improve communication skills Archives

Transforming Communication in the Workplace, with Cooper Camak, Speaking Up Your Game

May 9, 2024 by John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

Transforming Communication in the Workplace, with Cooper Camak, Speaking Up Your Game

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Transforming Communication in the Workplace, with Cooper Camak, Speaking Up Your Game (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 769)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, John Ray interviews Cooper Camak from Speaking Up Your Game, dedicated to enhancing workplace communication through coaching and consulting. Cooper emphasizes helping individuals overcome nervousness and improve their abilities to convey ideas clearly and confidently, aiming at those looking to ascend in their careers and those struggling with effective communication. Sharing his journey from a struggling analyst to a communication coach, he highlights the importance of relevant, clear, and well-delivered content. Cooper also addresses overcoming nerves and the misconception about others’ perceptions as major hurdles in public speaking. The episode covers success stories, including the transformation of careers through improved communication skills and effective pitching strategies for businesses. Cooper details his company’s offerings, from one-to-one coaching to corporate workshops and an online course, emphasizing the power of personal and professional growth through better communication.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Cooper Camak, Speaking Up Your Game

Cooper has coached over 180 people since starting public speaking coaching in 2018. He consistently has resounding reviews for his approach. His clients work at companies such as The Home Depot, Visa, Deloitte, Wayfair and the US Department of Defense.

Cooper has been speaking, communicating and emceeing since 2002 in business, civic settings and within faith-based organizations. He spent five years training and deepening his speaking abilities as a member of Toastmasters International and continues to research and study what makes great public speakers.

In his previous roles, Cooper has worked for Coca-Cola and more recently for biotech company Amyris, Inc. in various capacities, including Director, Ecommerce Analytics, which required him to give regular business presentations to various audiences, including executives and the C-suite.

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X (Twitter)

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:00 Welcome to North Fulton Business Radio
01:16 Introducing Cooper Camak and Speaking Up Your Game
02:43 The Journey to Speaking Up Your Game
05:14 Overcoming Nervousness and Enhancing Workplace Communication
24:17 Success Stories and Transformative Coaching
29:46 Closing Thoughts

Renasant Bank and Casa Nuova Italian Restaurant support North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, with over $13 billion in assets and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of their banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, they understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Casa Nuova is a proud family-owned and operated restaurant, serving classic, authentic and traditional Italian cuisine and top tier hospitality since 1998.

Casa Nuova is a cook-to-order kitchen, serving traditional fare including pasta, chicken, seafood, veal, vegetarian and gluten-free options, plus daily specials. They are a farm-to-table establishment, meaning that in the summertime, they cultivate their own vegetables in their garden, steps away from the restaurant, including tomatoes, corn, peppers, zucchini, sunflowers and more!

Celebrating more than 25 years, Casa Nuova has become a true staple in the Alpharetta area, serving more than three generations of families, including friends old and new, visiting near and far from all over the metro Atlanta area and beyond.

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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 760 shows and having featured over 1,200 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show welcomes a wide variety of business, non-profit, and community leaders to get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, their community, and their profession. There’s no discrimination based on company size, and there’s never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates business by sharing positive business stories that traditional media ignore. Some media leans left. Some media leans right. We lean business.

John Ray, Business RadioX - North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, Business RadioX – North Fulton, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is recorded and produced from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta. You can find the full archive of shows by following this link. The show is available on all the major podcast apps, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

The studio address is 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants and bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the national bestselling author of The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices.

Unleashing Potential: Revolutionizing HR Strategies

April 5, 2024 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Unleashing Potential: Revolutionizing HR Strategies

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Unleashing Potential: Revolutionizing HR Strategies

In this lively episode of Phoenix Business Radio, Karen Nowicki kicks off the conversation by inviting the Disrupt HR Tucson team to the mic, sparking a vibrant discussion on revamping workplace cultures and bringing HR into the modern age. Kindra Maples shares her journey with Culture Crush Business, stressing the need for resources to transform company dynamics. Tamica Sears and Holly Norton champion human-centered HR practices that prioritize employee well-being and trust. Ashley Bright shares her take on HR innovation, advocating for adaptation to meet workforce challenges head-on. Together, they unpack the unique format of Disrupt HR events, highlighting their role in building connections and sharing a tapestry of HR insights.

As the discussion flows, the team shifts gears to the importance of integrating HR into strategic business decisions and fostering a workplace that embraces personal challenges. This episode celebrates the evolving role of HR in shaping workplace culture, showcasing the transformative power of Disrupt HR events in redefining HR practices for the future.

DisruptHR is an innovative information exchange designed to energize, inform, and empower people in the HR field. It’s a series of fast-paced events where speakers get 5 minutes each to share their fresh ideas on how to shake up the traditional HR landscape.

