Parental Influence

Jason Anello on Parenting a Startup From Infancy To Adulthood

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, creative director and marketing agency co-founder Jason Anello answers "To What Do You Aspire and How Has This Changed If At All Over the Past Five Years?" Over five years interviewing with Capture Your Flag, Anello maintains an aspiration toward discovering the next and new. He shares how his co-founder work parenting his startup marketing agency out of infancy toward adulthood embodies this focus. He notes that work has him "in the weeds" nurturing and caring for the business he co-founded and has helped to build over five years.

Jason Anello is a founding partner and creative director at Manifold Partners, an award-winning marketing agency. Previously, Anello worked in creative leadership roles at Yahoo!, Ogilvy & Mather, and Digitas. Passionate about food, friendship and travel, Anello also runs the Forking Tasty food blog. He earned a BFA from University at Albany. 

Mike Germano on Asking for Advice Before Your First Baby is Born

In Chapter 2 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Did You Go About Seeking Advice as You Prepared for Parenthood?" Germano shares what he has learned by seeking new parent advice from his parents, in-laws and even old professors. As an entrepreneur, he gets insight on ways to carve out time with a newborn amidst a busy work travel schedule. He also benefits from a role model father who sets an example he can follow on his own parenting journey.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on Setting Aspirations as a New Father

In Chapter 3 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "To What Do You Aspire as a Father?" Germano shares how he aspires to be a supportive, encouraging father who pushes his son, and hopefully future children, to be the best they can be. He builds upon the support received from his own parents to look for ways to get behind his child's passions and help them learn and grow.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Mike Germano on How Parents React to Becoming Grandparents

In Chapter 4 of 23 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, VICE Media Chief Digital Officer Mike Germano answers "How Have Your Parents Transitioned into Becoming Grandparents?" The oldest of three siblings, Germano is the first child in his family to have a baby. His parents, both Italian-American, react with joy and pour their love into their new grandson.

Mike Germano is Chief Digital Officer at VICE Media, a global youth media company based in Brooklyn, New York. Germano joined VICE Media via its 2013 acquisition of Carrot Creative, a social media agency he co-founded and led as CEO. 

Jullien Gordon on Committing to Help an Alcoholic Family Member

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, business coach and public speaker Jullien Gordon answers "How Do You Measure the Quality of Relationships in Your Life?" Gordon shares how he measures relationships based on deep or frequent contact. He notes how he has reprioritized the relationship he has with his mother, a recovering alcoholic. Going through Al-Anon, a program for relatives of alcoholics, Gordon realizes he can do more than hand off responsibility to his mom's Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) sponsor. He chooses to make a daily commitment to call his mom each day and be there for her on her recovery journey.

Jullien Gordon is a business coach and consultant to organizations, individuals and teams who want to increase performance, motivation, engagement and retention. Gordon is also a public speaker on career planning for colleges, conferences, and corporations. He earned a BA from UCLA and MBA and M. Ed degrees from Stanford University. 

Bijoy Goswami on How to Empower a Stewardship Ethic in Others

In Chapter 6 of 17 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, community leader Bijoy Goswami answers "How Are You Learning to Empower Others to Be Community Stewards?" Goswami shares how he first has one-on-one coaching conversations with others. He then employs models of experience to visualize the journey stewards might take and how that compares with something like community service. This then allows him to refine what it means to steward and how that energy will express itself.

Bijoy Goswami is a writer, teacher, and community leader based in Austin, Texas. He develops learning models to help individuals, organizations and communities live more meaningfully. Previously, he co-founded Aviri Software after working at Trilogy Software. Goswami graduated from Stanford University. 

Audrey French on How Becoming a Mom Puts Life in a New Perspective

In Chapter 3 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Has Becoming a Mother Put Your Life in a New Perspective?" French shares how having her first baby has made her appreciate both her parents and the process of life better. After having a baby, she no longer identifies as a child and instead sees herself as a parent generation of a new generation of children.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on The Joy of Becoming a Mother

In Chapter 8 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Has Becoming a Mother Been a Transformational Experience for You?" French shares how becoming a mother has forever changed her life. She shares how she realized how empty her life was without being a mom, even with so many positive things happening in her personal life and career.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on How Parents Embrace Becoming Grandparents

In Chapter 10 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "How Have Your Parents Transitioned into Becoming Grandparents?" French shares how her divorced parents have individually embraced becoming first-time grandparents. Her father decides to get engaged to his partner while her mother goes through the circle of life by saying goodbye to a passing parent and welcoming a new grandchild into the world.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on Why to Carry on Family Christmastime Traditions

In Chapter 11 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Family Traditions Do You Feel are Important to Carry on to Future Generations?" Getting married introduces French to husband's family Christmastime traditions, including decorating the Christmas Tree and watching "It's a Wonderful Life" together as a family. She and her husband look to carry on these Christmas traditions while also doing the same with daily traditions such as having family dinners to talk about the day as a family.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Audrey French on How New Parents Handle Living Up to Expectations

In Chapter 12 of 21 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, new mother Audrey Parker French answers "What Role Does Living Up to the Expectations of Others Play into the Way You Live?" French shares how living up to parent and societal pressure has become more visible after having a baby and becoming a mother. She and her husband decide to focus on what they feel is best for their child's wellbeing and to push aside pressure to conform to or compromise on what looks better to others.

