How Parents Influence Journalism Career Choice - Yoav Gonen

In Chapter 8 of 11 in his 2011 interview, education reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Role Has Family Played in Shaping Your Career Aspirations?"  Gonen notes how he was a late bloomer and was uncertain where to take his career in the years after college.  Gonen's father sees his passion for writing and suggests Yoav apply to a journalism graduate program.  The rest is history.  Yoav Gonen is the education reporter for the New York Post newspaper in New York City.  He earned a Masters of Journalism degree from New York University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.

Transcription: 

Erik Michielsen: What role has family played in shaping your career aspirations?

Yoav Gonen: I was a late bloomer. I remember quite vividly when I was on the phone with my - it might have been both my parents, I definitely remember my mom was on the phone, my parents pretty much paid for all of my undergrad college, and I told my mom that I was signing up for a pottery class and she said, "You're gonna be paying for that class, because I'm not." And, you know, they were always - they pressured me a little bit but not too much, I mean, they were trying to help me figure out what to do.

It took me a long time, interestingly, it was my dad who - I don't really know - it seemed kind of out of left field at the time but he's - I was, I think in my mid-20s, and he's like, "Maybe you should go to journalism school." And, you know, I enjoyed writing but I wasn't on my college newspapers staff or anything like that. He kind of threw that out there over dinner one time and it struck me, you know, I don't know why I hadn't considered it but it seemed like a good idea and as soon as I got to journalism school, I knew that was I wanted to do.  

How Newspaper Reporter Yoav Gonen Finds Meaning in His Work

In Chapter 9 of 11 in his 2011 interview, education reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  He finds meaning when his writing helps people and helps to change things and make a difference in the community.  He shares a story about connecting to an Iraq-based Marine in a holiday story on families separated by military commitments.  Yoav Gonen is the education reporter for the New York Post newspaper in New York City.  He earned a Masters of Journalism degree from New York University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.

Learning Investigative Reporting in Newspaper Journalism - Yoav Gonen

In Chapter 10 of 11 in his 2011 interview, education reporter Yoav Gonen answers "What are the Challenges that Come with Doing Better Investigative Reporting?"  Gonen notes two challenges in his investigative work.  The first is actually finding the time to do it amidst his daily reporting responsibilities for the paper.  The second is more effectively overcoming obstacles and finding new ways to get the same information.  Yoav Gonen is the education reporter for the New York Post newspaper in New York City.  He earned a Masters of Journalism degree from New York University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.

How to Develop a Writing Voice in Newspaper Reporting - Yoav Gonen

In Chapter 11 of 11 in his 2011 interview, education reporter Yoav Gonen answers "How Are You Developing Your Voice as a Writer?"  Gonen shares how he is looking for longer form writing exercises to complement his short form style at the New York Post.  He frames his writing and writing aspiration by thinking how it compares and contrasts with the styles of Ernest Hemingway and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  Yoav Gonen is the education reporter for the New York Post newspaper in New York City.  He earned a Masters of Journalism degree from New York University and a BA in English from the University of Michigan.

Finding Meaning Connecting the Global Creative Class - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 3 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  McKenzie finds meaning and purpose creating and growing a conference that connects the next frontier of leadership, the creative class.  He sees the artists, the entrepreneurs, the philanthropists, and the technologists as the next wave of change makers and sees a need to bring them together. By connecting them and creating value, McKenzie finds personal reward in return.  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 Gets Easier and What Gets Harder - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 4 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?"  McKenzie finds greater comfort with the process of building out his global event series and finds challenge in the organizational and managerial details and duties that come with larger responsibilities.  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 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. 

How to Scale Your Vision Globally - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 6 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "How Have Your Aspirations Changed Since Launching the Influencer Conference?"  He notes how he walks into situations with an open-ended mindset using minimal guidelines to shape his vision.  By launching a conference and scaling it globally in 2011, he feeds on team-based and resource-based achievements to go from proof of concept to scale event size and global footprint.  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. 

Creating a Global Incubator for the Creative Class - Phil McKenzie

In Chapter 7 of 21 in his 2011 interview, Phil McKenzie answers "What Criteria Have You Used When Considering International Expansions?"  McKenzie notes the importance of understanding his core purpose, to facilitate the global development of the creative class.  He then ties that back into the cornerstones of his initiative, keeping a close eye on when to move forward or when to hold back expanding into new cities.  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. 

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. 

Why Mutual Respect Matters in a Marriage - Kyung Yoon

In Chapter 6 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Kyung Yoon answers "Why is Mutual Respect Important in a Marriage?"  Yoon notes how she met her husband, an established lawyer, while she was going through a career change.  Changing careers into broadcast journalism, Yoon finds support in her partner through the process, from internships to on-air reporting, and learns a valuable lesson to respect and support a partner's career choices.  Kyung Yoon is the executive director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) in New York City.  An award-winning journalist and documentary film producer, Yoon earned an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History and Political Science at Wellesley College.