Sears Coaching helps create inclusive, innovative, and authentic organizations through one-on-one coaching, group coaching, workshops, and retreats. Through their work, they create profitable organizations that welcome people as they are and treat people with compassion, empathy, and kindness.

Tamica Sears is an HR consultant and Executive coach as well as a volunteer for DisruptHR Tucson.

She has 20 years of Human Resources experience including organizational development, talent management, coaching, and training.

She has held HR leadership roles in organizations ranging from small veterinary hospitals to major media outlets like The USA Today Network.

As a PCC level Certified Executive Coach, she believes that the keys to leadership development are self-awareness, inclusion, and authenticity. She holds certifications in Change Management, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Everything DiSC, The Five Behaviors, and is a Human Resources Certified Professional.

Identifying self-esteem as a common issue with many leaders, Tamica published “You Are Enough”, a book of motivational quotes designed to increase self-esteem in 30 days and a leadership development book, “How to Tell if You’re an A**hole Boss”.

Connect with Tamica on LinkedIn.

Strunk Group, an employee benefit and HR consulting firm, providing a complete range of health insurance and employee benefit resources and services. They help business care for their people.

If you’re an organization with ten employees or thousands, and you’re tired of navigating the murky waters of employee benefits, compliance, and HR alone, Strunk Group is here.

Employers want to provide the best employee benefits customized to your company’s unique needs. They support that pursuit of providing the best for their people. Strunk Group provides their clients with corporate benefits, human resources, technology and payroll consulting, and 401(k)s.

Working in the best interests of people – and organizations

Strunk Group leads the way in committed advocacy – the practice of consistently acting in the best interests of an organization and their people. Committed Advocacy creates engaged environments by encouraging collaboration and openness. As a result, cultures flourish, health improves and happiness is increased – at work and in life.

Holly Norton is not your average HR Executive. As the driving force behind Strunk HR, a division of the Strunk Insurance Group, she is redefining what it means to be in human resources.

Gone are the days of cookie-cutter HR strategies; Holly is a visionary leader, constantly innovating and inspiring change in the people operations space. With over two decades in HR and top-tier industry certifications, she has discovered a better way in her relentless pursuit of revolutionizing HR.

Holly empowers and supports leaders and business owners to create a work culture that is nothing short of stellar. Her philosophy? Employees who feel valued don’t just work—they thrive, collaborate, and elevate the entire team’s performance.

Holly’s approach to hiring and onboarding isn’t just about filling positions. It’s about crafting lasting relationships from day one, fostering a work environment that transcends mere compliance. She’s not about ticking boxes; she’s about creating bespoke HR experiences that resonate deeply with every client. But Holly knows that a company’s true strength lies in its people.

As a key player in DisruptHR Phoenix and Tucson, Holly’s influence extends beyond her immediate sphere. She’s bringing together bold, innovative voices in HR from across the globe, reshaping the industry’s landscape.

Living in North Phoenix with her teenage son, significant other, and beloved dog. Holly’s life outside the workplace mirrors her professional ethos—dynamic, unconventional, forward-thinking, and infused with a blend of humor. This blend of wit and wisdom not only sets her apart but also exemplifies her belief that the workplace can be both a place of serious achievement and genuine enjoyment.

Connect with Holly on LinkedIn and follow Strunk Group on Facebook and Instagram.

The Message Fixer is on a mission to help purpose-driven leaders break through barriers and gain support for their ideas. We work with individuals, companies, and organizations at the intersection of technology, education, and community to make a positive impact.

Our IMPACT Speaking Method was designed to equip leaders with communication skills and stage presence to attract attention, resources, and allies to their cause. Our founder brings almost two decades of experience pitching ideas to Fortune 500 companies and we’ve distilled those learning into this methodology to ensure success for our clients.

We offer personalized 1:1 coaching to address individual communication challenges and group workshops on storytelling, public speaking, relationship building, and overcoming status quo bias. Whether starting a new business or launching a product, training a sales team, or pitching to an investor we ensure our clients gain the communication skills they need to get results.

Ashley Bright is The Message Fixer.

Clients hire him to bring clarity, boldness, and impact to their communication.

As a former Creative Director, presenting to companies like Apple, Target, and AT&T he knows how to leverage storytelling and empathy to break through listener resistance and status-quo thinking to get buy-in for life-changing ideas.

United Way, Kimberley-Clark, and the University of Arizona are among the many clients who rely on Ashley’s IMPACT Speaking Method to teach their people how to present with confidence, increase their influence, and build meaningful relationships to ensure they get results.

Connect with Ashley on LinkedIn and Instagram.

Culture Crush Business is your premier destination for building thriving company cultures. We are dedicated to revolutionizing the way companies approach their people and culture strategies.

