The Company We Keep

Fanni met Doug through Omni Ventures and spent this past weekend in Baja with Summit Series. Tune into their discussion from earlier this year about his book and proprietary framework, enabling every leader to own their mountain. Key Themes: 1. The Power of Extreme Empathy - Moving beyond surface-level understanding - Seeing the world through your audience's eyes - Creating authentic connections through genuine understanding 2. Breaking Free from Copycatting - Why imitation limits brand potential - The rise of original creators and creatives - Building distinctive brand voices 3. The Joy Factor: Rombauer Case Study - Transforming wine marketing through emotion - Focusing on joyful moments and memories - Creating authentic brand experiences 4. Employee Engagement as Brand Foundation - Aligning internal teams with brand values - Creating consistent brand representation - Building authentic brand ambassadors Notable Quotes "We are entering an age where the actual creators and creatives have a bigger chance of success." "The joy of wine: creating joyful moments and joyful memories." "The biggest mind trap I run into is the copycatter." Doug Harrison has helped successfully guide the brand and product strategies for over 1,000 brands building and successfully exiting a Top 30 Global Market Research and Consulting firm.  He has been Vendor of the Year at Coca-Cola and Finalist at Microsoft.  In recent years, his focus has been on small and mid-size companies leading to his third book, The Rise Framework which recognizes 10 Mind Traps entities slip into that erode their success and solves them with his Rise Framework approach. 

Fanni and Kyle connected thru the Chief of Staff Network. They sat down to discussed the career path of the Chief of Staff they are both passionate about the career path. They talk about the importance of working for a leader who truly inspires you and you can bring value to, the importance of "knowing your value" - as a person, but also know how your role contributes to the bottom line of the business. And so much more including the importance of finding people who bright up any room. Tune in / learn more about Fanni here and Kyle here. Kyle Hagge is currently Chief of Staff to the COO at Morning Brew, a multimedia company covering the world of business and the business of the world. Previously, he worked at Marquette University, the Housing Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Ballot Ready, and College Possible.

Fanni met Claudia at Shack 15 this summer. They hit it off immediately, bonding over their shared talent / people leadership / startup backgrounds and passion for coaching - finding depth and embracing growth. They talk about their coaching and leadership philosophies, combining nature, community and growth, collaborating on retreats and events. Claudia is an Executive & Career Coach for In-House Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Creatives based in San Francisco and LA with extensive in-house leadership and executive experience in tech start-ups and creative firms. Her coaching practice specializes in helping leaders cultivate grounded confidence that builds resilience and intent in everything they do reviving inner strength, emotional intelligence, conscious leadership, and positive psychology.  Follow Claudia! Follow Fanni!

Introducing the Chief of Staff track - starting in September, Fanni is only interviewing founders and chief of staffs about the company they build and keep. Here she talks about the joys of being both, how controlling your mind and actions are the only skills you need in life, or as they say in Colorado: there is no bad weather, only bad gear. Catch her events, comedy, LinkedIn and more!

Fanni shares her experiences with community, support and growth in San Francisco, how she thinks about "impostor syndrome" and the importance of intentionally being in community that help you grow. The company we keep will be ever more important as the US election season kicks into full gear next week. Have questions? Ask away: [email protected] ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠MT Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠TCWK Website⁠⁠ Instagram

Fanni Gabor is the Founder of Mindfully Transform where she leads Talent Acquisition and Retention across the creative and technology industries. Learn more: TCWK Website MT Website ⁠Connect with her on LinkedIn!⁠ Fanni Gabor offers a serene journey to combat negative thoughts through meditation. With gentle prompts and deep breathing exercises, she encourages listeners to acknowledge negative thoughts while also embracing positive ones, fostering internal alignment and empowering actions rooted in joy and authenticity. Through mindful awareness, Fanni demonstrates how thoughts shape emotions and actions, empowering listeners to navigate life with intention and positivity. Tune in for a calming exploration of inner peace and resilience.