Networking Advice for Women Professionals - Kyung Yoon

In Chapter 8 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Kyung Yoon answers "How Do You Use Your Network to Get Help Making Career and Life Decisions?"  Yoon notes how she focuses more and more on connecting young female professionals.  Over her career, she learns to make networking a priority.  She shares her learning experience and offers advice to young women wanting to improve networking skills.  Kyung Yoon is the executive director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) in New York City.  An award-winning journalist and documentary film producer, Yoon earned an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History and Political Science at Wellesley College.

What Makes a Professional Women's Network Valuable - Kyung Yoon

In Chapter 10 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Kyung Yoon answers "What Makes a Professional Women's Network Valuable?"  Yoon shares how networks provide women professionals a chance to support one another based on shared experiences, positive and negative.  By helping empower one another in a network, Yoon shares how participants are then able to more powerfully pursue careers.  Kyung Yoon is the executive director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) in New York City.  An award-winning journalist and documentary film producer, Yoon earned an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History and Political Science at Wellesley College.

How Diversity Shapes Leadership Development - Kyung Yoon

In Chapter 11 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Kyung Yoon answers "What Role Has Diversity Played in Shaping Your Leadership Style?"  Yoon notes how growing up as an Asian American, she was very mindful that she may be perceived differently than how she saw herself.  She made it a priority not to be seen as submissive, quiet, and timid, traits typical of Asian women stereotypes. She pushes herself to be more outgoing and outspoken in her work as a Fox News television reporter, incrementally honing leadership skills useful in diverse communities.  Kyung Yoon is the executive director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) in New York City.  An award-winning journalist and documentary film producer, Yoon earned an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History and Political Science at Wellesley College.

Using Communications Training to Lead a Community - Kyung Yoon

In Chapter 14 of 19 in her 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, non-profit executive Kyung Yoon answers "How Has Your Communications Experience in Film and News Been Most Valuable in Your Non-Profit Work?"  Yoon notes how her communications training has been a transferable skill from media reporting to the other side of the camera in her non-profit philantrophy and community organizer work.  Kyung Yoon is the executive director of the Korean American Community Foundation (KACF) in New York City.  An award-winning journalist and documentary film producer, Yoon earned an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University and a BA in History and Political Science at Wellesley College.

Jullien Gordon on How to Adapt a Message to Reach New Audiences

In Chapter 11 of 16 in his 2011 Capture Your Flag interview, motivation teacher Jullien Gordon answers "How Are You Learning to Adapt Your Message to Reach Different Audiences?"  Gordon details how he has found his initial audience, the millennial generation, may not value his message as much as the older baby boomer generation.  He finds the boomer generation has changed jobs multiple times and identify with Gordon's career development insight because of their deeper experience.  He then shares how he is approaching a transition to speaking to older, more experienced generations.  Gordon is the founder of the Department of Motivated Vehicles, a personal and professional development company that helps clients identify purpose and map it to successful outcomes. Gordon has written five books and speaks regularly to college students across America.  He earned masters degrees in education and business from Stanford University and an undergraduate degree from UCLA.

Transcript:

Erik Michielsen:  How are you learning to adapt your message to reach different audiences?

Jullien Gordon:  That’s the big thing on the table right now which has been really hard for me to understand is that the millennial generation which I’m a part of, and who I’ve been intentionally trying to impact and expose may not be my ultimate audience.  My ultimate audience actually may be the older generation -- people who are going through the midlife crisis etcetera.  Now I just did a call for alumni at Cornell who were out of employment or considering changing their jobs and these people were 40, 50, 60, 70 years old and the way they received my messages it was just a completely different shift for them. 

Sometimes young people perceive that they know it already, that’s just part of our generation.  We think we know exactly what we’re doing but who really needs what I have to share the most may actually be the older generation.  So for my messages, sometimes people have to stumble a few times on their own to actually get it.  So my messages actually resonate with people who actually have changed jobs two or three times. Not necessarily that person who’s in their first job, it’s the person who’s like you know I’ve tried this on my own and I haven’t been able to get to where I want to go and when you think about who’s in that space in the market place, it’s actually older generation of people actually above 30 and 35 years old who are going through the midlife crisis and realize that they’ve been trying it on their own for quite some time and they haven’t been able to get the results that they want from their career, from their life, from their relationships and so my audience actually may be shifting and I’m taking that into consideration as I go into 2012.

The big question is how do I access that audience is that audience going to be able to receive me and will they listen to me because of my youthfulness and so I’m thinking about partnerships that will give me an entryway to that because the ideas that I have resonate with my generation because we’re technological, we think in this forward thinking way and the people who might be most receptive to those kind of messages are people who think in the old paradigm and that’s actually our parents’ generation, generation X and the boomers and so I’m actually thinking about making shifts in regards to my market because that’s where the biggest change from point A to point B might actually occur.