What It Means to Be a Leader - Mike Germano

In Chapter 8 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What Does It Mean to Be a Leader in What You Do?"  Germano differentiates between industry leadership and company or community leadership.  He focuses less on self-promotion and more on bringing people together to accomplish goals and produce team-based work.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

Why NYC is a Young Digital Talent Destination - Mike Germano

In Chapter 9 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How is the New York City Digital Community Changing?"  He notes how progressively more ambitious college graduates are entering digital and tech and how New York City adapted to attract ambitious young talent pool that wants to create digital products and services and is open to not relocating to Silicon Valley.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How Leadership and Management Roles Differ - Mike Germano

In Chapter 10 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How Do Leadership and Management Differ in What You Do?"  Germano acknowledges his weaknesses as a manager and what he has done to compensate in a team setting.  He shares what behaviors and experiences have shaped him as a leader and how he has recruited and empowered managers working in digital media.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

Why to Sell Clients on Your Company Culture - Mike Germano

In Chapter 11 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How Are You Becoming Better at Selling Your Vision?"  As Germano sees his company grow, he shifts his focus from fighting to establish its brand reputation to selling the story of his company culture.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University.

How to Foster Employee Career Development - Mike Germano

In Chapter 12 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How are You Creating New Opportunities for Your Employees to Grow Their Careers?"  Germano and his team continually seek to improve ways to strengthen employee career path opportunities including international office expansion and new product development.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How to Create an Inclusive Company Culture - Mike Germano

In Chapter 13 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What Steps Have You Taken to Create an Inclusive Company Culture?"  Germano finds culture building the most important thing happening at his company.  Culture building comes with respecting each other and listening to one another.  He finds these often get lost as organizational charts become more tiered and employee levels get clustered.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University.

Why to Seek Advice From Entry Level Hires - Mike Germano

In Chapter 14 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "At This Moment in Your Life, Where are You Seeking Advice and Coaching?"  Germano notes the valuable advice he gets from speaking with entry-level hires, typically recent college graduates, who have worked less than a year at the company.  This helps him stay connected and focus on the little things shaping company culture, mission, and values.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

When to Ask for Help Organizing Work Schedule - Mike Germano

In Chapter 15 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What is Your Comfort Zone and What Do You Do to Break Free of Living in It?"  Germano notes how he avoids processes and schedules as best he can, preferring the freedom and flexibility an ad hoc approach provides. He notes how his increasing responsibilities have made him embrace things he previously resisted, and how an executive assistant has helped him manage the transition.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How to Delegate Responsibility - Mike Germano

In Chapter 16 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How are You Learning to More Effectively Hand Off Responsibility?"  First, Germano notes the importance of sincerity and communication in transitioning responsibility to junior staff.  He notes the importance of establishing trust in this process.  Second, he highlights how he identifies the appropriate person and manages the political response to the decision.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How Social Media Agency Expands into Middle East - Mike Germano

In Chapter 17 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How Did You Go About the Decision to Expand Your Business Internationally?"  Germano walks through the process he and his team took to bring his social media agency into the Middle East, specifically the United Arab Emirates (UAE).  With an office in Dubai and a satellite office in Abu Dhabi, Germano believes he can tap into new talent and business opportunities not currently being met by services elsewhere.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How Maturing CEO Stays Connected as Company Grows - Mike Germano

In Chapter 18 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "How are You Learning to Handle the Growing Responsibility of Managing a Larger Company?"  He shares how company growth is forcing him to be less involved with day to day responsibilities as more and more are handed off to team members.  He recommends keeping a couple little tasks to stay connected to balance the larger executive meetings and company initiatives that take him away from previous responsibilities.   Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

How to Maximize Company Potential in a Growth Phase - Mike Germano

In Chapter 19 of 19 in his 2012 Capture Your Flag interview, social media ad agency CEO Mike Germano answers "What New Challenges as You Grow Your Business?"  Germano shares how as the company grows and provides more client services, there is a need to illustrate and maximize value to the client.  He also notes the importance of setting expectations internally with a fast growing team.  Mike Germano is co-founder and CEO of DUMBO, Brooklyn based social media advertising agency Carrot Creative.  Previously, Germano ran for and was elected to public office in Connecticut.  He is a graduate of Quinnipiac University. 

Brett Goldman on What Gets Easier and What Gets Harder

In Chapter 1 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "What is Getting Easier and What is Getting Harder in Your Life?" Goldman finds few if any things getting easier. Hard things tie back to a continual need to find motivation and embrace challenges. Goldman finds self-motivation helps him overcome mental challenges by defining and pursuing goals, measuring performance against himself and not others.

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City. He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  What's getting easier and what's getting harder in your life?

Brett Goldman: Honestly, I don't think anything's getting easier. Are things getting harder? I think that it's always been pretty hard. I don't know that the necessarily harder you keep having to try harder, and you keep trying to push yourself and challenge yourself, and that's always been a challenge for me. And so it doesn't get harder but it remains hard. Nothing's getting easier, I mean, life is not that easy, you just have to kind of go out there and try your best, and hopefully, you get results from that.  

Erik Michielsen: When you say hard, how would you kind of break that apart?

Brett Goldman: I think that I mean mentally hard. I wouldn't say necessarily laziness, but it's self-motivation and -- as opposed to competing with other people. I'm much more interested in self-motivation but it's easy to be drawn into competing with other people. So I, you know I've been working on trying to be more self-motivated. And getting my -- getting the feeling of success from being more motivated that way.

Brett Goldman on How Personal Priorities Change With Age

In Chapter 2 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "How Are Your Personal Priorities Changing as You Get Older?"  Goldman learns to be less focused on being an outsider and focus more and embrace the unifying characteristics and experiences people have in common. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  How are your personal priorities changing as you get older?

