9: YP Perspective – Know Yourself, Be Open + Discover Your Dreams
An entrepreneur, marketer, coach, and brewery co-founder Nicole Cendrowski joins us for a fabulous conversation on dreams and taking advantage of opportunities.
Show Notes:
- Nicole’s journey from college to brewing beer
- The beer brewing landscape in the Southeast
- Being open to what life brings your way
- Remember that what’s right for you may not be right for someone else
- Being okay with going against the advice of others
- Don’t let your age or gender affect decisions to pursue something new
- Facing your fears head on and being brave
- Develop yourself through education to build wisdom
- Fewer barriers to entry with rise of technology and access
- Importance of not only envisioning you dream, but also taking the next steps and moving ideas into action – you’ve got to work for it
- Create habits that you don’t want to break
- Don’t lose the joy in your journey
- Fun contest / giveaway with Fireforge once they are open!
- Nicole’s advice to the next generation, to someone starting out: “Be very careful who you share your dream … stay positive and just go for it. If you’re waiting for an endorsement or stamp of approval, you’re not going to get it.”
Guest Bio – By day, Nicole helps industry leaders formulate impactful marketing, sales, and client care strategies through one-on-one coaching, training and consulting. She’s also the director of engagement for A-LINE Interactive, a work-hard, play-hard web development and digital marketing firm that works with fun companies and non-profit organizations across the Carolinas. By night, Nicole is the co-founder of Fireforge Crafted Beer, a brewery-in-planning in Greenville, SC. Fireforge exists to give people a place that ignites their spirit of adventure and exploration.
Connect with Nicole:
Resources / References:
- Brooke Bristow – Bristow Beverage Law
- Shama Hyder, Uphill Conversations Podcast Episode 43
- Uphill Strategies: Follow us on Facebook to be notified of upcoming training courses on Testing Your Dream
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8: YP Perspective – Willingness to Change Direction and Chart a New Course
Young professional Yasha Patel joins us for an Uphill Conversation on her move from public defender to entrepreneur. How her drive and work ethic helped her vision become a reality.
Show Notes:
- Yasha’s journey from public defender to renovating and opening a new event space in Greenville, SC
- Importance of investing back into one’s community
- Courage, bravery and self-belief
- Pride and finding fuel in your heritage and upbringing
- Be open to learn and be inspired by others’ stories
- Utilizing mentors and asking powerful questions
- Entrepreneurship as a Young Professional
- Working towards balance at work and at home
- Lessons learned and advice for YPs
Guest Bio:
From her work as a public defender to her role as owner and operator of The Rutherford event venue, Yasha has always thrived on a fast-paced environment, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to exemplary client service. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and her law degree at Florida A & M. She practiced law in South Carolina and then served as a public defender for 3 years representing all types of cases from juvenile cases to serious felony cases. In 2016, Yasha’s entrepreneurial spirit inspired her to change course and renovate an old building, creating a new venue space in an area of Greenville that is historically under-served. Her vision is to be on the forefront of an urban revitalization project in a part of the city that hasn’t yet seen such a transformation by growing The Rutherford into one of Greenville’s premier event venues and catalyze growth in the area by inspiring other entrepreneurs to open up businesses in this same area.
Connect with Yasha:
- Website: therutherfordgreenville.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/therutherfordgvl/
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yasha-patel-99206313/
- Instagram: @TheRutherfordGVL
References:
© 2017 UCYP (Uphill Conversations Young Professionals) (UCYP is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production)
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7: YP Perspective – Co-Work & Collaboration
Young Professionals Harold Hughes and Ben Moore join us for an Uphill Conversation on startup culture, collaboration and co-work space.
Show Notes:
- Helicopter parents in the workplace
- Building and protecting community
- Taking ideas to execution – risk, evidence, confidence
- Establish credibility by sharing your idea and build your tribe
- “It makes more sense to lose my shirt today than my house tomorrow”
- Know your goals and drive towards them: be flexible, but keep your eyes on your “North Star” (your focus and mission)
- Misconceptions on startup culture
- Supporting innovation and the startup community in Greenville, SC
- Benefits and challenges of co-work space and finding your niche
- Importance of building both a diverse and inclusive co-work community
- Be prepared for obstacles, the unexpected, and the “dips”
- Predictability is overrated, learn from yours and others’ failures
- It’s limiting to think and live on “what-ifs”, you need to focus on “blooming where you’re planted”
- Value of perseverance and hard work
Connect with Ben & Harold:
- tForm website
- Parmetric website
- BANDWAGON website
- BANDWAGON Twitter
- BANDWAGON Facebook
- The Collective at Society Hall
Guest Bios:
- Harold Hughes is the Founder & CEO of BANDWAGON – an online marketplace and fan community designed to improve the game day experience for sports fans everywhere. As a leader in the growing startup community in Greenville, South Carolina, he is the Co-Managing Director of Collective: a coworking space for small teams and entrepreneurs, Director of the Founder Institute Greenville chapter, and is a member of NEXT, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Harold is actively involved in the community with ventures like, Rebuild Upstate, TEDx and Hands On Greenville. As a strong believer in mentorship, he makes time to speak with youth and his fellow peers about his journey to entrepreneurship and how he has found success along the way.
- Ben Moore is the Founder & CEO of tForm – an advanced manufacturing company for the packaging industry and Co-Founder & CEO of parmetric – a technology and manufacturing company built for designers and engineers. Continuing his passion for engineering, design, and manufacturing Ben is actively involved and sits on the board for Technology Schools and Career Centers around the Upstate. As a leader in the growing startup community in Greenville, South Carolina, he is the Co-Managing Director of Collective: a coworking space for small teams and entrepreneurs and Director of the Founder Institute Greenville chapter.
