Mike Troiano

Check out this interview with Keri Ohlrich. She's a pro on the science of building great teams—and trust me, that matters now more than ever. Building a successful business isn’t just about the idea; it’s about the people you bring on board. Keri cuts through the fluff and gives you actionable insights on fostering a culture where talent isn't just recruited, it's retained. She discusses how core values should be the backbone of your hiring strategy. Forget the common pitfalls—embrace the hard truths if you want to create a dynamic team. Implement these strategies and you'll see a boost in not just productivity, but overall morale. Want to hear how that really translates into success? Read her take, then get involved. Share your thoughts or any tips you've picked up along the way. https://lnkd.in/edMZAAVX People Managing People

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We are thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Community Equity Partners (CEP), led by visionary CEO Eric Dobson! CEP is the first angel investment firm to join forces with Investor Readiness, and we couldn't be more excited about the potential this brings! About CEP: Community Equity Partners (CEP) is a dynamic syndicate of investor groups and funds that unites subject matter experts, entrepreneurs, and venture-style investors to collaboratively identify and invest in high-potential opportunities across various sectors. Their focus areas include technology, SaaS, medical devices, biotech, AI, financial services, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, energy, and clean tech. CEP typically invests in 10 to 20 companies annually, with individual investments ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, actively participating in seed through Series D offerings. This partnership marks a significant step forward for Investor Readiness, as we align ourselves with an esteemed firm like CEP to empower more minority-owned businesses and entrepreneurs to achieve their growth goals. Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting journey together! 🚀 #PartnershipAnnouncement #InvestorReadiness #AngelInvestment #CommunityEquityPartners #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #Growth #MinorityBusiness #AI #TechInvestments #FutureOfBusiness

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This book was instrumental during the startup journey; I highly recommend it. Per, Mark Zuckerberg, please read it twice to digest Peter's thoughts. Gallup Comscore, Inc. Condé Nast Hearst URBN (Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie Group, Free People & Nuuly) TBWA\Worldwide Apple Comcast NBCUniversal Yelp Cox Media Group Stuart Greif Jeff Sward Pinterest TikTok Snap Inc. Rakuten MagicLinks Shopify CJ Retail Ecommerce Ventures Initialized Capital Social Capital Founders Fund Private Equity Insights Private Equity Insider Amway Herbalife Nutrition #ai #machinelearning #patents #web3 #computervision #googlevision #adtech #martech #retailers #brands #socialcapital #currency #blockchain #crypto #digital #digitalmarketing #amway #yelp #ebay #retail #instagram #people #facebook #media #thankyou #finance #ecommerce #privateequity #venturecapital #business #economy #commerce #marketingtechnology #marketingandadvertising #advertisingstrategies #optin #optout #data #datadrivenattribution #tagitemsnotfriends #michaeljordan #digitaladvertising #future #brand #social #socialcurrency #onlineadvertising #partyplanning #nutrition #reach #ml #algorithms #podcast #leaders #writing #simonsinek #yourwhy #socialcurrency #fico #socialcapitalindicators #socialcapitalasametric #mespoke #amazon impact.com WooCommerce WordPress USPTO TikTok Snap Inc. #ai #artificialintelligence #ml #machinelearning #aicantsolveall #data #deeplabs #copilot #pilot #msazure Microsoft Apple ChatGPT OpenAI Informatica Appian Corporation #ethicalai

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If anyone is in North County San Diego, on Thursday May 2nd, we will be hosting a tech entrepreneur and investor meet up at 5:30pm. We’ll have a couple speakers, one of which is a fin-tech start-up raising a round, followed up by a presentation on the state of the stock & crypto market. We host these events quarterly and usually get a lot of founders and investors to attend. If anyone is interested, please message me and I can send you the details. LaunchPad San Diego #startups #startupincubator #entrepreneur #investing #crypto #meetup

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Just watched this video from Gazzo’s Steaks, a small restaurant in suburban Philly that really understands the power of storytelling. 🎥 They make an amazing cheesesteak, but let’s be real—sometimes good food alone isn’t enough. You need to form a real emotional connection with your customers. What I love about what Gazzo's is doing is how they’re using storytelling as a marketing tool, giving people a behind-the-scenes look at their operation. It’s not just about the food, it’s about building a relationship with the community. This kind of connection keeps customers coming back, and it's a powerful strategy for any small business to embrace. Check out how they’ve nailed it with this video series—it’s authentic, relatable, and a great example of using more than just product to create loyalty. https://lnkd.in/ecU_c5_n

