Biz-eWerk

Storytelling is an art. Weaving narrative and style, adding in the right timing and inflection, and building the anticipation of the audience, takes practice and skill. George Stone tells stories, including work for the former National Geographic Traveler magazine, and now as a writer exploring destinations in the world of travel and tourism. Listen in as George discusses the “layer cake” of the travel experience at the intersection of commerce and culture.

You've heard "M&A" but maybe never realized what it means. In this episode, David Moore of David Moore & Partners spoke with Biz-eWerk about the process of Mergers and Acquisitions, about building a business from the ground up, and about the benefits of a floating office space.

How do you spell 'mistake'? That should be an easy question, right? I spell it nish-nish-ner. And no, that's not a typo mistake, it's the point of this episode: mistakes will happen. How you deal with the mistake(s) is what matters.

It took a pandemic to raise awareness of the Supply Chain into everyday conversation, especially when it came to critical products people generally take for granted. In this episode, Biz-eWerk discusses logistics, and especially how data and AI are enhancing the industry, with Keith Connolly, retired Vice President of Global Supply Chain, for AT&T.

How do you address and solve big challenges? In this episode, O’Shannon Burns offers some excellent advice from her years of experience working in sustainability and conservation: Be Interdisciplinary. Make connections with many different people across many different areas of expertise, coordinate and collaborate, and find solutions that work. This is especially true in the tourism industry. Listen as O’Shannon talks about issues in the field today, especially the emerging role of regenerative tourism.

If you're not familiar with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, you will be after this episode of Biz-eWerk. Scotty Duncan, Assistant Deputy Comptroller, tells us more about his role and especially how the OCC works with United States banking institutions.

How many times have you picked up a book and thought, "It must have taken a lot of work to produce this." My guess is... never. Books are ubiquitous and, honestly, essentially taken for granted. But every book is the result of an extensive creative process, from idea to finished product, that brings together many skilled individuals. Our guest today, Elisa Gibson, is the Creative Director for National Geographic Books, and she explains how this process results in the detailed, informative, and visually stunning books we've come to know and appreciate from NatGeo.

Looking to start your Biz-eWerk experience? Check out our new trailer and Mind Your Business.

Financial wellness is a journey, and like all journeys, it requires planning. For many people, getting started on that journey is the hardest part. Listen in on this interview with Campbell Sullivan as she explains how her financial journey has covered some unusual territory, including time spent on an alpaca farm.

50th Episode - NewSpace Age! That's not a typo. We've been living in the Space Age for nigh on 70 years. Why does it still crop up in advertising? From the "Old" Space Age of Apollo and the Space Shuttle to the NewSpace Age of SpaceX, Blue Origin, and more, it's time to think about how the NewSpace Age will usher in changes to technology that science fiction could only dream of.

“Thank you!” to all subscribers and listeners – 2022 has been a big year for Biz-eWerk. My 2022 Spotify Wrapped showed me it’s been worth all the effort, with special appreciation for our Season 2 guests: Justin, Taylor, Leander, Michelle, Kristina, Randy, Erin, AC, and Scott. 21 episodes with 278 minutes of content (that’s more than 73% of other creators in the Business category). Looking forward to 2023!

How can a sailing trip to Cuba, a rumored Rolling Stones concert, the US State Department, a major supermarket chain, and an interest in brewing great beer converge to help form one of the fastest-growing companies in the United States? Scott Hansen, CEO of Charleston-based Island Brands USA, stops by Biz-eWerk to tell the story of how business success can be launched from 350,000 empty cans. (Someone needs to get the movie rights to this…)

Wanna strike fear into the hearts of every undergrad on the planet? GMAT. GRE. LSAT. MCAT. Graduate school admissions tests. Separately, or together, these letters are guaranteed to frighten even the stoutest of hearts. Fear not, Biz-eWerk has some solid FastCast suggestions for planning and preparing for these exams. (And look for even more insights in later episodes, especially those ever-important prep courses)

850 million + people use LinkedIn, and they are not all relevant to your network. With LinkedIn Groups, you’re meeting like-minded individuals with the ability to share ideas, collaborate on projects, and more. Why aren't you using this feature?

References are relevant - But who should you ask? How do you choose someone to speak for you who ensures the most effective description regarding your abilities and suitability for a role? In part II of our series, we'll discuss why thinking strategically about your references, prepping your references, and ensuring the confidentiality of your references is vital.
 

"References Provided Upon Request." A waste of resume real estate, so you can drop that from your resume. BUT you'll still need references from time to time, and being prepared with references now, will help you in the future. How to choose the best ones and prepare the person to provide the best reference is the topic of this episode.

It's an age-old dilemma when graduation is right around the corner - "When Do I Start Looking for a Job?" In this episode, we'll talk about two critical aspects of the job search - Research and Networking.

