developer, John Baigent lost practically everything in the global financial crisis of 2007-2009, then recovered just in time to lose it all again in the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, a quake that caused widespread damage in New Zealand's second-largest urban area. He's not only overcome what would sink most people — he also continues …

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We talk to Steve Parke, who for 13 years was Prince's Art Director at Paisley Park. Fulfilling all of his boyhood dreams required tenacity, imagination and always thinking on his feet. 47:36

10M ago47:36

47:36

INTRO 2mins30secs - how do you get from being a teenager on the school bus with your friends, with dreams of rock stars, to actually being at Paisley Park working as Art Director for Prince? 7mins - Coming up with a set design in 3 hours! 9mins30s - Coming full circle with Prince's best friend at High School, Andre Cymone... 11mins30s - Lovesexy t-…

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Classics - Father's Last Words: Get Wise with Troy Frost 46:46

11M ago46:46

46:46

Troy's father's last words are a mantra he's lived by. His business plan autobiography reads like a character who suffered not for being dull, but for being way too smart. He talks about the early days and answers the question: How do you make $30K a month in personal income? In this episode's talk, Co-Founder Kirkland Tibbels outlines the fundamen…

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Classics - Put Your Oxygen Mask On First with Jenn Oliver 34:20

11M ago34:20

34:20

In this episode of the Influential U podcast, host John Patterson chats with Jenn Oliver, Senior Director of Service for the Academic Division at the University of Virginia's HR Department. Jenn, a self-identified Producer personality, shares her transformative journey from being overextended and burnt out to cultivating balance and alignment in bo…

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In part 2 we talk to Omar about the ownership of his work and masters, his many creative outlets, the resurgence of vinyl, being a vessel for music, spirituality and carrying the torch for a new generation ... 32:41

11M ago32:41

32:41

In part 2 - we talk to Omar about the ownership of his work and masters, his many creative outlets, the resurgence of vinyl, being a vessel for music, spirituality and carrying the torch for a new generation. 2mins - Ownership of master tapes and adapting to the music industry as is now 5mins - Playing smaller venues, and keeping connected to commu…

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Classics - The Guardian of Standards with Karl Strand 46:29

11M ago46:29

46:29

Who keeps us from falling off the proverbial cliff? While some are naturally inclined to dream new ideas and others can’t help but build new relationships, there is a segment of society whose entire focus and role are to protect us from our poorly constructed shortcuts. This typically skeptical personality recognizes that nothing around us is a coi…

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Classics - The Company You Keep with Karina Christensen 36:55

11M ago36:55

36:55

Before embarking on a full-time real estate career, Karina Christensen was part of the personal flight team for American business guru Jack Welch and media proprietor Oprah Winfrey, having the opportunity to travel with them for many years around the world and cultivate within herself what it takes to partner with high-profile clientele successfull…

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There's nothing like talking to Omar about Prince and his idol Stevie Wonder. In part 1 we discuss being hailed as a musical prodigy, influences, collaborators and the creative process. Not to be missed ... 29:40

11M ago29:40

29:40

INTRO 2mins - Learning his craft as a child, and a musical education, culminating at The Guildhall School of Music. 3mins - Always being comfortable with music as a craft...and having to choose over football. 4mins - First Omar composition...at 14? 5mins30s - Scholarship vs a record deal... 6mins - Music theory vs feel... 7mins - Things Omar's Dad …

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Classics - A Powerful Identity with Ron Sprengeler 45:57

11M ago45:57

45:57

How do you produce a robust identity amongst thousands of peers in a large corporate environment? Ron Sprengeler is someone who's done just that. Rather than join the naïve ranks of those whose viewpoint is that the job alone entitles them to a respected identity, Ron's case study demonstrates how to produce a powerful corporate identity in two way…

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Classics - A Good Problem to Have? with Wesley Pingelton 38:35

12M ago38:35

38:35

After ten years with a nationally recognized financial planning practice, Wesley Pingelton had ambitions to go out on his own. In doing so, he got what he wanted: great success, creative freedom, and the opportunity to work with the right client. But with each complex case, a unique solution produced a massive amount of labor. In a short time, he c…

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Classics - Yes, Being Critical is an Asset with Joe McNerney 50:02

12M ago50:02

50:02

Our featured interview is with an outstanding Chicago trial attorney who talks about his critical and analytical judgy-ness and how it has become a great asset. In this episode, Joe McNerney and Co-Founder John Patterson take the time to learn more about the Judge and Inventor personality and how personality, when understood, can help all of us tra…

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Classics - We Weren't Careful What We Wished For with The Brothers Koren 50:25

1y ago50:25

50:25

They got everything they asked for: record deals, international notoriety, playing big arenas (touring with Coldplay, Pink, Bon Jovi, and Rod Stewart), but recording artists Isaac and Thorald Koren (The Kin) hadn't quantified what to wish for or how to transact for it. Naively assuming their talent, passion, and fame would eventuate into their pers…

