Twins Talk it Up Podcast

Episode 71: Leader By Accident

Not all incredible influencers initially set out to be in the spotlight or to become the leader. Their rise to leadership is usually framed not by a desire for a title but by a respond to a need. Our guest Jim Rafferty shares about this being the case through his new book, Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life. Jim is not only an author, but he is also an entrepreneur serving as the Principle of JMRketing, LLC.We learn how an unforeseen event led to Jim answering the call to lead and how this would repeat itself years later when he began his own business. We ask Jim to touch on one of his core strengths of storytelling and on the role stories can have in leaving a lasting impression.We discuss the need for stepping outside our comfort zones, as this is often where we most challenge ourselves and experience our greatest growth. Jim touches on the importance of gratitude and on being able to ‘give yourself a pat on the back’ and how we need to acknowledge our progress. You will be particularly inspired by something as simple as ‘6 more words’ and how words can have an incredible impact personally and organizationally. After picking up Jim’s book, you will begin to start looking for and apply your own ‘scoutmaster minutes’ in your life. Be leaders of intention even if it is initially by accident. To learn more about Jim Rafferty and to get a copy of his book, ‘Leader by Accident: Lessons in Leadership, Loss and Life’, visit https://www.leaderbyaccident.com/Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 70: Leading Through Trials

There’s something to be said about how great food can bring people together. Every region has that special cuisine and dish you need to try whenever you visit. When you mention Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic, you instantly think Crab Cakes and Seafood. We are pleased to have our friend John Minadakis, co-owner of Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and co-host of the Crabcast podcast join us. We ask John to share about his resolve to call upon the Greater Baltimore community when this global health pandemic crippled the local hospitality industry. We speak about how starting the Famous Fund has helped to mitigate the impact of the pandemic by bringing relief and support for 31 restaurants having raised over $500,000.John has a set of 'leadership commandments' he lives by. They are:1. One Strike Policy 2. Support those that support you3. The Spartan Mindset4. Take Everything PersonallyJohn states that, "When it's time to feed my family and to keep my father's legacy going…Those are my four commandments, and I refuse to break them."We also discuss the importance of Partnerships, Guy Fieri as well as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Partnerships are built on trust and a shared vision. He has brokered some incredible partnerships including with the Baltimore Ravens NFL organization. Jimmy’s has been featured on the program, ‘Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.For more information about Jimmy’s Famous Seafood and to order some of their incredible crab cakes, visit https://jimmysfamousseafood.com/. Also, be sure to listen to his podcast, the CrabCast.Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 69: Gender Equity Increases Impact

We can all hope and talk about true equality or we can go after it. We are pleased to have a true change agent and champion for gender equity join the program. Chaitra Vedullapalli is the Co-Founder and CMO of Meylah as well as the Co-Founder of Women in Cloud. She is also an author and an accomplished speaker. We ask her about her experience with the Cloud and her journey in becoming a tech entrepreneur. It was her desire to increase awareness through an economic development initiative platform to support women technology entrepreneurs by generating $1B in economic access. Chaitra stated that "when you have a tribe, you have a voice and when you have a voice, you can move policies and change the game". We ask about the Women in Cloud platform and how we all can be advocates and partners in this vision. In one of her TED Talks, 'Creating economic access for women in the age of digital'Transformation, Chaitra speaks about the importance of creating access. She calls access, economic currency. She also touches on SIP, an acronym for Serving, Influence, and Partnerships. We need to create more access points and share this currency if we are going to see true equity. We appreciate Chaitra sharing about discovering her own voice and for her emphasizing how important Public Speaking Training organizations like DSB Leadership Group can be for propelling your influence and impact. To learn more about Chaitra, visit https://chaitravedullapalli.com/ and https://www.womenincloud.com/Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 68: Leading Beyond the Sports Field

Less than 2% of NCAA athletes ever move on to compete at the professional or Olympic level. Of those who play at the highest level of competition, many are faced with the challenge of answering what a post sports career looks like. Danielle Berman is the CEO of Tackle What’s Next and the host of the Big League Philanthropist podcast. She joins us to share about the journey an athlete goes through when transitioning to life after sports. No matter the industry, many suffer from an identity crisis, and this is only compounded when that career or position is disrupted. We ask Danielle about imposter syndrome, mental health and helping athletes to shift their mindset – to change the narrative. A part of the Tackle What’s Next platform is centered around community and storytelling. Community to lean in and learn from, as well as storytelling to recognize their story – their brand.A key to their success is being able to embrace both the challenges as well as the successes of their sports careers. They are some of the best candidates for organizations looking for passionate and goal-oriented leaders. We also touch on how these leaders can be advocates for their communities. Danielle points to the WNBA as an example of professionals using their platform to make an impact. Danielle also shares what she is learning about herself and her own leadership working with incredibly talented and driven personalities. What are your personal takeaways working with incredibly talented and driven professionals? Let's tackle what's next and focus on building out people and leaders and not just athletes. For more information about Danielle and her mission, visit https://www.tacklewhatsnext.com/ Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading:--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 67: Leadership Mindset