Audrey Parker French is a new mother living with her husband and son in Austin, Texas. Before leaving work to focus on family, French co-founded CLEAResult, an energy management consulting firm she helped grow to #144 on the 2010 Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies and then sell to General Catalyst Partners. She graduated from Wake Forest University. 

Randall Metting on How Role Model Father Inspires Marketing Career

In Chapter 2 of 16 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, Randall Metting answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Metting shares how his father Roger Metting exposed him to the world of music and hooked him on live performance, including an early Bruce Springsteen show in 1978. From there, Randall's father supports his interests in branding and promotion and, as the music industry changes, pushes Randall to pursue a career in agency and event management companies.

Randall Metting is a brand development and marketing manager at Dulce Vida Spirits in Austin, Texas. Over 17 years, he has built brands in spirits, luxury real estate and lifestyle, music, and sports industries. He has been a radio personality at KGSR Radio and a marketer at a hyperlocal startup acquired by NBC Universal. Metting earned a BA in Advertising from the University of Florida and started his career at The Coca-Cola Company. 

Hattie Elliot on Ways Childhood Play Teaches Entrepreneurial Spirit

In Chapter 1 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Elliot grows up with supportive parents who encourage her to be creative, focusing less on TV and more on arts and crafts projects, baking, cooking and finger painting. Growing up around boys teaches Elliot to be tough. Time spent climbing trees, building sandcastles, and wrestling shape her creative entrepreneurial spirit she later embraces as a business owner.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hattie Elliot on How to Give Better Advice When Asked for Help

In Chapter 4 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Have You Learned to Give Better Advice When People Ask You for Help?" As someone who connects people for a living, Elliot learns the most important part of giving advice is to underpromise and overdeliver. This helps to ensure she is able to meet expectations when making promises. She also learns to refine her willingness to help others to focus on a smaller group of close friends and family.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Hattie Elliot on How Building a Business is Like Raising a Child

In Chapter 9 of 15 in her 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, entrepreneur Hattie Elliot answers "How Are the Stakes Increasing as You Invest Another Year Building Your Own Company?" As a small business owner, Elliot finds raising a small business is like raising a child. In the early infancy stages, she is more forgiving of wrinkles but as it matures, she is less forgiving and more focused on a plan. She learns to embrace getting older and becoming more confident and assured in her approach to raising the business.

Hattie Grace Elliot is the founder and CEO of The Grace List, a social networking company that creates destination events and experiences to forge lasting personal and professional connections across its young professional members. Elliot graduated from the University of Cape Town in South Africa, where she studied economics, philosophy, and politics.

Michael Olsen on 3 Ways Parents Instill Positive Values in Children

In Chapter 4 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "What Childhood Experiences Have Been Most Fundamental in Shaping Who You Are Today?" Three childhood experiences shape Olsen's view of the world. First, his parents teach Olsen the importance of travel, culture and inclusiveness. They do this by taking him to Europe as a 9-year old and, every Christmas, inviting people from different cultures to the Olsen family dinner table. Second, his father gets him involved in local Rotary Club events, specifically an annual pancake breakfast fundraiser, which teaches him the value of community service. Third, his parents show him the value of education by not only pushing him to value education but also by constantly learning and leading by example.

Michael Olsen is a management consultant at Accenture. Previous to Accenture, Olsen earned dual MBA and MPH degrees at Emory University in Atlanta. Olsen earned a BA in symbolic systems from Stanford University and spent the next five years founding an IT consulting company, Redwood Strategies. 

Michael Olsen on How Parents Influence Long-Term Career Goals

In Chapter 5 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "How Are Your Personal Experiences Shaping Your Professional Aspirations?" Following the lead from his role model parents appreciation for service and travel, Growing up in a stable household, Olsen pushes himself to serve others in need and make that the professional priority in his life. This leads him to work in health care consulting that allows him to travel often and help many different groups of people.

Michael Olsen is a management consultant at Accenture.  Previous to Accenture, Olsen earned dual MBA and MPH degrees at Emory University in Atlanta. Olsen earned a BA in symbolic systems from Stanford University and spent the next five years founding an IT consulting company, Redwood Strategies. 

Michael Olsen on Finding Ways to Be More Accepting of Change

In Chapter 16 of 20 in his 2014 Capture Your Flag interview, management consultant Michael Olsen answers "What is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?" Olsen shares how he is his father's son in that he tends to resist change in his life. He looks for fun ways to change up his routine, including moving to new cities and using phone apps to create systems that help him mix things up.

Michael Olsen is a management consultant at Accenture. Previous to Accenture, Olsen earned dual MBA and MPH degrees at Emory University in Atlanta. Olsen earned a BA in symbolic systems from Stanford University and spent the next five years founding an IT consulting company, Redwood Strategies.