At Culture Crush Business, we understand the importance of cultivating a workplace environment where employees thrive. Our three step approach is comprehensive, focusing on three levels of support and always focusing on our eight key areas that form the foundation of vibrant cultures. We have over 200 partners across the country that bring experience and expertise in the areas of:

Leadership/Professional Development
Employee Recognition/Employee Appreciation
Conscious Communication and Connection
Fundamentals: Pay and Medical Benefits
Mental Health and Wellness
Diversity/Equity/Inclusion/Accessibility
Systems and Processes
Fun/Excitement in the Workplace

Kindra Maples, Founder of Culture Crush Business, brings a unique journey to the business world. With a background in animal behavior and over 15 years in the zoo industry, Kindra transitioned her passion from training animals to empowering people. From polar bears to individuals, she seamlessly blends diverse experiences.

Her skills encompass business relations, operations management, strategic planning, and team building. Dedicated to fostering growth, she is passionate about supporting leaders and cultivating exceptional company cultures.

Through the events, podcast, partnerships, and three levels of support for companies- Kindra connects businesses to the culture resources they need to build thriving cultures and thriving people.

Kindra is dedicated to revolutionizing the way companies approach their people and culture strategies and does this through assessments, events, and supporting companies in a Fractional Chief People Officer role.

Outside the business realm, Kindra finds joy in paddleboarding, conquering Spartan races, and embarking on adventurous pursuits to continually embrace new challenges.

Connect with Kindra on LinkedIn and follow Culture Crush Business on Instagram.

Cheers to Toastmasters and All They Do

March 30, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Cheers to Toastmasters and All They Do

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Cheers to Toastmasters and All They Do

We mixed things up in the studio by having Kindra Maples, the host of the Culture Crush Business Podcast, step in to host the Phoenix Business RadioX house show. She was joined on the air with producer Darrol Robinson as the co-host.

Michael Holian, from Toastmasters International joined Kindra and Darrol in the studio to discuss the ins and outs of the Toastmasters organization. This conversation was an opportunity to truly learn and understand the organization, since there is way more involved than you might have known.

Did you know that there are various levels and opportunities with Toastmaster for youth, not just the main clubs that are for individuals over the age of 18?
Did you know that there is a Toastmasters club at the Florence Prison?
Did you know that there are almost 16,000 clubs in 149 countries that are involved as a mixture of in person, virtual, and hybrid?

This group does not only offer individuals the opportunity to become better public speakers, but also to become better communicators, provide opportunities to network with others, and teaches a variety of skills that are vital in thriving in the workplace.

It is never too late to get connected and work on these various skills with Toastmasters.
Head over to their website to find an “open” club near you.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Englewood, Colo., the organization’s membership exceeds 300,000 in more than 15,800 clubs in 149 countries.

Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

Michael J. Holian, DTM, of Chandler, Arizona, is an information technology specialist for CSAA Insurance Group, where he has worked for the past eight years. He is the product owner and administrator for a suite of software collaboration and developmental tools. Holian is the chair of the governance board, responsible for identifying best practices, reviewing proposed changes, and communicating the product roadmap.

Holian attended Chubb Institute of Computer Technology, where he earned a certification in computer programming. He is a community impact champion for his employer and coordinates volunteer activities for fellow employees. Additionally, Holian volunteers his time for the Special Olympics, a local foodbank, and other organizations through his employer.

A Toastmaster since 1992, Holian is a member of his home club, Leader’s Plus Toastmasters, in Mesa, Arizona. He has held a number of high-profile leadership positions within Toastmasters such as District Director and has attained the Distinguished Toastmaster designation—the highest level of educational achievement in the organization.

“Throughout this journey in Toastmasters, I have honed my emotional intelligence, listening, and leadership skills in such a way that I’m able to use these skills every day in my professional life to provide leadership, regardless of organizational standing,” Holian said. “My Toastmasters experience has also expanded my understanding of other people and cultures, providing opportunities for friendships and increasing my understanding of diverse experiences and perspectives.”

As a member of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Holian is a “working ambassador” for the organization. He works with the Board to develop, support, and modify the policies and procedures that guide Toastmasters International in fulfilling its mission.

Follow Toastmasters International on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Kindra Maples is spartan racer, past animal trainer, previous magician’s assistant, and has a weakness for Oreo cookie shakes. Her journey working with people actually started working with animals as a teenager (don’t worry we won’t go that far back for her bio).

She worked for over 15 years in the zoo industry working with animals and the public. Her passion of working with animals shifted into working with people in education, operations and leadership roles. From there her passion of leadership and helping people develop has continued to grow.

Then came the opportunity for leading the Culture Crush Business Podcast and she jumped on it. Leadership, growth, and strong company cultures are all areas that Kindra is interested in diving into further.