Resources/Articles:
- Helicopter Parents in the Workplace, Lindsey Pollak
- UCYP Facebook Group
- UCYP Twitter: @TheUCYP
- UBJ Article on Harold and Ben
- The Founder Institute
- 1 Million Cups – Greenville, SC
© 2017 UCYP (Uphill Conversations Young Professionals) (UCYP is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production)
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6: YP Perspective – Agility, Flexibility and Looking Ahead
Founders of DesignLi, Keith Shields and Joshua Tucker, join us for a conversation on agility and flexibility as young professional entrepreneurs and leaders.
Show Notes:
- What led them to change directions from education to app development
- Value of strong relationship in launching and leading a business
- “Fair” is relative – life is what you make of it and everyone adds own individual perspectives and values
- Importance of constantly improving yourself and learning through failure
- Challenges of young entrepreneurs and leaders
- Evolution and shifts in starting a business
- Stereotypes around age in the digital industry and working across generations
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Knowledge and having confidence in your own abilities
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Consistency, Communication, Continuous Learning, Clarity and Community
Connect with Keith & Josh:
- Website: designli.co
- Facebook: facebook.com/designli
- Twitter: @designlico
Guest Bios:
- Joshua Tucker is a Partner and COO of Designli. Joshua is in charge of delivery and client success, working tirelessly to ensure designers, developers, and project managers deliver amazing products that create happy clients. He has worked on and supervised over 100 projects since co-founding Designli. Prior starting an app development company, Joshua co-founded Applits.com, winner of Inc.com’s Coolest College Startup of 2014. Joshua enjoys photography and fitness when he’s not at work.
- Keith Shields’ passion lies in creating digital experiences. Luckily, he’s able to do that full-time with Designli – where he helps clients empower digital relationships through the design and implementation of custom mobile software. Outside of work, Keith enjoys fitness, heading up the Ohio State University Alumni Association here in beautiful Greenville, and seeking out the latest and greatest sour beer.
© 2017 UCYP (Uphill Conversations Young Professionals) (UCYP is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production)
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5: Mentorship in the Modern World
In this episode of UCYP we discuss how mentorship and mentor relationships are evolving in the modern era. We dive into the benefits, the challenges and the opportunities.
Show Notes:
- The word “mentor” can sometimes be intimidating
- It’s important to be open, authentic and coachable
- Best mentor relationships happen organically
- Don’t let fear keep you from asking for initial connection
- Crossover between mentorship and leadership development
- Benefit of having multiple mentors – different mentors serve in different ways based on expertise, experience and life achievements
- Importance of setting relationship ground rules
- It’s ok to disagree with your mentor and make a contrary choice: know yourself, your values, trust your gut and do what’s best for you and your career
- If you’re not hearing “no”, you’re not doing enough – it’s ok to fail
- How to open the door for a mentor to become a coach as you grow
- Value of peer-to-peer mentor relationships
- Think of your mentors as an “career board of directors” and evaluate diversity in terms of age, sex, experience, race, etc.
- Remember that there is incredible diversity within generations
- Intentional communication to close the gap between + within generations
- Reverse mentorship / “mentoring up”
- Coaching vs. consulting and being willing to say you don’t know the answer
- Coaching is all about asking powerful questions
- Advice Jamie and Lindsey would offer to generations coming up:
- “Life shrinks or expands in preportion to your courage”
- “Take time to figure out who you are and magical things happen”
Connect with Jamie & Lindsey:
Guest Bios:
- Lindsey McMillion Stemann – Principal of McMillion Consulting, is a business consultant, speaker, writer, and trainer. She has worked with thousands of professionals and organizations on how to use LinkedIn as a business tool to drive revenue. After living in the Washington DC-Metro Area, she moved to Greenville in 2011 and is proud to be closer to her Clemson Tiger Alma Mater. She is co-leading a Navy SEAL initiative in Greenville through The Honor Foundation, a San Diego-based nonprofit. She is also a Leadership Greenville Class 42 graduate and is Curriculum Co-Chair of Leadership Greenville Class 43 and the incoming Class 44.
- Jamie Patterson – As the Director of Career Services and Student Experience for the Clemson MBA Program, Jamie Patterson focuses on the entire student experience including career services and professional development opportunities. She runs the internship program for the MBA and teaches courses on Career Development and Business Communication. As a passionate career coach, Jamie takes great joy in watching the Clemson MBA students succeed, while also by helping her corporate connections find exceptional talent for their organizations. Jamie is the 2011 recipient of the Clemson University Board of Trustees Award for Staff Excellence. Jamie is an active member of the MBA Career Services and Employer Alliance, Greenville Society of Human Resource Management, South Carolina Association of Colleges and Employers, and the National Alzheimer’s Association Advocate Network. She is a mentor for the Greenville Chamber’s Pacesetters Program and will complete Leadership Greenville in 2018.
Resources:
- Greenville Chamber Pulse Young Professionals Pacesetters Program
- Uphill Conversations Interview with Jessica Nazarali
- I’m not a millennial, I’m an old millennial – New York Magazine
- Uphill Conversations Inner Genius podcast
© 2017 UCYP (Uphill Conversations Young Professionals) (UCYP is an Uphill Strategies, LLC production)
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