What Makes a Great Wedding - Conrad Doucette

In Chapter 2 of 21 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, musician and Takka Takka drummer Conrad Doucette answers "What Makes a Great Wedding?"  For Doucette it comes down to having a nice room and having family and friends.  Setting expectations for the big day, Doucette still gets emotionally overwhelmed by the experience.  Doucette is the drummer for the Brooklyn-based band Takka Takka.  He also performs with The National, Okkervil River, and Alina Simone.  When not performing, Doucette works as a copywriter, blogger, and digital media producer.  He has worked at Blender, Fuse TV, and Heavy.com.  Doucette earned his BA in History from the University of Michigan. 

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Conrad Doucette

In Chapter 3 of 21 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, musician and Takka Takka drummer Conrad Doucette answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  He finds it easier knowing what will be satisfying and fulfilling.  The increasing challenge is focusing on opportunities amidst so many options to pursue.  Doucette is the drummer for the Brooklyn-based band Takka Takka.  He also performs with The National, Okkervil River, and Alina Simone.  When not performing, Doucette works as a copywriter, blogger, and digital media producer.  He has worked at Blender, Fuse TV, and Heavy.com.  Doucette earned his BA in History from the University of Michigan. 

How to Build Confidence and Elevate Performance - Conrad Doucette

In Chapter 4 of 21 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, musician and Takka Takka drummer Conrad Doucette answers "When Are You at Your Best?"  Doucette shares how he achieves his best when he is confident in what he undertakes or does.  He compares it to letting go, being in the moment without subconscious preparation or worrying.  He notes how it comes by practicing, rehearsing, and surrounding himself with the right elements.  Doucette is the drummer for the Brooklyn-based band Takka Takka.  He also performs with The National, Okkervil River, and Alina Simone.  When not performing, Doucette works as a copywriter, blogger, and digital media producer.  He has worked at Blender, Fuse TV, and Heavy.com.  Doucette earned his BA in History from the University of Michigan. 

How Friendships Help Overcome Hardship - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 2 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Has Going Through Difficult Times Taught You About the Meaning of Friendship?"  Elliot separates social friends from established ones who can be relied on in trying times. While going through a lawsuit, Elliot finds support in new friends who provide support in a very difficult time.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

How Curating Peer Relationships Inspires Personal Best - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 4 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "When are You at Your Best?"  When surrounded by family and peers, she finds inspiration to do her best.  Specifically, Elliot finds curating peer relationships, both personal and professional, provides her inspiration.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

The Power of Positivity in Dating and Matchmaking - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 7 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Do You Bring Out the Best in People?"  She finds it has everything to do in affirming and encouraging positive behavior and nothing to do with pointing out flaws and imperfections.  She applies this in her matchmaking pursuits helping others find love, friendship, and professional success.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

What Makes a Great Date - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 8 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Makes a Good Date?"  For Elliot, it is all about chemistry.  Personally and romantically, making a connection with another person begins with chemistry.  Having romantic chemistry creates a level of communiation that, as Elliot notes, can't be beat.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

The Cathartic Power of Intense Exercise - Hattie Elliot

In Chapter 10 of 16 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, The Grace List founder and entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Do You Define and Measure Your Quality of Life?"  Elliot notes while financial security is important for stability it does not create happiness on its own.  Rather, she finds happiness coming to terms with doing the best she can do.  Amidst a demanding and busy schedule, Elliot uses intense exercise routines to stay sharp mentally and physically.  Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, which is redefining the dating world by creating opportunities for singles to revitalize personal interests and find intriguing people who will influence their lives.  Before founding The Grace List, Elliot worked as a social entrepreneur and business development consultant.  Elliott graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

How to Overcome Career Insecurity - Ken Rona

In Chapter 2 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, data analytics expert Ken Rona answers "What Factored into Your Decision to Take a Job That Would Relocate Your Family?"  As a newly graduated PhD working for McKinsey, Rona loses his job during the dotcom blow up.  The experience scars Rona and during the many years that follow, he remains wary of employer job security given his 'at will' employee status.  He learns to let go of this insecurity and need to have a backup plan and focus more about making a contribution and committing to a company, town and establish family roots.  Rona is currently VP Audience Insights and Ad Sales Partnerships at Turner Broadcasting.  Previously, Rona has worked in roles in data analytics at IXI Digital and AOL and management consulting at McKinsey & Co.  He earned a BA and MA in Political Science from Stony Brook University and a PhD in Behavioral Economics from Duke University.

