Host: Sean C O’Rourke
Quick personal story – when I was asked to be a mentor for the program we discuss in this episode, my first thought was: “Am I even qualified to be a mentor?” After talking to my mentee for about 15 minutes, I knew this was going to be a great gig. Not due to any superior knowledge on my part, but because the student was just looking for help and I was willing to do so.
Good mentors are guides through unknown landscapes. They don’t always show us the way, but they can teach us how to find our path and navigate it successfully (or with minimal backtracking). But how do you find a good mentor? Well my next guest on Did You Know That? has some ideas.
Dr. Kimberly Chu is the Director of the Executives on Campus (EOC) program at Baruch College (NY, NY). The program is designed to match undergrad and graduate students with mentors, who ideally work or have worked in the profession the student is pursuing. Kimberly and her team have built a pioneering program and we talk about why it should be a model for institutions across the country.
You can learn more about Kimberly and EOC by visiting the links below.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chukimberly/
Website: https://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/eoc/
Music: “A Big Adventure” by FASSounds via Artlist
#mentors #mentoring #barchcollege #payitforward #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel
Filed under: Uncategorized
Title: Can Blockchain Change the World?
Copy:
“The blockchain symbolizes a shift in power from the centers to the edges of the networks.” William Mougayar
There are few things as dubious as definitive proclamations. History is littered with such utterances by those known and obscure. Most were just contributors to the Earth’s CO2 levels.
This brings us to blockchain. Blockchain is a burgeoning technology sector that shows a lot of promise to change a wide breadth of industries. But for certain instances, blockchain remains more promise than actual change.
So why all the hype? Well Jeremy Epstein has some answers on episode 2020.14 of Did You Know That? Jeremy and I try to explain blockchain in terms that will resonate with most viewers, and we look at the potential uses of such technology. There is some geek-speak sprinkled throughout, but if you’re looking for insight into a new technology landscape, this is a chat you’ll get into.
And if you want to stay informed, be sure to check out Jeremy’s various social media profiles.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jer979
Instagram: @jer979
Twitter: @jer979
Music: “Runnin’ In Circles – Instrumental” by Ziv Moran via Artlist
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Did You Know That?, Feature Friday, Kat Thomas, Sean C O'Rourke
“I can be changed by what happens to me, but I refuse to be reduced by it.” Maya Angelou
Took me a long time to write this video description. Went through numerous drafts talking about the courage of sexual violence survivors, the evil of the perpetrators, and many other aspects of this topic. None of them felt right, so I thought it best to let the video speak for itself.
Kat Thomas is an attorney and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Her job is to work in the darkest recesses of humanity, and her gift is that you would never know it if you simply talked to her. That takes a special strength, that comes through loud and clear on this episode.
To learn more about Kat and her practice, visit her firm’s website.
Website: https://tlcpc.law/
Music: “Normalize” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist
Filed under: Combs & Company, Did You Know That?, Feature Friday, Sean ORourke | Tags: Combs & Company, Cybersecurity, Did You Know That?, Feature Friday, Sean O'Rourke, Traci Carnes
Host: Sean O’Rourke
Guest: Traci Carnes
Title: Are Your Confident In Your Cybersecurity?
“The hacker didn’t succeed through sophistication. Rather he poked at obvious places, trying to enter through unlocked doors. Persistence, not wizardry, let him through.” Clifford Stoll, “The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage”
“The Cuckoo’s Egg” was published in 1989; I first read it in 1995. You know what’s amazing/annoying/frustrating/unsurprising? Not much has changed in the intervening 30+ years when it comes to hacking. Sure, the systems and tools have gotten more sophisticated, but persistence and unlocked doors remain the key hallmarks of most hacks.
Cybersecurity, especially for small- and mid-sized businesses, remains a hazy priority that seems to fall down the to-do list every time a company runs out of coffee or snacks. That’s just playing with gasoline and matches, and my next guest on Did You Know That? knows this firsthand. Traci Carnes has worn many a technology hat in her career, so she’s seen cybersecurity from all sides. Her thoughts and processes should inspire businesses to take a more proactive approach to minimizing the damage from a cyber event. Remember, it’s not if but when you’ll experience one.