Fanni shares her experiences and insights from her recent move to San Francisco. Join Fanni as she navigates her new city, shares valuable lessons, and connects with fascinating individuals fostering growth, simplicity, and authentic human connection. ⁠⁠Walk the Talk LinkedIn⁠ ⁠MT Website⁠ ⁠TCWK Website

Join Fanni as she explains her coaching methodology and its immediate impact on work and life - including relationships and achieving goals. With over a decade of recruitment experience, she works with leaders who design the future of work in the world of AI. Learn more: Walk the Talk⁠ LinkedIn MT Website TCWK Website

Join Fanni as she shares updates on her new home in San Francisco and dives into her latest projects, including newsletters, podcasts, coaching, and improv theater classes. Learn about: - finding joy at work and life - Fanni's innovative walking coaching series and its benefits - Saving time through outsourcing tasks - How to blend improv-based games with mindfulness for business success. Newsletter Blog

Fanni's solo episode on the future and transformation of her own work, pausing recruiting and shifting her time to help leaders lead. She is piloting leadership coaching sessions over IRL walks in San Francisco, enhancing team communications and collaboration through improv games workshops and teaching quick and easy skills of meditation and breath-work to destress and be present. Tune in and get in touch to work together! [email protected] https://www.mindfullytransform.co/

This week we launched a new meditation series. Season 1 is tailored to one of the most stressful events in life: the job search process. Drawing on a decade+ experience as a recruiter and 6+ years of teaching meditation, Fanni invites you to take a quick break and recharge. ⁠Check out the full series here!

Fanni and Nya met in Berlin and they sat down IRL in May to record this episode for Nya's podcast "Third Culture Talk." Fanni and Nya take turns asking each other questions and reflecting on their home countries, experiences, work and beyond. Nya Yeanafehn is a multifaceted performer who started out in New York City and is now based in Berlin. He is known for his interesting and funny perspectives on life, love, and everything else. In addition to being a stand-up comedian, he produces the podcast “Third Culture Talk Podcast”. Where he talks with fellow Third Culture kids, people of different walks of life, and showcases their stories. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyamean/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nyamean1 YouTube: www.youtube.com/@nyamean Website: https://linktr.ee/Nyamean

Fanni met AJ, CTO of ThinkSys at Lumos House in Miami and they wanted to dive deeper into his journey from starting a magazine as a kid to co-founding and successfully exiting a cap table management company. He delves into the challenges and benefits of working with family, contrasts the hiring and work cultures between India and the US, and highlights the importance of building a strong community in both personal and professional spheres. AJ is the CTO of ThinkSys, a 450+ person software development agency that helps companies build and scale their engineering teams.  They specialize in Development, QA, and Cloud Infrastructure.Prior to his experience at ThinkSys, he co-founded Capyx, a FinTech company that created a SaaS based solution for Cap Table Management, which was acquired in 2018. Additionally, he is an angel investor and advisor to numerous startups in the LA area. Links: https://thinksys.com/

Fanni met Stephanie LaFlora, founder of Moxie AI, at SXSW in Austin. Stephanie has an incredible journey and expertise in using storytelling to help tech entrepreneurs connect with investors and audiences. Stephanie Laflora is the founder and creative director of Moxie, a brand agency dedicated to crafting compelling narratives and fostering impactful communities for startup founders, and the founder of Crownhunt, a beauty tech company revolutionizing the industry. With a passion for authenticity, empathy, and inclusion, Stephanie leads Moxie in breaking societal norms and telling true, vulnerable stories. Her entrepreneurial spirit and innovative vision have positioned both Moxie and Crownhunt as beacons for those looking to make a cultural impact through their unique journeys. Traction Camp: https://traction-camp.webflow.io/ About the agency: www.moxieaibrands.com Read Moxie Media, STARTUP, CREATIVE, TECH news for culture makers: http://moxieaimedia.com/

Fanni met Dr. Arnon Krongrad at Miami Tech Week. Dr. Krongrad's unique perspective on health sparked her interest amidst the tech-focused group at Lumos House, and she had more questions - naturally! Dr. Krongrad is known to his friends as the man who swam Tampa Bay to raise money for military orphans, ran the Boston Marathon with a broken foot and finished, grappled ju jitsu in the Amazon cloned the rabbit androgen receptor, and introduced laparoscopic prostate surgery. He joined his first house call at age six, delivered babies in remote Africa, treated gunshot wounds in the inner city, and co-authored the first study ever to show cancer prevention with a dietary supplement. It has been whispered that Dr. Krongrad is the man who killed disco. Ezz represents its founder's bottomless curiosity, insatiable zest for life, and love for fellow man. Ezz is a global community of thoughtful adults motivated to reach the highest levels of performance. It shares empirical observations, original analyses, and accumulated knowledge. Ezz does this without regard to popularity or politics. Its mission is to empower members with the knowledge they need to achieve physical, mental, and emotional supremacy. Links: WebsiteMembership form