Brett Goldman: It's funny I -- you know, I always thought of myself as different in some way that -- some special way or -- I guess I'm realizing that I'm not any different than anybody else, I'm just trying to make it in the world. And, you know, we're all human and we all kind of want the same things.

So when you're younger and you look at older people in each stage of their life, 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, there's a general sense of what the priorities are and what I'm realizing is that my priorities are the -- are very much in line with that general sense. And I don't know if that's because I'm not individualistic or it's just nature of humans, I think it's probably more the latter. You know, I want a family, I want be secure financially. Stuff like that. I guess those goals haven't changed but they've gotten closer, and so they've gotten more immediate. 

Finding Your Best by Stringing Together Small Wins

In Chapter 3 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "When Are You at Your Best?"  He shares how he is happiest and most confident when he finds himself atop a series of small successes, be they work accomplishments, social experiences, or simply enjoying a day. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: When are you at your best?

Brett Goldman: I'm at my best after I've had small successes. Usually I compile successes on top of successes, and that's when I'm happiest, and when I feel the most confident and I'm able to go out and kind of bravely face the world and know that I can do something, pretty much whatever I wanna do. 

It doesn't have to necessarily be an accomplishment, per se, at work or in my social life or anything. It can just be enjoyment of the day or something like that, you know? I'm very driven by moods and if I can kind of pile one mood onto the next, then that usually gets me going into a more confident and happy and success-prone state. 

Brett Goldman on Finding Meaningful Work in Retail Real Estate

In Chapter 4 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "What Makes Your Work Meaningful?"  Goldman revisits why he pursued a real estate career - to enhance streetscapes - and how his experience developing properties has followed. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What makes your work meaningful?

Brett Goldman: Well, what we do is urban shopping. And if anything, enhancing a streetscape is part of what I got into real estate for. And, you know, any of the projects that we undertake, some of them do have that element to it, some of them don't but the ones that we do are actually having an effect on places. For example, the project that we built on Flatbush and Nostrand, in Brooklyn. It really extended this retail quarter that had kind of ended right before our project site, it extended it, you know, a couple hundred more feet because we brought a new anchor to the neighborhood. And what you see now, when you go there, it just changes people's patterns, and if you can change people's patterns and kind of elongate a retail area then it just brings more liveliness to a neighborhood, and bringing more liveliness to a neighborhood makes it more attractive and thus increases property values. And that's kind of what I got into real estate to do. 

Erik Michielsen: And is it working out as you'd expected?

Brett Goldman: Yes and no. As I said, some projects have that element to it and some don't. Sometimes you're building shopping centers and with, you know, a very suburban shopping feel with the parking lot and walking up to the shopping center which I don't think does that, it provides a necessary service and it provides a place for people to go and interact and, you know, all in all I think that retail is better than internet because it gets people out in terms of shopping.

Brett Goldman on How to Make Neighborhoods Nicer Communities

In Chapter 5 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "What Has Jane Jacobs Taught You About What Makes Communities Great?"  Goldman shares how Jacobs' writing about eyes on the street and low to medium density neighborhoods have informed his efforts to unify neighborhoods into communities. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen: What has Jane Jacobs taught you about what makes communities great?

Brett Goldman: She really taught me that places make communities.

Jane Jacobs was all about eyes on the street and it was -- she was all about low-density or medium-density neighborhoods that as a result of their nature caused communities to happen. And I sometimes try to apply that to my work. But it's very difficult. It's like place-making. 

How Real Estate Projects Shape into Enjoyable Career

In Chapter 6 of 14 in his 2012 interview, real estate development executive Brett Goldman answers "What Do You Enjoy Most About What You Do in Your Real Estate Career?"  Goldman shares a big picture view of how long-term deals begin adding up and defining his career path. 

Brett Goldman is a Real Estate Acquisitions Director at Triangle Equities in New York City.  He holds a BA in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a Masters in Real Estate Development from the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation.

Transcript: 

Erik Michielsen:  What do you enjoy most about what you do in your real estate career?

Brett Goldman: I think that I enjoy the successes. Each deal takes a long time. A short deal would be a year, and a long deal is 8 years, a really long deal is 15 years, you know, and I haven't really been involved in a 15-year deal or even an 8-year deal, but there's a lot of build up in each real estate deal. There's so many different parts that need to go into making it successful, so many different to details. Now I kind of delight in the details to some extent and sometimes it takes away from my ability to deal with the bigger picture but I always kind of bring it back to the bigger picture and say, okay, "well, this is what's gonna get it done," but all the little details are always really necessary. So when you've done all the little details and you've put them all into place and when the big picture kind of comes together and none of those details fail and it actually makes it successful, that's a personal success to me.

Erik Michielsen: How do you celebrate success?

Brett Goldman: I think that I just feel good about myself. To some extent, it's like a notch in my belt, that I've done that. And I'd like to do more and more, I’d like to make more and more notches in my belt, thus more and more successful projects and I'm able to shepherd them.

Erik Michielsen: Where do you find validation in your work?

Brett Goldman: Just from that, from the individual successes. As I said, there's a long work up until a success. A success might be a lease signing, it might be a sale, it might be an approval, it might be a completion of a construction project, it might be a financing. But in each of those cases, there's so many different parts that go into them, you know, there's a lot of different parties out there that can be involved. There's a lot of different strings that you need to pull to get everything together, and then when it comes together, whether it's a big success like a sale or even a small success like a financing, which sometimes can be a big success, but either -- in any of those cases, each of those are kind of milestones and that's where I feel that’s success.