How Design Skill Applies in Product Management Career - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 12 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares how his father's design background shaped his own expressive and creative interests in music, language, and communications. Ultimately, this results in Pryor applying his creative process to evolve the ways thinks look and behave in Internet product management.  Pryor earned an MBA at the University of Navarra IESE Business School in Barcelona,  Spain an a BA in Economics and Spanish from Northwestern University.

Why to Embrace Uncertainty When Developing an Internet Career - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 11 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares why the uncertainty associated with Internet careers is attractive, not off-putting. Not knowing what comes next motivates Pryor's innovation focused career pursuits. At a broader level, the uncertainty shifts priorities away from lifetime career, or cradle to grave, one company career options and toward one shaped by many possibilities provided by products and technologies not yet discovered or developed.  Pryor earned an MBA from IESE Business School at the University of Navarra in Barcelona, Spain and a BA in Economics and Spainish at Northwestern University.

How to Transition from Business Consulting to Product Marketing - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 10 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor details how he started his consulting career at Accenture after graduating Northwestern University and migrated to Silicon Valley to pursue work in Internet product marketing. While consulting, Pryor gains technology experience and training he then applies to a fast-paced Internet culture, beginning with a role at search engine Ask Jeeves. Pryor leaves behind a long-term consulting partner career track for the immediate responsibility Silicon Valley presents.

Why International Product Managers Must Be Good Listeners - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 9 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares why listening enables him to be successful in his work. Product managers are responsible for bringing an idea to market. They often lack direct reports across groups where commitment is essential to project success. As a result, Pryor notes the importance of both listening to individual group needs and using an open communication approach to secure commitment. As someone with experience working across North America, Asia, and Europe, Pryor also shares how effective communication becomes even more important working in multi-national and multi-cultural environments.

Why to Pursue International MBA at IESE Business School in Spain - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 8 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares why he chose University of Navarra's IESE Business School for his MBA Studies. Pryor notes the rigorous classroom component, including mandatory attendance, intense workload, case studies, and cold calling. He also notes the absolute curve and associated probationary periods. While more academically focused than North American peer schools, Pryor finds value in high percentage of international students and the related post-graduate international networking possibilities. Learn more about IESE at http://www.iese.edu/en/MBAPrograms/index.asp.

How International MBA Creates Global Business Network - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 7 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares why he decided to leave Silicon Valley to study business at the IESE MBA program in Barcelona, Spain. Pryor sets long term goals to live internationally and reasons that an internationally located MBA will help cultivate a global business network. This pushes Pryor to rank foreign options, including IESE, above domestic ones such as the Haas School of Business at UC-Berkeley.

What are the Benefits from Living, Studying, and Working Abroad - Ramsey Pryor

In Chapter 4 of 22 of his 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, international Internet product management executive Ramsey Pryor shares why living, studying, and working abroad challenges what one thinks is normal. Pryor travels and / or lives abroad during high school, college, graduate school and as a professional. He embraces the alternative perspectives that expose him to entirely new ways of doing things. He better understands his preferences and is then more informed when incorporating new approaches into his life.

What Do Entrepreneurs and Food Professionals Have in Common - Sarah Simmons

In Chapter 11 of 16 of her 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Food and Wine Magazine 2010 Home Cook Superstar, Bon Appetit contributor, and food entrepreneur Sarah Simmons shares common approaches between entrepreneurs and aspiring food professionals. Simmons, who left a digital marketing career for one in food, shares how commitment and perseverance help both sides through the long work hours and bootstrapping process. Learn more about Sarah at http://sarahmcsimmons.com.

Why Not to Pursue a Harvard MBA - Sarah Simmons

In Chapter 8 of 16 of her 2010 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Food and Wine Magazine 2010 Home Cook Superstar, Bon Appetit contributor, and food entrepreneur Sarah Simmons shares why she decided against pursuing an MBA after being admitted to Harvard Business School. Simmons takes the GMAT and applies to appease her parents. Upon being accepted to Harvard Business School, she determines an MBA is not the optimal investment at the time and continues her career in retail digital strategy consulting. Learn more about Sarah at http://sarahmcsimmons.com.