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Being recognized among this incredible group of 50 CMOs means so much more than an award. To me, it represents my core beliefs and the support of those who share them: ► Elevating marketing's strategic value by using AI responsibly and embracing our true north—deep market insights and the customer's voice. Marketing must be central in gathering and interpreting customer insights to drive decisions. We must not lose our way. [Related post, https://lnkd.in/ewnZhrmr] ► Understanding that, just as we can't out-exercise a bad diet, we can't out-campaign a bad product-market fit. The use of AI amplifies what's there—good or bad. [Related post, https://lnkd.in/gbd2wWt2] ► Evolving from Chief Marketing Officers to Chief Market Officers, shifting our focus from tactics to the strategic value of deeply understanding the market. ► Being team players who collaborate with the executive team and are willing to shift dollars and resources not just within marketing, but into and out of marketing to best support the business and its goals, given what we confidently know about customers and the market. ► Using AI responsibly to stay connected to the market, adapt to changing customer expectations, and drive competitive advantage. ► Upskilling and reskilling our teams, investing in their careers, inspiring them with what possible with AI, and driving adoption strategically. [Related post: https://lnkd.in/gw5Vpf6b] ► Recognizing the value of both full-time CMOs and fractional CMOs who serve multiple companies in driving business success. ► Supporting diversity and inclusion across gender, culture, and perspectives. [Related post: https://lnkd.in/gB_k-TPQ] To everyone who shares these beliefs, on this list or not, I'm grateful and I congratulate you. A heartfelt thank you to Pavilion for this recognition and for bringing together such an inspiring community of marketing leaders. #ResponsibleAI #CMO #StrategicMarketing #ProductMarketFit #CustomerInsights GrowthPath Partners

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Paying big-name data providers 5-figure annual contracts for bad data? Discover why 50k businesses have switched to Wiza (or just enjoy our 3rd Mac vs. PC-inspired ad) 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

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Taking your company from organic growth to PE-backed scaling can be a wild ride! I sat down with Steven Freidkin, CEO of Ntiva, Inc., for this month's episode of the Scaleup Valley podcast, to talk about his journey navigating the transition from organic growth to PE-backed scaling. We dove deep into the critical mistakes to avoid and the key strategies for success. And guess what? It’s live now on all platforms! It's a must-listen for any CEO looking to scale their business with the support of private equity. Hit the link in the comments to listen now! #ScaleUpValley #Podcast #StevenFredkin #Ntiva #PEGrowth #BusinessGrowth #CEOs #Leadership

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 🌟 Exciting Announcement 🌟 Upflex is honored to be a part of MatterMore Bringing Work Back to Life: Redefining Leadership in the Age of AI on November 14th at the New York Times Building as a key sponsor, alongside brilliant leaders who are shaping the future of work, AI, and culture design. In a time of rapid tech innovation, alongside challenges in well-being and connection, this event brings together founders, investors, and change-makers dedicated to creating more resilient, trust-based, and human-centered workplaces. Together, we’ll explore essential questions, such as:  How can leaders prioritize well-being and collective thriving?  What skills are essential for leadership in a world reshaped by AI?  How do we build systems that support trust, resilience, and collaboration at scale? Join us for an evening of deep discussion and connection with inspiring thinkers, including Elizabeth J. Sandler (futurist + workplace transformation), Anthony Onesto (Gen Z + HR innovation), Fabiola Cazares (early-stage growth + FoW investor) - hosted by MatterMore Coo+Co-Founder Matt Shenker Why Attend? This gathering is more than a conversation – it's a call to action to rethink leadership for a tech-driven future. Whether you’re a founder, executive, or investor, this is an opportunity to:  Connect with like-minded visionaries dedicated to transformative change  Discover how to lead with purpose and adapt in a world where tech reshapes our identities and workplaces  Gain actionable insights for designing work environments where people can truly thrive When: November 14th, 6:30 PM - 9:00 PM  Registration required:  https://lu.ma/3vqynbi7 I look forward to seeing you there as we collectively chart a path toward a future of work that brings life back into the workplace.