There are many incredible benefits of incorporating executive coaching as a part of your strategic growth plan. Increased productivity, maximizing potential, and removing mental barriers are a few worth mentioning. Including coaching and prioritizing mindset development is not an indication of a problem or a sign of weakness. On the contrary, executive coaching is a worthwhile investment that will benefit both you and your people.One of the most important factors to the success of any organization is that of the leader’s mindset. We discuss the 2 types of mindsets that have been proven to affect a leaders’ ability to set the vision, achieve peak performance and cultivate the right culture. We break down:Growth vs Fixed MindsetLearning vs Performance MindsetA growth mindset is where you believe that intelligence and talent can be developed with effort contrasted with a fixed mindset which lends to a belief that intelligence and talent are unchangeable. A learning implies a motivation to increase competence and mastery of a skill compared to a performance mindset which has as its motivation to gain favorable judgement or outcome. We also briefly discuss an industry giant who exemplifies this leadership mindset. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft set as a mission to reform the culture of his company. We look at his book, ‘Hit Refresh: The Quest to Rediscover Microsoft’s Soul and Imagine a Better Future for Everyone’. Nadella explains that mindsets– particularly growth mindsets– were his primary focus when revamping Microsoft. With this leadership, the company’s market capitalization and stock price has more than tripled.Let’s not resist success. Let’s embrace a commitment to invest more in executive coaching and toward the development of the ‘leadership mindset’. Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading:--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 66: Partner Matching to Maximize Growth & Profit

Online dating sites are designed to find ideal partners. What can organizations do to increase the probability of finding ideal partners? We are pleased to have Dina Moskowitz, CEO of SaaSMAX join us to share why it is important for organizations to build successful strategic channel partner programs – for organizations to find their perfect matches. Dina recognized a niche for a partner matching services platform, utilizing data driven intelligence to connect organizations with the right partnerships as well as provide customized channel insights to ‘shorten the runway’ and improve the success of channel sales programs. Resources including dollars and talent can be wasted without tools and processes for identifying and building of the right partnerships. Instead of jumping to a search engine and combing through your CRM, work with an ever-growing marketplace of over 200,000 partners. the largest online marketplaceThe Pareto Principle states that 80% of the success or results comes from 20% of the inputs or in this case, partners. Dina shared that they have discovered this to be close to 95% and 5%, which further makes the point for developing a successful partner strategy. Knowing this will allow for the proper allocation of time and resources including marketing dollars. This will also lay the framework for extending the careers of channel sales directors, chiefs, and reps. What does your channel partner ecosystem look like? How often if at all, do you monitor and evaluate your channel strategy? Assessing your channel program will help to pinpoint any trends as your current partners may not be your ideal partners in the future. There is no need to ‘swipe right’ when SaaSMAX is the perfect tool for identifying perfect strategic partners. To learn more about Dina and SaaSMAX, visit https://saasmax.com/Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 65: The Art to having impactful conversations

We personally learn so much about the art of communication from leaders across all industries. You are certainly in for a treat as we speak with an incredible professional about the art of interviewing and asking great questions. Michelle Wright is a News Anchor and Morning News Reporter with Cox Media Group and is the Founder of Wright Choice Media. She brings over 25 years of experience including that of an Anchor for Kiss 104.1 FM and as a Media Producer at CNN where she wrote, edited, produced, and anchored news that consisted of top stories from both national and international news wires for CNN’s numerous Radio affiliates around the world.We ask Michelle a wide range of topics including:The difference between an interview in person versus a virtual interview.What it means to talk at someone compared to having an actual conversation. Why are so many are ‘married to their script’ and lack the ability to connect and engage those they are interviewing. How to reengage or direct a conversation that has gotten off course.What can hinder great conversations from taking place. We also appreciate Michelle’s point of how you must be willing to ask questions that people (your audience) really want to know. Be creative in asking quality questions that are unique and reflective of you doing your research. We are driven to become one of the best leadership communication programs and learning from professionals like Michelle Wright certainly will help with our own development. You can follow Michelle on Twitter: @michellewright6 and Instagram: @itsthewrightstuff Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 64: Effective Answers to Generate Trust & Wins

