Adam Geller on the Importance of Self-Reflection

In Chapter 20 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "What Role Has Reflection Played in Shaping Your Personal Growth?" Geller shares how self-reflecting has helped him professionally by honing his sales delivery. Personally, Geller finds self-reflection helps him think through his actions and identify gaps where asking for advice would have helped him make better decisions. He also learns how to more openly ask friends and colleagues for feedback to understand how his actions are affecting others.

Adam Geller is founder and CEO of Edthena, a video platform enabling online teacher coaching, peer review, and group learning. He is a recent Education Ventures fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and the founder of Teach For Us, a network connecting Teach for America corps members and alumni. He earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

A Simple Rule to Live a More Fulfilling Life

In Chapter 21 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, education technology entrepreneur Adam Geller answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing As Your Experience Grows?" As he gains experience as an entrepreneur, Geller finds that work alone will not allow him to live a fulfilling life. He pushes himself to set aside more time outside of work to feel more fulfilled. From cycling to yoga to healthy eating, Geller pursues things that add joy to his life. He finds that happiness outside of work makes work more enjoyable and sustainable as well.

Adam Geller is founder and CEO of Edthena, a video platform enabling online teacher coaching, peer review, and group learning. He is a recent Education Ventures fellow at the Kauffman Foundation and the founder of Teach For Us, a network connecting Teach for America corps members and alumni. He earned a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a MA from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis.

Geoff Hamm on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 1 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" Hamm shares that managing his time as husband, father, and employee is getting harder with two children under four years old and two working parents. As he turns 40, Hamm reflects on his 17 years working in digital media and how he has grown more comfortable and confident in his skills.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Geoff Hamm on How Reflection Builds Business Development Skills

In Chapter 2 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "What Role Has Reflection Played in Shaping Your Personal Growth?" Relationships are fundamental to Hamm's work in business development and sales. He uses reflection techniques to learn from his actions as a professional and as a parent as he gains experience. He visits an executive coach multiple times annually for coaching and unbiased feedback.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Geoff Hamm on Why to Do Business With People You Consider Friends

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Hamm believes that work life and personal life are not mutually exclusive. With experience, he learns to prioritize and embrace doing business with friends who also work in the Internet industry.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Geoff Hamm on Learning Work Ethic From Self-Made Parents

In Chapter 8 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "Where Did You Learn Your Work Ethic?" Hamm learns his work ethic from role  model parents who instill the value of hard work. At age 15 Hamm gets his first job at a hardware store and learns to appreciate working with his hands. He finds having a job gives him purpose and the means to better others who also work with purpose.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Geoff Hamm on Organizing Your Social Network for Success

In Chapter 9 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Get Help in Making Career and Life Decisions?" Hamm shares how he structures his personal and professional network as a series of rings, with immediate family and best friends at the core. In the ring nearest the core, Hamm includes mentors, bosses, and peers who have been engaged, reliable, supportive when he has asked for help in the past.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

How Family Support Helps Tech Career Flourish

In Chapter 15 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Hamm involves his wife in all major decisions and finds assurance in her support and high-tech work experience. For higher level life advice, Hamm goes to his Dad for perspective and wisdom.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Geoff Hamm on Ways Childhood Shapes Personal Values

In Chapter 16 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental to Shaping Who You Are Today?" Hamm shares how seeing his parents' go through a divorce as a child taught him how he would and would not treat his wife as an adult. As he starts a family, his childhood experience keeps him mindful of how to disagree with his spouse in front of their children. Hamm also shares the profound influence his late grandmother had on developing his passions for cooking and respect for strong-willed women.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

How Having Kids Makes You Appreciate Your Parents More

In Chapter 17 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Are Your Family Relationships Changing As You Get Older?" Hamm notes that having children instantly allows you to better understand your parents and what you put them through as a child. He learns to be less selfish as he gets older and starts a family.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