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>>This is how you can understand the strengths and weaknesses of your pitch deck. Use Pitchwise to track every single page of your pitch deck and improve your pitch: https://www.pitchwise.se

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I was thrilled to welcome Brian Hanly, Co-Founder & CEO of Brightbeam and serial entrepreneur to the Talent Smart Podcast. https://lnkd.in/eg6ayepu Brian has a deep specialisation in the application of modern ways of working, product management and technology to help enterprises compete in the digital age and to help growth companies to gain commercial advantage with the help of AI. In this episode, we explored the commercial advantages to companies from AI. We explored the adoption and deployment rate and what is stopping companies from progressing with their AI agenda.  In addition, Brian gives us some very helpful models and methodologies to follow when assessing the potential of AI for your business.

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Jay Nathan and I's first podcast interview! I'll share clips and more details tomorrow. Check it out on your favorite podcast player 👇 #saas #enterprenuership #podcast

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Melanie Zimmermann and Melissa Burdick provide excellent insight into scaling Retail Media Networks. “The right approach and the right partners can help them balance control and customization with standardization and scale. By seeking out modular solutions that enable flexibility, demand connectivity and innovation, retailers can build a retail media network that will have demand flowing in—and that will thrive for a long time to come.”

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It's been three months since I moved from GE CMO to CEO of Said Differently and shifted from the Brand side to the Agency side. I'm still learning and taking it all in. But this week I had the chance—thanks to the incredible Jenny Rooney—to share some insights at ADWEEK’s  #Brandweek, which I'd like to share here as well. 1. Agencies get the clients they deserve. I grew up with the opposite maxim: Clients get the work they deserve, but the reverse is just as true. If you want to be a true thought partner, invest the time to deeply understand your client's challenges and provide the solution and team that best meets their needs—not just what's readily available. 2. I'd like to turn the clock back and remind my former self to always fully explain the business problem absent of a potential solution.      3. Is the idea being presented right for the specific client or challenge...or is it just a good creative idea? 4. Passion matters. If you can't get excited about a client's challenge, stay home. 5.  STOP selling, shut up, and listen. Don't try to know everything. Instead, strive to understand the problem and offer a fresh perspective.   6. Staff client accounts with people who are genuinely interested in the brand. I’m proud to say this is one of Said Differently’s biggest differentiators—we build a unique team for every project. At most agencies, there's always that one account everyone wants to work on. With us, every client is that client.  7. Let's stop talking about how broken the agency model is and remember that we all GET to do this work every day. We get to be problem-solvers and magic-makers. We get to discover the DNA that makes every brand unique. And if we're really smart about it, we get to truly partner – brand + agency – to drive growth. I’m excited to evolve this list as I continue to work with you all on the other side of the table. 

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Discussing the blind spots that company founders sometimes have, and the importance of humility and coachability. Thanks Rasika Rajagopalan for having me on the podcast!

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Coming soon at the Human Founder Podcast- Sister Power! 💪 Avigail Levine and Batsheva Moshe, two inspiring sisters with a shared vision. Get ready to be inspired as we dive deep into the world of entrepreneurship, family, and life. We had a candid conversation about their personal journeys, the challenges they've faced, and the lessons they've learned along the way. Batsheva Moshe, Avigail Levine, The Human Founder Google for Startups

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"If you need to be told what to do, don't buy a company-" This is just one of many unfiltered insights from my chat with M&A expert Chelsea Wood. Join us for this profound & unapologetic discussion on The Expertise Economy. Thinking about acquiring a business? Before you do, ask yourself this: When faced with a challenge, do you wait for instructions or take action? According to Chelsea, your answer could make or break your success as a business owner. "If you're somebody that's always just figured stuff out and you'll be fine, then you'll be fine as a business owner too." But if you're not? "Don't buy a company," she warns. Whether you're actively looking to buy or just curious about this wealth-building strategy, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in now. It might just change your entrepreneurial trajectory. #TheExpertiseEconomy #MandA #Entrepreneurship #WealthBuilding

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Employee terminations: they're a topic no one wants to discuss but that every company has to navigate. Thankfully, Melanie Naranjo and wonderful Ethena advisor (& Gusto's former People Leader) Jess Yuen are tackling this tricky topic for the next Ethena webinar. Register if you want to learn more about these topics: How to pressure test whether or not termination is the right course of action Best practices for communicating termination decisions How to minimize risk and choose the best course of action when things get tricky Critical pitfalls to avoid

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