Fanni met Estrella at Lumos House in Miami and got super inspired by her leadership and mission. Estrella Quiroz, co-founder of Last Farewells, discusses her journey in the death tech industry, shares the challenges of entrepreneurship, the value of collaboration, and the growing interest in sober entrepreneurship, highlighting the importance of living fully and leaving a meaningful legacy. Estrella Quiroz is the Co-Founder & CEO of Last Farewells, a death tech platform that helps people create and schedule last letters, videos, and a personalized memorial page that will get delivered to their loved ones after their passing. Estrella was inspired to be on this journey with Last Farewells because of a voicemail her own dad left behind before unexpectedly dying. His death inspired her to live life to the fullest, so she traveled across 50+ countries using her tourism degree. Now she and her team are on a mission to ensure that no words are left unspoken, by anyone, anywhere in the world. Here are a few links:  Website Instagram  Linkedin

Fanni recruited strategy talent for Mike Bruno's team at Weber Shandwick for years. They reconnected to discusses his career, from being a wheelchair mechanic to a business strategist. He currently works in category design, creating innovative solutions for market dominance, working with clients like Qualtrics and DocuSign. Mike Bruno is a business strategist driven by a passion for the unexpected, where the most innovative ideas emerge. He collaborates with C-Suite leaders uncovering unsolved customer pain points, devising solutions, and crafting a distinct perspective that sets clients apart and positions them for market dominance. With a diverse background spanning storytelling, psychology, design thinking, and creativity, including a master’s degree in psychology from NYU, Mike brings a human-centered perspective to business. PlayBigger.com LinkedIn

Fanni met Zoya Lehrer, cofounder co-founder of Orgo at Lumos House in Miami Tech Week this year. They hit it off immediately and wanted to continue the conversation to talk about entrepreneurship, mindfulness and "balance." Zoya left her corporate career in pursuit of founding a startup that is on a mission to harmonize logistics of daily life. Joined by a seasoned team of 6 professionals, the Team have bootstrapped, juggled families and full time jobs, to proudly bring Orgo to market in under 12 months! Prior executive leadership roles held within Digital Innovation, Digital Transformation, FinTech Partnership Enablement, Global Customer Success, Strategic Planning, Consumer Banking, Capital Markets and more. www.orgoHQ.com  iOS app store (Android coming soon)Instagram for product tips & tricksTikTok for likes & laughsLinkedIn for our Co-Founder & CEO's #femalefounder journeyX for support & feature requests

Fanni saw Martin Gutmann speak at TedX Berlin 2023 and she reached out to learn more about his research and new book, The Unseen Leader Join in their first ever conversation, discussing Martin's work, the action fallacy and what it truly means to be an effective leader. Martin Gutmann is a best-selling author, keynote speaker and Professor of Management at the Lucerne School of Business. Martin's teaching, research and speaking explores how the past can help us explain contemporary challenges around subjects such as leadership and sustainability. His most recent book is The Unseen Leader. How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership. You can follow Martin here: LinkedIn You can learn more about Martin here: 

This week we launched a new meditation series in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month. Season 1 is tailored to one of the most stressful events in life: the job search process. Drawing on a decade+ experience as a recruiter and 6+ years of teaching meditation, Fanni invites you to take a quick break and recharge. Check out the full series here!

Fanni met Ana through Soho House last year and they have been supporting each other's ventures since. Here they talk about podcasting, side hustles, entrepreneurship, how they build and prioritize relationships and their time, and of course what "self-discovery before self-improvement" truly means. Ana is the founder of Theory & Practice, a podcast for Gen Z women aimed at inspiring self-discovery and personal growth. She believes that self-discovery AND self-improvement, understanding AND doing, theory AND practice are the ingredients for personal growth. The Theory & Practice podcast drops weekly episodes every Tuesday at 8am ET. Ana is also an active runner and avid reader. She works in tech in New York City and resides in Brooklyn. Connect with her on Instagram or LinkedIn and follow Theory & Practice on Instagram and TikTok