When to Move Your Family From the City to the Suburbs

In Chapter 18 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "What Factors Did You Consider in Your Decision to Relocate From the City to the Suburbs?" Hamm finds that moving to the suburbs comes down to providing more space for his family. In making the move, he also considers public school options for his kids. He finds moving to the suburbs helps him slow down and embrace family life more fully.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

How to Adapt Parenting as Infants Grow Into Toddlers

In Chapter 19 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How is Your Parenting Approach Evolving as Your Children Grow From Infants into Toddlers?" Hamm shares how as infants, the little babies are about the basics - feeding, changing, sleeping. As his two children grow into toddlers, Hamm finds nearly every moment becomes a teaching moment and learns to make time to have these conversations with his kids.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Why Wanting to Be Rich is a Waste of Time

In Chapter 20 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, mobile business executive Geoff Hamm answers "How Are Your Aspirations Changing as Your Experience Grows?" Growing up, Hamm remembers always wanting to be rich. Now nearly twenty years into his career, he finds that ambition seems more like a waste of time. He finds success more about waking up and loving what you do while also having an opportunity to raise a family. More than anything, Hamm learns that spending precious time with family is irreplaceable, especially after family members pass away.

Geoff Hamm is a business development executive and VP Strategic Alliances at mobile marketing platform start-up Applovin in San Francisco, CA. Previous to Applovin, Hamm held senior sales management positions at Tapjoy, Scribd, Electronic Arts, Yahoo!, Orbitz, IAC and Excite where he built deep relationships with advertisers and brands. Hamm graduated from the University of Illinois.

Preston Smith on Having a Spouse Who Supports Your Career

In Chapter 11 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "Where Has Your Family Been Most Supportive in Your Career Development?" Smith shares how having a supportive spouse has given him security in trying times as he has grown from teaching into an education entrepreneur. The support grows in significance as Preston and his wife start a family.

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows. 

Preston Smith on Marriage Encounter Influences on Married Life

In Chapter 12 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "What Has Marriage Taught You About Teamwork?" Growing up, Smith watches his parents attend marriage encounter relationship building groups and sees the positive impact it has on their marriage and the family. He learns that marriage is a daily commitment that needs daily attention. By making that daily commitment to marriage and his spouse, Smith finds he learns a lot about life and the importance of staying positive.

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows. 

Preston Smith on Staying Humble When You Think You Are Successful

In Chapter 18 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where Are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?" Smith shares a big life lesson he learned from crashing a car while in high school. The lesson reminds him to stay humble even when you think you have everything figured out. As a professional, this helps Smith embrace support from an executive coach, his Aspen Institute Pahara Fellowship cohort and a group of advisors he terms his "kitchen cabinet."

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows. 

A Question to Ask Your Child Each Day After School

In Chapter 19 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "How is Your Parenting Approach Evolving as Your Children Grow From Infants into Toddlers?" With a 3-year old and a 5-year old both now in school, Smith learns ways to engage his kids after the school day. Getting advice from a cohort member from his Aspen Institute Pahara fellowship, Smith asks not "What did you learn today?" but rather "What questions did you ask in school?"

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows. 

Preston Smith on Being Present for Your Kids When Traveling for Work

In Chapter 20 of 22 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, elementary charter school network CEO Preston Smith answers "What Does It Mean for You to Be Engaged in Your Children's Education?" As CEO of a growing company, Smith is challenged by time-consuming work commitments, from traveling to meetings to doing an executive MBA, as he works to be a present parent at home to his two young kids. He learns to make sure he has touch points with his kids when traveling and have some kind of presence at school events such as games or dances even if he is not there physically. To ensure he has time at home, he blocks out Friday nights and Monday nights for family time.

Preston Smith is co-founder and CEO of Rocketship Education, the highest performing low-income school system in California. After graduating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Smith joined Teach for America. After three years teaching 1st Grade, he founded a district school in San Jose and became its principal. Smith was selected as a member of the 2010 class of Aspen Institute New Schools Fellows.