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Charles 'Chazz' Smith shares memories of High School years in Minneapolis, band battles, talent shows, parental advice and the influence of his cousin Prince growing up. 33:46

1y ago33:46

33:46

INTRO to Charles 1mins30s - Reflections on Lincoln Junior High School, with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis 2mins - Knocking on local doors in the neighbourhood just to listen 3mins - Hanging out in Sonny T's basement, and studying him 3mins30s - The MPLS drum beat: did Charles teach Prince? And influences... 4mins45s - MPLS fashions for young teens, dre…

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Classics - The Asset / Liability Quotient with Ana Athanasiu 44:23

1y ago44:23

44:23

With a long personal experience about the asset and liability of personality traits that offer both extraordinary value and harsh lessons, Ana Athanasiu, who lives in the San Francisco Bay area of California, is an internet pioneer who had a vibrant career in telecommunications and software development. Best known for the work she did on teams at S…

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Classics - The Right People in the Right Roles with Tim Guest 53:08

1y ago53:08

53:08

Tim Guest, Managing Director of Infinite Wealth, helps everyday Australians reach their financial goals. After having first retired at the age of 27 as a self-made multimillionaire, he is now an investor, entrepreneur, financial educator, and motivational speaker and author well known for leading seminars promoting financial literacy and education.…

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Classics - Swept Away by a Powerful Current with Peter Burgraf 50:59

1y ago50:59

50:59

Peter Burgraf, Vice President of Business Development at Q2 Business Capital in Chicago, shares his journey from being overwhelmed by debt to achieving both personal and financial success. Like many, Peter initially bought into the common belief that hard work alone guarantees success. However, faced with mounting debt and the pressure of big goals…

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Classics - When Being Likable Isn't Enough with Janet Asher Vreeland 47:16

1y ago47:16

47:16

Join us for an insightful conversation with Janet Asher Vreeland as she reflects on her transformative journey with Influence Ecology. Starting with her early struggles as a natural "performer" personality type, Janet shares candidly about the challenges she faced in balancing her desire to be liked with the need to engage productively with other p…

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Classics - Don't Compete on Price, Compete on Value with Joe & Joni Rocco 46:00

1y ago46:00

46:00

Joe & Joni Rocco, a husband-and-wife small business duo from Denver, Colorado, showcase the power of specialization in a highly commoditized industry. Instead of competing on price, they focus on delivering unique value through various key attributes. Once navigating late nights, weekends, high-stress environments, and the challenges of a fatherles…

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Classics - Respect Your Offer or No One Will with Shonit Jagmohan 55:58

1y ago55:58

55:58

Shonit Jagmohan is an optometrist living in Melbourne, Australia. As a health and ambitious business professional, he offers an excellent case study in specialization, authority, and scarcity. In this episode, John and Shonit dive deep into the often-overlooked concept of the Condition of Life "Work" and how personal reflection on what you don’t wa…

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Classics - Beware the Ambitious Arsonist with Louisa Da Silva 48:30

1y ago48:30

48:30

Having immigrated to the United States from Brazil, Louisa Da Silva, owner of DS Cleaning and Maid Service, found that her stream of new ideas created 'fires' that her team had to extinguish. Previously overworked, stressed, and unhealthy, she's now planned for and living a balanced and focused life. In this episode's talk, Co-Founder Kirkland Tibb…

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Classics - Most People Won't Practice with Marcus Bell 55:55

1y ago55:55

55:55

Tune into this Classics episode of the Influential U podcast, where John Patterson sits down with music industry legend Marcus Bell. Marcus, who began his musical journey at the tender age of two, reveals the work ethic and discipline that have fueled his impressive career. From his early days in a makeshift recording studio to collaborating with m…

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Classics - How to Increase Your Value with Trisha Tyler 49:31

1y ago49:31

49:31

Welcome to Influential U Podcast Classics, where we dive back into the most impactful episodes from our inaugural season. This special season revisits the gems and insights that first shaped our podcast's journey. Join us as we reintroduce these timeless conversations to a new audience and rediscover the ideas that have inspired many. Working as a …

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In part 2 we talk chemistry and spiritual connection, touring the US with Prince as her guitar player. Lost album Milk & Honey, an enduring friendship and exciting plans for 2024 and beyond. "I'm not gonna ... 23:59

1+ y ago23:59

23:59

INTRO 2mins30secs - Tamar's chemistry with Prince 'It was like a student following a teacher...[but] you can't work with that kind of greatness and take mediocre...' 6mins30s - Prince going on tour with Tamar, playing guitar on her U.S. shows 7mins45s - Will we ever get to hear her album 'Milk & Honey'? Her collaborative project with Prince. 8mins3…

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Ashley Tamar Davis is a Grammy nominated Singer, Songwriter, Actress, Educator, Mentor and Entrepreneur. And her life was forever changed by Prince. This is her story. 24:36