Fanni did one of her first marketing internships on Chris's team at Regatta in 2012! They reconnected and dove deeper into the world of improv theater, classes and workshops. Did you know that improv catapults personal and professional growth?! Chris is an actor and comedian who currently lives in New York by way of Memphis. He was a regular host for TV Land’s “Prime Movies” and has made appearances on NBC’s “Blacklist”, Bravo, IFC, E Television, Hulu’s “Comedy Time TV", Netflix, Starz, and The Discovery Channel.  He also was selected to represent New York on the TV show “World Cup Comedy” produced by Kelsey Grammar.  Chris has been featured in the films “The Co-Exist Comedy Tour,” “Twenty Million People” “The Best Man” and “Generation Iron 2”.  He’s a regular standup around New York and you can catch him once a month on Saturdays with his improv group The Baldwins. They are the longest-running house team at the PIT theater in NYC for 15 years now. Website Instagram Facebook TikTok

Fanni catches up with a close friend from college. Find out how Meghan became great at quitting - from Harvard to full-time jobs that did not feel in alignment and how she merges passion, purpose, values and business in her current adventure. Meghan is a postpartum doula, mother, and writer based in Harrisburg, PA. She is passionate about community building and believes in the importance of self-care and supporting others. After learning about postpartum doulas a year after her son's birth, Meghan was drawn to the role's focus on healing and empowerment. With a background in the social sciences and professional experience as a baker and cook, she brings a diverse skill set to her work in supporting parents during the postpartum period. Website Instagram

Fanni interviewed an old friend from Sarah Lawrence, Adam Treitler about his decade-long career in Recruitment Operations & HR, spanning across ViacomCBS, Twitter and consulting. Adam is a seasoned professional in the Talent Acquisition and HR enterprise business technology sector, currently consulting on talent transformations for multiple enterprise clients at Recruiting Advisors. His expertise lies in implementing and integrating popular SaaS tools, driving significant cost savings and efficiency improvements across human resources verticals with a specialization in sourcing, recruiting, and talent management. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and with credentials from the MIT CSAIL program, Adam's unique blend of liberal arts education and technical acumen fuels his commitment to human-centered design and AI in reimagining the world of work. ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Fanni reflects on the first 3 months of 2024 and her full year of being a digital nomad - and how it is now coming to an end. Tune in to learn about SXSW, traveling, working, falling in love and more.

Jen Fox was Fanni's client at Justworks - they reconnected to talk more about career paths in HR, consulting, motherhood, the power of emotions and so much more. Jen Fox, a seasoned HR professional with over 25 years of leadership experience, seamlessly integrates an entrepreneurial spirit with real-time learning expertise. Recognized for her pragmatic solutions and her ability to foster inclusive, high-performing teams, she holds the endorsement as "One of the most no-nonsense L&D professionals on the planet." Jen's entrepreneurial journey began with co-founding her first business at 19, paving the way for thriving leadership roles at Nordstrom, Starbucks, Getty Images, and Justworks. Returning to her entrepreneurial roots, Jen now offers trusted coaching, practical consulting, and dynamic corporate workshop facilitation. As the creator of the "Bounce Back Blueprint," a revolutionary model challenging traditional myths about navigating life's challenges, Jen brings a fresh perspective to resilience. When not sharing insights on the challenges of working motherhood on LinkedIn, she can be found immersed in a captivating podcast during early morning walks, navigating life alongside her husband and three kids in Princeton, NJ. Links: ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Substack⁠

Fanni got introduced to David Nebinski, the host of the Portfolio Career Podcast through a mutual friend.  They chat through how to maintain friendships long-term, the value of the company we keep, David's journey into podcasting, the ever-evolving role of Chief of Staff (and how to recruit for it!) and so much more.  David Nebinski is the Host of the 300+ episode Portfolio Career podcast and the Senior Community Manager at the Chief of Staff Network. He also writes the Portfolio Career Substack.  Links: Podcast ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack Instagram

Fanni got introduced to Martina Gobec through a mutual friend and got curious about systems coaching. Martina is a multi-hyphen, a dot connector between experience design, strategy, leadership and systems coaching with 20 years of experience in digital innovation, product development and design education. She is a certified leadership coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and certified Organization and Relationship Systems Coach through Centre for Right Relationship (CRR Global). She works with leaders, teams and organizations to grow relational cultures and build regenerative futures. She is committed to catalysing impactful change across cultures and geographies. She loves mountains, art and the endless rabbit holes of learning. She is an explorer of the mythical, mystical, the unknown and unknowable. Martina lives in Copenhagen with her two kids and their father. Links: Martina's leadership program ⁠Newsletter sign-up ⁠Co-Active Training Institute ⁠CRR Global