How Health Scare Changes Life Outlook - Ken Rona

In Chapter 4 of 13 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, data analytics expert Ken Rona answers "How Has a Recent Health Scare Changed How You Live Your Life?"  The scare reminds Rona he is on the Earth for a finite amount of time and that he should enjoy it.  For many years, he has deferred travel and holidays to focus on saving and work.  The scare causes Rona to shift some value to current enjoyment, including buying a convertible and taking more family vacations.  Rona is currently VP Audience Insights and Ad Sales Partnerships at Turner Broadcasting.  Previously, Rona has worked in roles in data analytics at IXI Digital and AOL and management consulting at McKinsey & Co.  He earned a BA and MA in Political Science from Stony Brook University and a PhD in Behavioral Economics from Duke University.

How to Develop Trust When Building Relationships - Ben Hallen

In Chapter 14 of 21 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, business school professor Ben Hallen answers "How Do You Establish Trust When Building Relationships?" Hallen notes trust develops in different ways. First, trust develops over escalating and repeating interactions. Second, trust can develop via signals where you have a reason to believer another person is credible. Third, trust can be transferred via a third party. Fourth, Hallen shares how sincerity and transparency can create trust. Hallen is an Assistant Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School. Previously, he was Assistant Professor of Management and Organization at University of Maryland. Hallen earned his PhD from Stanford University and its Stanford Technology Venture Program (STVP). He has been a startup CTO and graduated from the University of Virginia with a BS in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Computer Science.

Stacie Bloom on Balancing Career and Family Raising Three Children

In Chapter 15 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Stacie Grossman Bloom answers "What Advice do You Have for Working Parents to Better Balance Career and Family?" As a working mother, she acknowledges the challenge balancing work and family. She makes it a point to set realistic expectations for what you may reasonably accomplish and to do what makes you happy.

Stacie Grossman Bloom is the Executive Director at the NYU Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. Previously, she was VP and Scientific Director at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). She earned her PhD in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at Georgetown University and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York City. She earned her BA in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Delaware.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What advice do you have for working parents to better balance career and family?

Stacie Grossman Bloom: It’s hard to balance work and family, and as a working mother there is a lot of pressure on you. I would say you have to have realistic expectations of yourself, what you can reasonably accomplish. Don’t beat yourself up because you can’t be at home every single minute of every single day with your kids. But, mostly to do what makes you happy and if your job makes you happy, then do your job. I think there are a lot of studies that have shown that, you know, there is no difference in happiness between kids whose moms stay at home with them and kids whose moms work, that the most important factor is that the mother is happy. So, I think take care of yourself and then take care of your family.

Stacie Bloom on How to Foster Innovation in Global Nutrition Science

In Chapter 17 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Stacie Grossman Bloom answers "What Has Led You to Create a Global Program on Nutrition Science?" Grossman Bloom, who at the time of this interview was at the New York Academy of Science (NYAS), shares how the organization designed a unique initiative to have global impact. The organization applies its 200 years of experience of scientific community led problem solving to the challenges of malnutrition and nutrition science.

Stacie Grossman Bloom is the Executive Director at the NYU Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. Previously, she was VP and Scientific Director at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). She earned her PhD in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at Georgetown University and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York City. She earned her BA in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Delaware.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What has led you to create a global program on nutrition science?

