consulting

“If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” ~African proverb Partnerships move mountains. Through leading business development efforts in-house and as a consultant, one of the things that I'm always on the lookout for are powerful partnerships. Whether you're working for a major brand or running a community based organization, there is power in partnerships. Just like...

I had the pleasure of interviewing one my favorite professors Dr. David Victor. Listen to our conversation as we discuss communicating across cultures, unconscious bias, how to live overseas as an expat, and the mindset needed to enjoy our differences. Dr. Victor also shares his LESCANT model of communication that looks at ✔ Language ✔ Environment ✔ Social Organization ✔ Context ✔...

Franchising presents people the opportunity to invest in business models from restaurants to shipping services and more. In 2017, there were 745,290 franchise establishments in the United States. While franchises make up large brands that people know, individual or multi-unit operators work hard as small business operators tied to a larger strategy. The following tips will help you decide if franchising is...

Hotels welcome travelers across all continents and budgets accounting for a $600 billion industry. Massive hotel development, especially in Asia, is also creating the opportunity to re-define lodging standards and the overall guest experience leveraging fully integrated smart technology that integrates with building systems in the design phase. As the next-generation of business travelers and tourists...

I was invited to speak at the 2019 Vietnam Food Forum in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at the request of VIETRADE. My presentation covered: US food trends, legacy brands, emerging brands, disruptive brands, generational preferences, labeling, food as medicine, plant based diets, and how technology impacts the sale of products from Amazon to peer-rated food offerings on sites like UberEats or Grab in...

Small businesses across the world keep our economies going as they support jobs, professional development, and local needs. From your quaint neighborhood coffee shop to after-school tutoring programs, small business ownership comes in numerous forms, industries, and sizes. According to research, small businesses present pathways to entrepreneurship and independence, yet, at the same time, 50% of small...

Headlines make and break people every second in today’s digital era. If you’re at the older end of the millennial bracket like me, you may remember going outside to pick up the newspaper for your parents, and if you’re older than me, you might even recall the era of newsboys yelling, “Extra, extra, read all about it!” Emblazoned on that printed newspaper was a bold headline that spurred raucous...

Last year was a year that shined a light on prominent and important topics, from Starbucks closing its stores to conduct bias training to wide-spread #MeToo scandals across industries rocking the airwaves. Despite the billions of dollars companies spend on professional development training, it seems that these issues keep reappearing with no end in sight. Don't you think it's time to ask ourselves...

Diversity and inclusion (D&I) is a popular corporate topic right now, and for good reason. But while D&I strategies are surely needed, too often, they fall short because they focus only on external differences of gender and race. Imagine this: All of a sudden, you become blind, and you cannot see the applicant in front of you or the teammate next to you. All you can do is rely on what's being...

I had the distinct honor and privilege to speak 1:1 with Dominic Barton, CEO of McKinsey & Co. during my executive-MBA program at Saint Mary's College. Here are some key takeaways from the leader in business strategy: Leadership “I wish I knew this earlier in life. You need to have the ability to compartmentalize things and focus on the conversation you are having.” i.e. build six...