Meet Fanni's fitness coach! Patricia is a Sustainable Fitness & Lifestyle Coach who simplifies fitness for perfectionist and high-achieving women.  She places a lot of emphasis on daily habits, consistency and sustainability in the long term. She developed her sustainable coaching philosophy through her personal journey over the past 6 years throughout which she went from party girl to losing 10+ kg, running 16 Half Marathons and doing 2 bikini bodybuilding competitions whilst working in fast-paced 9-5 jobs in tech startups and marketing agencies. Instagram ⁠LinkedIn WhatsApp Group

Met Zahra through LinkedIn last year. Got curious about how working at Snap internationally works (and how her experience was through the M&A!) so we recorded this conversation with Tiffany. We learned all that as well as how Zahra - moved from Azerbaijan to Berlin - got into tech and product management - learned how to grow from feedback instead of seeking mentorship - approaches diverse perspectives as a product owner to drive innovation - thinks about attitude based on some harsh feedback she received - observes differences between US and European working and communications styles / conditions - makes deliberate choices about work - life balance

Fanni recorded an episode about her Valentine's Day this year. She talks about love, friendship, traveling, community, money, AI and beyond. Learn about WHY: - it is not a time to be afraid, but a time to step up and create. - money is the representation of the value we put out in the world. - relationships are like growing flowers. - you should always buy yourself flowers. :)

Find out how Inga - got into tech - chose her mentors - mentors others - experienced and now welcomes grief into her life - hosts spaces to help others process loss - plans to host retreats in the future Inga Driksne is a multi-faceted, multi-lingual Operations Leader, currently based in Mexico City. Originally from Latvia, she was sent to the UK at 14 to pursue education. After graduating from the London School of Economics with a degree in Management, Inga embarked on a career in tech startup operations. With over a decade of experience, Inga has been instrumental in the success of early-stage ventures across Europe, [including IONIQ Group, duel, Guider, and Mastodon]. Now, as an Operations & Strategy Advisor, she guides founders towards sustainable growth. Beyond the tech world, Inga serves as a Board Member at Ok Mentor, with a mission of helping more women succeed faster through mentorship. She is also the founder of Welcoming Grief, a safe space holding for individuals navigating the complexities of grief. Her passion for personal development, conscious living, and connecting people is evident in her diverse interests, which range from wellness and travelling to gastronomy, art, AI, and 35mm film photography.

We talk about: How losing a parent and experiencing burnout led Bianca to quitting her city job, starting her wellness career and launching HumanOS? The impacts of stress on the body and brain. The importance of trusting your decisions. Exercise for mental resilience and how Bianca overcame her toughest times? Adapting and growing a business through Covid. Why will employee-wellbeing require both humans and technology? HumanOS and B2B employee wellbeing companies. How to support and grow teams of intergenerational talent. The importance of individuals finding their own health solutions. Speaker Bio: Co-founder and Director of Wellbeing at HumanOS, a 360° corporate wellbeing platform which combines best-in-field coaching with cutting-edge technology to help users optimize their health and organizations build effective wellbeing systems and environments. Bianca is a Corporate Speaker, qualified Stress Management Specialist, CBT and Mindfulness Practitioner, Level 3 Life-coach, Level 4 Advanced Personal Trainer and originally graduated with a BSc in Psychology. After graduating from university, Bianca stepped onto the corporate ladder and began working for the world's largest IT services company. After a number of successful but extremely stressful years working within the top performing global sales team, coupled with the loss of her father, Bianca saw a dramatic deterioration in her own health and decided to make some changes to her life. She took a year out of work to travel and explore, then when she returned to the UK she decided to implement everything she had learned, add to her qualifications and do something she cared about, thus leading to the start of her wellness career. Bianca has over 10'000 121 coaching hours and has worked with companies including American Express, NHS, Snapchat, CDW and many more. Bianca is also a regular speaker at The University of Cambridge. Follow Bianca⁠ ⁠Email Bianca⁠ ⁠Follow HumanOS Visit HumanOS

Fanni talks about why she started this podcast.