1+ y ago24:36

24:36

INTRO - Just coming back in late from London, and Houston... 3mins - the elevator pitch on Tamar, '...how would you describe yourself?' 4mins30s - Finding your tribe online 5mins - Tamar's passion as an educator 7mins - Were your parents or your family musical? Where did you inherit your talent from? 8mins - The original line up for Destiny's Child…

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In part 2 we field fan Qs to Owen, he reflects on Prince's demands in the early days, and working with other MPLS artists. Meeting fans on his recent book tour and his feeling on the Purple One's incredible ... 37:59

1+ y ago37:59

37:59

INTRO 2mins - Fan Questions: what happened at the Rio in Las Vegas? 3mins30s - Early, and unreasonable demands from Prince. Mentors and moving on without malice... 6mins30s - What was it like managing other artists vs managing Prince? Working with Andre Cymone and Jesse Johnson. 9mins30s - Working with the Prince Estate on a potential 'For You' Del…

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As his first Manager, Owen Husney remembers Prince Rogers Nelson. "This was 1976. He was just a guy from North Minneapolis...he took the bus to my house, that's the Prince I loved." 33:09

1+ y ago33:09

33:09

INTRO 2mins20s - Life experiences, in preparation for meeting Prince, working with stars and the need to avoid being a fan. 8mins - Is there anything you couldn't protect Prince from? No entourage, before the layers of fame and celebrity. 'He took the bus to my house...that's the Prince I loved.' 11mins - 'He was just a guy from North Minneapolis..…

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In part 2 of our interview with PhD candidate Casci Ritchie we discuss that Trench, punk periods, Prince becoming Prince, Lovesexy and a purple fashion legacy. Don't miss it. 36:46

1+ y ago36:46

36:46

INTRO 2mins - The Dirty Mind era, the Prince persona begins to form, riding the New Wave...and that Trench Coat! 3mins - The 1979 period and working with costume designers... 7mins30s - The second punk period: Slave and the 1990s 10mins - Veils and Masking - the Exodus Has Begun... 11mins30s - Count The Days, style signifiers and finely tuned 'unco…

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Casci Ritchie is a PhD candidate and associate lecturer studying Prince, fashion, and fandom at Northumbria University. So how did this come to be a life's work? Join us to find out more...just don't ask ... 34:18

1+ y ago34:18

34:18

INTRO 2mins - First memories of Prince, and standing next to the TV...feeling the static from Gett Off! Listening to Prince's Hits cassette in the Green Mondeo. 4mins - Born in the year of Lovesexy! 5mins - When did you realise that Prince's work could become a lifetime pursuit? "First and foremost I'm a fan...". Obsessed with John Waters, Pee Wee …

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Getting Unstuck with Nicole Tripodi

2y ago

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In this installment, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Nicole Tripodi, a dynamic entrepreneur and advocate for accurate thinking, goal setting, and the success of small businesses. In this interview, Nicole shares her wealth of knowledge and experiences, offering practical advice on navigating the complexities of Government Contracting and …

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Focus and Clarity with Rochelle Finlay

2y ago

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In this episode, we are joined by Rochelle Finlay, a research and innovation management consultant who credits Influential U with helping her focus her offer in the marketplace, resulting in her business reaching new levels of success. Before finding IU, she was one year into working for herself. Her business was going well, but her work-life balan…

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Executive to Entrepreneur with Mark Kammerer

2y ago

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In this episode, we are joined by Mark Kammerer, a former executive, who says he discovered Influential U after leaving corporate life and began his entrepreneurial journey. While he had been through a lifetime of formal and informal education, he considered the principles he learned at Influential U to be remarkably different. While studying with …

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The Judge Personality

2y ago

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In this episode, we'll introduce you to the Transactional Personality know as the Judge. The Judge excels in skepticism, guided by high standards, competence, and a thirst for evidence before taking action. Don't shy away from The Judge - embrace their wisdom as they can be your ultimate savior in times of peril. Learn to heed their suggestions, an…

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Evolving is Essential with Ellza Malok

2y ago

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In this episode, we are joined by Ellza Malok, the Founder and Chair of the Blue Monarch Group. She has been celebrated as an executive and global marketing innovator, and she brings a unique lens to brands from her own experiences in entrepreneurship, data science, and psychology-based marketing. Before studying with Influential U, Ellza found tha…

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The Producer Personality

2y ago

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The personality we at Influential U refer to as the Producer is skilled with alliances and requests. Their superpowers are the ability to be short-term and objective in their thinking and they are highly work-oriented doers. They're who you want on your team because they are action oriented and ready to get to work. Their kryptonite, however, is th…

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How to Hire the Right Person and Avoid Hiring the Wrong Person

2y ago

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This episode, we're exploring a topic that is crucial for every business owner: How to Hire the Right Person and Avoid Hiring the Wrong Person. As we teach it at Influential U - If you’re going to do big things, you’re going to need help. And when it comes to your company’s Human Resources; building and expanding your team is one of the most essent…