Want to learn more about Traci and her extensive background? Check out her LinkedIn profile.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracicarnes/
Music: “Broken Radios” by Stanley Gurvich via Artlist
Filed under: Uncategorized
Is Your Business Subject to Cyber Laws?
Host: Sean C O’Rourke
Guest: Diane D. Reynolds
“People ask me all the time, ‘What keeps you up at night?’ And I say, ‘Spicy Mexican food, weapons of mass destruction, and cyberattacks.’” Dutch Ruppersberger
If you’re reading this (hopefully as you’re watching the episode), then your life and data have been impacted by multiple cyber events in the last decade or so. Welcome to the reality of technology in the 21st Century.
While it took a while, politicians recognized their voting base was under attack and decided to act in the way they knew best – passing regulations. The European Union, Brazil, and China all have extensive cyber regulations with provisions that extend beyond their geographic borders. The United States has some national laws specific to particular industries, but most cyber rules are handed at the state level. It’s a hodgepodge that has business swimming in alphabet soup.
That’s why the next guest on Did You Know That? is such an in-demand resource. Diane D. Reynolds has been dealing with cyber regulations, on a global scale, for a good portion of her career. She now guides businesses through the maze of regulations and compliance, and inevitably, response to a cyber incident. Our chat focuses on why all businesses are now subject to some sort of regulation and how to proceed from there.
#cyberregulations #cyberliability #dataprivacy #datasecurity #didyouknowthat #indulgeyourcuriosity #youtubechannel #gdpr #shield #ccpa #cpra
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: #didyouknowthat, #indulgeyourcuriosity, #salestax, #statefinances, #sullivanlaw, #taxes, #youtubechannel
“…but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin
Was there any other quote appropriate enough to start this conversation? Nope.
The next topic of conversation on Did You Know That? was the bane of my existence for 12+ years (when I was president of my old IT firm). And while the term sales tax may immediately turn you off, you do so at your own risk.
What do you know about sales taxes, aside from the fact that paying them is annoying and expensive? Well, if you own or manage any type of business, then you should be a pseudo-expert on the topic. Most, not all, states and localities rely heavily on sales taxes to generate revenue. (That’s even more true in the time of COVID-19.) This heavy reliance means states do not play around when it comes to collecting what they’re owed or imposing new sales taxes when “necessary.”
Jack Sullivan is an expert in all things tax, especially sales tax, which makes him the perfect guest for this episode. (Full disclosure: Jack still is the tax attorney for my old IT firm, Syzygy 3.) He’s argued cases across the country for a range of companies; he’s devised sales tax strategies for entities selling into multiple states; and he’s investigated the taxability of products/services from the mundane to the exotic. He also has a style all his own, as you will learn.
Jack and I discuss a lot during this episode, but all of it is relevant to businesses in some form or another. Be sure to take notes and if you want to learn more about Jack, his various links are below.
Website: https://thesullivanlaw.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sullivan-1788b01/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb9o8tVG19Muf1HMOT5kURw
Music: “Mayhem” by Ian Post via Artlist
#didyouknowthat, #salestax, #sullivanlaw, #indulgeyourcuriosity, #taxes, #statefinances, #youtubechannel
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Colleen Blum, Combs & Company, Deb Koenigsberger, Hearts of Gold, Tenacious Tuesday, Try and Stop Me Podcast
Host: Colleen Blum
Guest: Deb Koenigsberger
The Golden Heart Tackling Homelessness in NYC
Have you ever donated to an organization because you REALLY believed in the mission behind what/ who they were helping? But have you actually ever wondered WHO was the person that started it?
Who helped mold them? What happened in their life to make them to become this type of giving, selfless, incredible human? Where did it all start?
If you love a great story where there are just real feel good moments and you like to learn the behind the scenes of the special people who are making this world a better place to live, then keep listening, because today is just about that.
Today we sit down with my friend Deb Koenigsberger who is the Founder & CEO of, Hearts of Gold. This is a life changing organization all about helping homeless mothers & Children in NYC. Their mission is to help the moms gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence that they need to be able to transition out of the shelter system and become fully independent and productive members of society.
Checkout a short preview of the latest episode!