Sales leaders are equipped with scripts, guides, playbooks and are trained to ask penetrating discovery questions. How often are these same professionals taught and coached on how to provide appropriate answers; answers that build rapport, trust, and ultimately generate a higher percentage of wins?Dr. Brian Glibkowski joins the program to share from his research and training on how leaders can influence decisions by learning a framework of answer types. Brian is a University Professor, TED Talk speaker, the CEO of Semplar Science, and the author of the book: Answer Intelligence: Raise your AQ. He believes that “Questions are for curiosity and answers are for influence", which is why he developed the Answer Intelligence (Answer AQ) model. This framework is designed to complement a similar framework of questions into answer types. These 6 answer types include: Story, Metaphor, Theory, Concept, Procedure and Action. He also speaks to the 5 high AQ practices that every professional should know, and they include: Provide 6 answers, Answer twice, Provide compliments, Answer with style and Answer in context. Identify the key questions, before and during a conversation, and then communicate the right answers. There really is a big difference between providing a good answer and providing a great, dare we say the right answer. Intelligence AQ helps professionals communicate their value proposition and build greater trust with prospects and clients. He challenges professionals to be the best in their field by understanding that AQ is a skill that can be improved upon. He calls leaders to become students of their craft and of their organization’s story.To learn more about Dr. Brian Glibkowski and his work, visit www.raiseyouraq.com . Also pick up his book, Answer Intelligence: Raise your AQ.Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.--- more ---If you are looking to learn the art of audience engagement while listening for methods to conquer speaking anxiety, deliver persuasive presentations, and close more deals, then this is the podcast for you.Twins Talk it Up is a podcast where identical twin brothers Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown discuss leadership communication strategies to support professionals who believe in the power of their own authentic voice. Together, we will explore tips and tools to increase both your influence and value. Along the way, let’s crush some goals, deliver winning sales pitches, and enjoy some laughs.Danny Suk Brown and David Suk Brown train on speaking and presentation skills. They also share from their keynote entitled, “Identically Opposite: the Pursuit of Identity”.Support and Follow us:YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCL18KYXdzVdzEwMH8uwLf6gInstagram: @twinstalkitupInstagram: @dsbleadershipgroupTwitter: @dsbleadershipLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/twins-talk-it-up/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/dsbleadershipgroup/Facebook: facebook.com/TwinsTalkitUpFacebook: facebook.com/dsbleadership/Website: dsbleadershipgroup.com/TwinsTalkitUp

Episode 63: Coaching Your Teams to Success

What does leading a sales team have in common with coaching football? What lessons can you learn from what many consider is the greatest college football coach of all-time? We are pleased to have Mike Girouard join us to speak about coaching similarities he sees between sales and the sport of football. He also shares his thoughts on how sales leaders can accelerate the development and performance of their sales teams through coaching.Mike Girouard an experienced Vice President of Sales and Chief Revenue Officer in the technology and healthcare IT field with Aesto Health. He was also the former SVP of a Multimillion-dollar IT Services Firm and one of Cisco’s largest partners in the Southeast.We ask Mike to share how he coaches his teams to success. He believes assessments like DISC can prove invaluable as sales professionals are not all motivated the same way. He also speaks about what takes place during his sales meetings aka the huddle, and how they can be used for sharing best practices as well as for dissecting both wins and losses. He often asks, “what's the most insightful thing we can learn from our customers”? This creates a collaborative environment where every team member eventually coaches everybody else. You will hear Mike’s passion for his people and even how he identifies talent for leadership positions. He states that “you can spend time with the rockstars”, but you have to be able to “polish off the piece of coal to realize that there is a diamond in there”. He also shares two ways to establish trust: be vulnerable and to get into the trenches with your team. Go and coach your teams to success. To learn more about Mike and Aesto Health, visit https://www.aestohealth.com/Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.

Episode 62: Recipe for Success

The pandemic immersed the world into a deep health and economic crisis. With so much uncertainty, it is startups, small businesses and the spirit of entrepreneurship that are driving signs of growth and recovery. We are honored to have our friend Rich Munguia join the program and spread a little support for the entrepreneurial community. Rich is the Founder, CEO & Sr. Advisor of Elite Speaker Services as well as the Founder, CEO & PR Advisor of Elite Public Image. Rich, much like other serial entrepreneurs including Elon Musk and Richard Branson, are exceptionally creative, full of ideas and driven to set up new ventures. These leaders are problem solvers and Rich identified a solution for connecting events and organizations with incredible talent. He created a platform with the speaking bureau to highlight a wide variety of speakers, and a public relations organization to support the brand and image of those professionals. Do you believe you have any solutions to pressing needs? We ask Rich to share his recipe for success. He shared 4 ingredients: 1. One Brand at a time. Know which brand requires your focus. 2. There are two sides to every coin: One side is the brand strategy, image development & PR, and the other side is the prospecting, client conversion & acquisition, relationship management, sales, monetizing, etc. While both sides are important, which side of the coin needs your attention today?3. There are three basic elements for long lasting success in any business or financial exploit: (1) A problem or issue exists, (2) You provide a solution, (3) There is something special or uUnique about you or your organization 4. Four Elements: (1) Your Effort, (2) Your Skill - How Proficient you are at whatever you do, (3) Your Character, Attitude & Charisma – How likeable you are – Being kind, being selfless, being attractive, being genuine, being friendly, being humble, etc. (4) A little bit of Luck Are you making the most of the opportunities you get? If you are looking for a keynote speaker for an upcoming event, start with the hosts of your Twins Talk it Up Podcast. You can also reach out to Rich and his team will make sure you have the right voice with the right message. Learn more about Rich by visiting https://elitespeakerservices.com/ and https://elitepublicimage.com/ Be sure to Support and Follow us by Subscribing & Downloading.