What It Feels Like to Make Your Business Idea Real - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 5 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "Since we last spoke a year ago, what has been the most exciting thing to happen in your life?"  He notes the satisfaction of understanding global influencer culture and bringing a team together to produce a global event series across New York City, London, and Berlin.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Doing More With Less to Achieve Personal Best - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 8 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "When Are You At Your Best?"  He finds he is at his best when he needs to be resourceful.  He compares his time working at Goldman Sachs and having deep investment bank resources at his disposal to becoming an entrepreneur and needing to create opportunities where they may not be readily available.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How to Network in a Room Full of Strangers - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 10 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Have You Learned to Be More Comfortable in Uncomfortable Situations?"   McKenzie frames his response in the context of an entrepreneur, noting the importance of being assertive and fighting through initial uncomfortable feelings.  He shares how he as learned to ask for things and make shure he is always putting himself out there and keeping an open mind.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Why to Be an Alumni Volunteer - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 11 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Has Alumni Volunteering Helped You Build a Better Network?"  McKenzie notes that alumni volunteering is not just about building a better network, but it is also about providing the support to future generations who face similar challenges and hold similar aspirations as his own generation.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How to Make Your Business Network More Useful - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 12 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Do You Make Your Business Network More Useful?"  McKenzie finds the more he extends himself to being useful to others, the more he gets back.  In running Influencer Conference, he engages partners, speakers, and panelists, what he terms his Influencer family, to support them.  He finds his service translates into others supporting him over time.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How Business Networks Improve Decision Making - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 13 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Get Help Making Career and Life Decisions?"  As McKenzie engages his network more, he builds strong relationship ties.  Through this, he is able to identify key individuals with deep, relevant experience relevant to the decision he is trying to make.  He contrasts this from making a more broadly informed network decision and shares an example in his relationship with Toby Daniels of Social Media Week.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How to Bounce Back From Rejection - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 14 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What Has Been the Most Humbling Experience to Date Building Your Company?"  For McKenzie, the humility comes from letting go of pride of ownership and understanding that rejection is part of business and not every offering is right for potential clients or partners.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Learning From Failure - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 15 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "Why are Failures More Meaningful Learning Experiences Than Successes?"  He finds failure valuable because it tells you what not to do in the future, whereas often success can provide the reward without understanding why it happened.  More often than not, he is able to understand why things didn't work and make necessary changes to correct the course.  McKenzie shares how failure provides more direct feedback, which he uses to correct his course over time.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Why Corporate Partners Should Share Your Values - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 16 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Are You Learning to More Effectively Sell Corporate Sponsorships?"  McKenzie reshapes the question around finding corporate partners who share his company's values.  This becomes even more critical when planning a long-term collaboration.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

What It Means to Be a Leader - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 17 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?"  McKenzie finds people follow him based on passion, honesty, and openness.  Additionally, he notes passion breeds conviction to a cause and allows you to find the right people to follow you.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Why to Be Trusting When Building Relationships - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 18 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?"  He notes trust is something you just have to give.  McKenzie notes that people's actions will prove out that trust over time, so he feels it unnecessary being suspicious entering situations.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Leading Through Cultural Diversity - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 19 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What Role Does Diversity Play in Shaping Your Leadership Style?"  By nature, McKenzie finds cultural diversity front and center in how he is curating an international event series.  Most importantly, he finds diversity of opinion and team construct critical.  He notes this different mix is less focused around American context of diversity - race and gender - and more around an international element build upon culture and views. McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

Learning to Better Recruit, Manage, and Motivate Teams - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 20 of 21 in his 2011 interview, media and marketing entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "How to Recruit, Manage and Motivate Teams?"  He notes this is a core challenge at this moment in his career as he builds out his global event series and how decision making, coordination, and empowerment stand fundamental in how he moves forward building the team.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How to Manage Up and Manage Down - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 21 of 21 in his 2011 interview, media and marketing entrepreneur Phil McKenzie answers "What Has Your Experience Taught You About Managing Up and Managing Down?"  McKenzie believes setting clear expectations is fundamental in both cases.  McKenzie is the founder of Influencer Conference, an international event series bringing together tastemakers across the arts, entrepreneurship, philanthropy and technology.  He is also managing partner of influencer marketing agency FREE DMC.  Previously he worked in Domestic Equity Trading at Goldman, Sachs, & Co.  He earned his BA from Howard University and MBA from Duke University. 