How to Train New Leaders as Baby Boomer Generation Retires - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 10 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener shares approaches to bridge the talent gap between technology-savvy young leaders and the retiring baby boomer generation. Redlener emphasizes the importance of establishing trust, especially given hiring baby boomer managers are often unfamiliar with younger generation technology expertise. To address skills or experience shortfalls, Redlener proposes young leaders opt not for one mentor but rather a board of directors mentor team. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

Why to Hire Talent You Respect But Do Not Necessarily Understand - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 9 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener shares why companies should hire candidates they respect but do not necessarily understand. Redlener believes the world is in need of innovators and changemakers given the speed of change. By hiring the same type of people, organizations face difficulty thinking differently. Redlener finds companies who hire on shared values, not viewpoints, do well building innovative cultures and superior performance. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

How Definant Cultures Create Competitive Advantage - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 8 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener discusses how companies with clearly defined cultures can better position purpose. This more detailed purpose allows them to take a stronger stance on identity and, as a result, frame identity as different or defiant. Redlener, an advertising industry recruiter, shares how this definant messaging benefits a company by attracting better talent. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

Why Great Jobs Match Personal Values to Company Values - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 5 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener details why great fitting jobs are those where personal values and company values are aligned. Shared values form lasting bonds - personal and professional - that provide not only reward but also stability over time. Redlener shares the challenge many companies face not understanding their own values and, hence, culture. By investing in this understanding at an organization and individual level, better fits and higher performance result. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

What to Prioritize When Building a Personal Brand - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 4 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener shares why to prioritize messaging when building a credible and effective personal brand. Redlener highlights the importance of connecting ambition with action, notably a body of work, when positioning oneself. For example, Redlener notes disconnects when individuals with little digital footprint apply for digital jobs. She advises individuals to be aware of how personal experiences - activities, conferences, etc. - compare and contrast against written experiences - i.e. the resume. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for the Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

How to Personalize Your Career Ladder - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 3 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener builds upon why she advises others create their own career by detailing how to personalize one's own career ladder. Redlener notes the notion of 25-year company careers, complete with traditional career ladder progress up the chain are no longer the norm. As a result, she encourages clients to take ownership of their skills and goals and personalize their own career ladder. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

Why to Create Your Own Career - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 2 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener shares why she advises recruiting clients to create their own career. Rather than fill holes by requirement, Redlener takes a non-traditional approach to push clients to better understand their ambitions and goals, ultimately leading to a better match between employer and employee. Redlener is an advertising industry recruiter for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com).

How to Apply Anthropology in a Recruiting Career - Steph Redlener

In Chapter 1 of 10, creative talent agent Stephanie Redlener cultivates a passion for understanding people and culture through an interest in anthropology studies and, later, advertising. She finds the anthropology developmental aspect a strong complement to advertising brand, consumer, and culture aspects. This leads Redlener to become an advertising industry recruiter, working for The Talent Business (http://www.thetalentbusiness.com/) in New York.

Why Peer Support Groups are Useful Career Development Resources - Yoav Gonen

Yoav Gonen returns to Capture Your Flag to build upon his 2009 interview with a 2010 conversation with host Erik Michielsen. In Chapter 9 of 17, Gonen, a New York Post education reporter shares the benefits he has received by participating in a peer support group. As a newspaper reporter, the traditional mentor model is challenged in deadline sensitive news rooms. Gonen overcomes isolation and solitude by engaging a journalist support group. He works with non-competitive peers to share ideas and receive feedback on stories and contacts relevant to his work. He finds the experience an effective substitute for a mentoring relationship. Gonen earned his BA in English from the University of Michigan and his Masters in Journalism from New York University.