Stacie Grossman Bloom: I am currently the vice president and scientific director at the New York Academy of Sciences. This is an organization that’s been around for almost 200 years in the United States. And for those 200 years, what it has really excelled in, is building communities of scientists in discreet areas and then driving those communities towards innovation. One area that was becoming increasingly important to address, but which we weren’t really doing, was nutrition science. So, we set out about 18 months ago to scope out a project in nutrition science. That scoping project led us to interview 48 stakeholders around the world to really design an initiative that would be unique, that wouldn’t duplicate existing efforts, that would align with them, and that would have global impact.

Stacie Bloom: How Interdisciplinary Collaboration Benefits Science

In Chapter 19 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, Stacie Grossman Bloom answers "Why is Interdisciplinary Collaboration So Important to Creating the Global Nutrition Program?" Grossman Bloom notes the overlapping issues, for example malnutrition and infectious disease. By inserting interdisciplinarity into the conversation, scientists can have more informed conversations using the most cutting edge laboratory research data and techniques.

Stacie Grossman Bloom is the Executive Director at the NYU Neuroscience Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center. Previously, she was VP and Scientific Director at the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS). She earned her PhD in Neurobiology and Cell Biology at Georgetown University and did a post-doctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University in New York City. She earned her BA in Chemistry and Psychology from the University of Delaware.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: Why is interdisciplinary collaboration so important in creating the global nutrition program?

Stacie Grossman Bloom: I think inserting interdisciplinarity into the conversation of global nutrition is really key. There is a lot of overlap in nutrition issues and, for example, infectious disease. Not only scientifically is there a lot of underlying commonality, but in the field when you are talking about a community that’s suffering from great malnutrition, they are also often suffering from infectious disease. So inserting interdisciplinarity into the conversation allows those two groups of scientists to have, you know, a conversation that also probably doesn’t normally happen. A lot of what we were told from stakeholders when we were planning the institute is that there isn’t a lot of interdisciplinarity in the conversations of nutrition science. And, that by introducing that, you are also bringing nutrition scientists up to date with the most cutting edge research that is going on in the lab, not just the data, but the techniques.

How to Be at Your Best Each Day - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 1 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "When Are You at Your Best?" Beyond a good night's rest, some exercise, and a healthy breakfast, Parker notes she is at her best when there is enough going on to keep her engaged but not enough where she is overwhelmed. She notes how she has learned to scale back to find her sweet spot and be her best. Parker is currently on a one-year sabaatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Selling Company Creates Cathartic Moment - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 3 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Since We Last Spoke a Year Ago, What Has Been the Most Exciting Thing to Happen in Your Life?" Parker realizes she has the opportunity to choose a different path in life. In 2010, she found herself fully committed to her company, CLEAResult, and how it was her identity. She learns to see that experience - co-founding, growing, and selling her company - as a chapter that sets the stage for what comes next in her life. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 4 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" Parker feels her experiences starting, growing, and exiting the company she co-founded, CLEAResult, have put her in a positive place. The learning experiences in that time have left her better prepared for what comes her way. After leaving the business, she decides to take a one-year sabbatical to rest, relax, and plan free from outside distractions. Parker is currently on a one-year sabbatical. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.

How Entrepreneurial Skills Enhance Personal Wellbeing - Audrey Parker

In Chapter 13 of 21 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsen, entrepreneur Audrey Parker answers "Where Do You Find Business Skills Most Transferable to Life, Relationships, and Family?" Parker shares how she has learned to roll with life and its changes in her entrepreneurial business experience. She is currently on a one-year sabbatical after selling her company, CLEAResult. Looking back on what she learned, she finds her entrepreneurial experiences very transferable into her personal life. She learns her limits and how to manage actions, decisions, and relationships in high pressure, fast paced situations. Parker co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm. In 2010, CLEAResult ranked #144 in the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies. In late 2010, CLEAResult was sold to General Catalyst Partners. Parker graduated from Wake Forest University.