How to Build and Scale a Food Passion Business - Julie Hession

In Chapter 1 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "To What Do You Aspire?"  Hession highlights how she is taking progressive steps to connect her passion for food to a food business career.  She highlights how incremental steps, from launching a specialty food store to creating a food product line to doing food writing are giving her a well-rounded skillset to refine and scale her food business.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV. 

When to Pursue a Career That is Not Your College Major - Julie Hession

In Chapter 6 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "After majoring in hotel and restaurant management in college what made you decide to shift away from that in your career?"  Studying in Las Vegas, Hession finds the glamorous picture of hotel management career does not meet what she experiences.  With advice from her father, she decides to make a change to find work outside her college major.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV. 

Transcription: 

Erik:  After majoring in hotel and restaurant management in college, what made you decide to shift away from that in your career?

Julie:  Well, the fact that about three months into my first job out of college I decided that I hated hotel and restaurant management, that was my first clue.  And it was interesting because, you know, when you’re an undergrad and you’re taking four years in this curriculum and all you’re learning about is you know hotel and restaurant management, hotel and restaurant law, hotel and restaurant marketing, you know 'cause – I had casino management.  I mean, my life was surrounded, and it was Las Vegas, UNLV, so the city revolves around hotels and restaurants. 

So I kind of had tunnel vision and I was thinking, "Well, this is what I've chosen to do, I'm tied to it.  This is gonna be my life."  And I got my first job with Windham Hotels.  They don't tell you where they’re gonna put you when they hire you.  You make no money when you graduate with a hotel and restaurant management degree.  They basically tell you that the first day of school when you’re a freshman.  You sit down and they say, "You're gonna work 100 hours a week and you're gonna make no money.  Welcome to college." 

You know, I should have just you know headed for the door just then, but the idea of it still excited me at that point.  I still had this whole -- there's this show called Hotel on, this drama that was called Hotel like back in the 80's that created a very glamorous picture of what it was like to work in a hotel.  And I think that kind of, in some way, when I got to college I thought I was gonna be like that, you know?  This glamorous Connie Sellecca lady that you know ran the hotel.  So it was a rude awakening when I was like crawling around taping wires to the floor for like a food and beverage banquet, you know?  So anyway I got the job with Windham, they put me in Annapolis, Maryland, which I had – you know great city but I had no friends there.  You didn't really make a lot of friends working in this small hotel in the city and I was just – I was so unhappy. 

I wasn't happy at work, I wasn't happy with what I was doing and this was an instance where my dad came down to Annapolis.  He drove down to Annapolis, took me to lunch and he said, "You know this isn’t right for you.  You need to figure out, you know, and you don't need to do it tomorrow, you don't need to do it the next day but I think you need to figure out what you want to do and make a change and figure out how you’re gonna get there."  So that was like such an "Aha!" moment for me that I could do something else.  You know, my major -- I didn't have to do my major.  So – and that was huge because then I started just kind of looking around and I think kind of opening my mind a little bit.  You know, back then I knew I loved food but I wasn't at all thinking like food career 'cause when I thought food I thought, "Okay restaurant management," so that wasn't clicking.

Learning Small Business Working at American Express - Julie Hession

In Chapter 8 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "How Did Working at American Express During Business School Teach You About the World of Small Business?"  Hession interns at American Express while studying at Duke for her MBA.  She gets paired with three senior women and it tasked with doing the competitive analysis with the company's new foray into small business, the Blue Card.  She gets exposure to a new market, and also senior female leadership, that open her mind to future career options.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV. 

How to Find a Mentor - Julie Hession

In Chapter 10 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, food entrepreneur Julie Hession answers "How Have You Established Mentors in Your Career and How Have They Helped Most?"  Hession notes how she learns to overcome fear and be more aggressive approaching people she admires.  She finds the more successful a person is, the more willing they are to help you and give back to you.  She tells the story of meeting Sarah Foster, of Foster's Market and cookbook fame, and how the mentoring relationship evolved into a friendship.  Julie Hession is the founder of Julie Anne's All Natural Granola Company.  Passionate about food since childhood, Hession has developed her career by food blogging, cooking contests, and starting fine food companies.  Hession earned an MBA in Marketing from Duke University and a BA from UNLV.