Check out behind the scenes photos on the @tryandstopmepodcast Instagram page
Guest: Deb Koensigberger
Founder & CEO of Hearts of Gold
Music: No Matter How Hard We Try – Ben Goldstein
Feeling – Aaron Kellim
Podcast is Available on All Podcast Listening Platforms.
“The Golden Heart Tackling Homelessness in NYC – Try And Stop Me Podcast.
CLICK HERE to listen to the full Podcast!
Filed under: Combs & Company, Did You Know That?, Sean ORourke | Tags: Combs & Company, Did You Know That?, Ramon Ray, Sean O'Rourke, Smart Hustle
Host: Sean C O’Rourke
Guest: Ramon Ray
“When things do not go your way, remember that every challenge — every adversity — contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth.” Roy T. Bennett
If you like understatement, then saying 2020 has been (or was, depending on when you’re reading this) a challenging year should make the top of your list. But among all that has gone wrong, that’s disrupted the norm, or been thrown into the unknown lies opportunity to come out the other end better, stronger, faster. (Yes, that’s a callout to one of my all-time favorite shows.)
In the latest edition of Did You Know That?, the engaging Ramon Ray talks about how businesses – of all sizes – can identify and take advantage of even the slimmest of opportunity. There are risks; it’s not for the faint of heart; but there are rewards to be had by you, your employees, and your customers/clients if you take a calculated leap. This is not about running after anything that catches your eye; this about smartly identifying where your business can fill a new need and moving with purpose in that direction.
If this is your first experience listening to Ramon, then get your pen and paper or keyboard ready, because he’s going to throw a lot of information out there and you’ll want to digest it afterward (or give this multiple watches; your choice).
You can also check out Ramon’s various works using the links or handles below:
Instagram: @ramonraysmarthustle
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramonraysmallbiz/
Check out Ramon’s website Smart Hustle or his speaking website HERE!
Music: “J.D. Scavenger” by Randy Sharp via Artlist
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Combs & Company, Cory Allison, Did You Know That?, Feature Friday, KelCor, Sean O'Rourke, The JumpFund
Host: Sean C O’Rourke
Guest: Cory Allison
“Money, it’s a gas. Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash” Pink Floyd
You have a killer idea. It appeals to a broad market. And your strategy to bring it to life is rock solid. All you need is a few more dollars than you have now to make it a reality. What path should you choose? Bootstrap? Friends and family? Angel? Venture capital? Family office? Maybe even private equity?
How you fund a business may be just as important as what you’re selling. Going it alone leaves all the decisions in your hands, but you’re gambling all your resources. Taking money from others limits your own exposure, but now you have potential “partners” who may weigh in on crucial decisions or not agree with the ones you make.
Cory Allison is an experienced entrepreneur, especially in the startup world. She’s also a partner in a fund that focuses on female-led businesses. So she knows the funding game from both sides of the table. Her insights on the topic may help guide you on your quest to launch the next unicorn.
You can discover much more about Cory at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cory-allison-30a73025/
KelCor: https://www.kelcortape.com/
The JumpFund: https://www.thejumpfund.com/about
Music: “Having a Good Day – Instrumental” by Benj Heard via Artlist
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Andy Neary, Bullpen Sessions, Colleen Blum, Combs & Company, Major League Mindset, Tenacious Tuesday, Try and Stop Me Podcast
Host: Colleen Blum
Guest: Andy Neary
Mindset Lessons Learned On The Mound
Today, I am super pumped to bring you a fun, energetic, kickass business role model & overall JUST a good human Andy Neary.
Andy’s a former Professional Baseball Player. He’s now a Business Coach, Keynote Speaker & Founder of “the Complete Game”, coaching program.
Andy’s mission is to help business professionals build the mindset, habits, and rituals as he says “off the field” that lead to all-star performance on it. I’m obsessed with what he has going on today because it fits right into something I think we have all dealt with in our life at some point – a defeating mindset. Listen along as he teaches us how to flip the script into developing what he now calls #majorleaguemindset.
Watch a preview of the episode here!
Check out the full episode below!
Check him out at www.andyneary.com
Check out his podcast Bullpen Sessions
Follow us at @tryandstopmepodcast
combsandco 