"Tell me about a time you failed." It's a question I flubbed in an interview a few years back, and there's no reason for you to make the same mistake. Consider this question an opportunity to admit that sometimes you're not as successful as you'd like to be, and you can recognize the failure, learn from the failure, and improve as a result. But there's a catch - don't get caught up in the storyline - Get to the "what I learned from this" part ASAP. Check out this episode of Biz-eWerk for suggestions on how to master this standard (and scary) interview question.

"How do I stand out to a recruiter?" is a common question in most candidates' minds. To help us answer that question are two special guests from the HR and talent acquisition fields - Leander Gaymon (CofC '06) and Taylor Whitescarver from Piedmont Plastics. Quick tip? Make sure that Elevator Pitch is ready!

Final questions in an interview are very much a part of the interview – a crucial part. I dare say interviews are made, and broken, at this point. In my interview experience, one opportunity was supported by my end-of-interview questions, and another opportunity was lost. In this episode, I'll tell you one question to absolutely avoid, but more importantly, how to craft questions that will demonstrate your suitability for the role.

Questions at the end of the interview - It's a critical element in any successful interview. I always recommend 3 to 5 prepared questions that I can use at the end of the interview when they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” Prepared questions are important, but the best questions are questions you’ve created from the interview. Sometimes it’s something you want to be clarified, sometimes it’s a follow-up to a specific question they asked. In this episode, Biz-eWerk talks about how you can craft questions during the interview that will dazzle and amaze the interviewer (or interview panel) with how well you were paying attention and, more importantly, thinking ahead.

"Do you have any questions for us?" This is a critical point in the interview. The interview is NOT over. Always ask questions because not asking questions is a red flag. Take this opportunity to leave the interviewers with a great impression of your thoughtfulness, preparation, and how you match the position. In this episode, “Could you please describe the performance review process?”

The cover letter is important – we’ve established that in previous episodes. To maximize its value, it needs to be addressed to someone specific. In a pinch, I’ve used “Dear Hiring Manager” in the greeting, but that’s not optimal. In this FastCast, Biz-eWerk urges you to STOP USING “TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN” for cover letters. The “whom” you are hoping “may be concerned” isn’t a real person. Unless you want your letter to be seen, read, and evaluated by No One, start addressing the letter to a Real Person. Most of the time, a simple internet search will yield all kinds of relevant contacts both for your letter and also for building your network.

Technology has limits. One day you're holding the latest greatest cultural technological revolution in your hand, and seemingly the very next day, it's techno-trash. This week, NYC retired the last of its street payphones. What was once a communication army of over 8000 phones, is now a museum relic. Why should you care? Check out this episode for Biz-eWerk's homage "To the Last Pay Phone."

Going back to the days when the newspaper was king, long before TVs were common, and radio could only cover so much in a limited time, the news via print was critical for getting information out in a detailed format. But how to maximize the newspaper’s impact? A visual trick, by virtue of how the newspaper was bundled, came to the fore: Above the Fold. Here's how you can use Above the Fold to showcase your skills and experience on your resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile.

Lately I’ve been hearing people worry about “bragging” in an interview. You might get an interview question like, “What makes you a great match for this role?” Even though you KNOW you’re the best candidate, it’s up to you to explain why. In short, the job interview is NOT A PLACE to hide your talents and skills, and Biz-eWerk breaks down how to successfully answer this common, critical question.

"How do I stand out as a candidate?" How many times have I heard that? Let's just say, a lot. Turns out, it's not difficult, but it requires taking the initiative to get your info out there. In this episode of Biz-eWerk, Taylor Whitescarver, HR Specialist and Campus Recruiter at Piedmont Plastics, offers suggestions on how you can be successful in your career search and beyond.

Before we say goodbye to 2021, let's talk about 2022 and the second season of Biz-eWerk. We'll have a new theme song, new guests, and new topics, but we'll still be helping you Mind Your Business. Some things never change.

What if you wanted a career in healthcare, but you didn't want to be a clinician? Healthcare today needs supply chain, sales, data analytics, cybersecurity, accounting, finance, marketing, and...well, pretty much any business field you can imagine. And some that didn't even exist a few years ago like blockchain technology. In today's podcast, Nancy Muller (Ph.D., MBA) College of Charleston visiting associate professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance, talks to Biz-eWerk about how to build a business career in the ever-important field of healthcare.

It was apropos for the Halloween episode, I mean "ghosting" just fits. But now, I'm on a rant. And I know, it's not my usual Positive and Professional podcast, but I'm tired of hearing this over and over and over and over from employers and candidates alike. How about we all stop Ghosting, and start communicating?

It's a scary time for job seekers and employers as we all seem to be haunted by "ghosting" in the hiring process. "What's ghosting?" you ask? 

Job Seeker: Have you ever been dropped cold from the interview process? 

Employer: Have you ever had a candidate drop off the face of the planet during the hiring process? 

If so, then you've been ghosted. And it's not just a ghost story. It's happening everywhere, every day. Check out this special Halloween episode of Biz-eWerk and find out how you can finally pass over to the other side (by which I mean, Get Hired).