In this conversation, Russell L. Edmond shares his journey from a small desert town in California to becoming a prominent figure in the hospitality industry. He discusses the influence of his upbringing, the lessons learned from sports, and the twists and turns of his career, including his experiences as a general manager and his transition to entrepreneurship. Russell also highlights the importance of consistency and authenticity in personal branding, culminating in the creation of his successful podcast, Russell of Hotels.

Top Takeaways:
- A bad experience in a job didn't stop Russell but instead encouraged him to pursue entrepreneurship.
- Russell's podcast was born from a desire to share industry knowledge.
- Consistency and authenticity are key to success in any field.

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

In this conversation, Dane C. Hawkins shares his journey from a challenging childhood in Washington, D.C. to becoming a successful engineer and author. He discusses the impact of his upbringing, the importance of community, and how his experiences shaped his identity and aspirations. Dane reflects on his education at an HBCU, the challenges of balancing a career with his passion for writing, and the motivation behind his book, 'Path to Manhood.' He emphasizes the significance of pursuing one's dreams and the role of supportive relationships in achieving success.

Top Takeaways:
- Dane's childhood experiences shaped his resilience and independence.
- Success is a multifaceted concept that evolves over time.
- Dane encourages others to overcome self-imposed limitations.

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Jourdan Brunson, founder of kinkofa, shares his journey as a genealogist and entrepreneur. He discusses his childhood curiosity and love for storytelling, his early career aspirations, and the pivotal moments that led him to start his own company. Jourdan emphasizes the importance of following your passion, finding the intersection between work and personal interests, and seeking out opportunities for growth and learning throughout each stop of your path. He also highlights the significance of preserving family history and offers advice on how to ensure that these important stories are not lost when we lose our elders. Jourdan reflects on the challenges and fears he has faced as a founder and the importance of remaining in integrity with oneself. He concludes by encouraging listeners to explore new things, embrace trial and error, and not be afraid to pursue their passions.

Key Takeaways:

• Follow your curiosity and embrace your love for storytelling.
• Find the intersection between your work and personal interests.
• Embrace trial and error and don't be afraid to pursue your passions.

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Craig Robinson, a former C-suite executive, shares his journey from growing up in Atlanta to living life on his terms as a board director and advisor. He emphasizes the importance of embracing one's inner child and being curious. Growing up in Atlanta, surrounded by Black Excellence, fostered his ability to dream and remain optimistic. He attended MIT and later Harvard Business School where he realized his passion was in leadership and building organizations. He made the pivot to a "Portfolio Life", where he is able to diversify his work by finding opportunities that bring him joy and fulfillment. He is also an advocate for racial equity and uses his expertise in real estate development and urban renewal to make an impact. Craig discusses the importance of using political capital to create economic opportunities for marginalized communities. He emphasizes the need for leaders to model this behavior and create opportunities for others coming up behind them. He shares his unlock of finding the power of curiosity over conviction and the importance of adaptability in personal growth.

Key Takeaways:
- Leaders have a responsibility to model behavior and create opportunities for others.
- Approaching life with curiosity rather than conviction allows for adaptability and personal growth.
- Creating space for self-reflection and self-discovery is essential for reclaiming happiness and staying true to oneself.

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Dilan Gomih, a well-being founder, shares her journey of prioritizing health and fitness in her life and how it led her to start her own company, Dilagence. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating movement into daily life and finding joy in fitness to reach all of your goals. Dilan also discusses the influence of her parents and community on her outlook on what could be possible in life. She ends by highlighting the need for individuals and organizations to prioritize well-being in order to be successful in business.

You will learn:

• The power family has in influencing what feels possible (or impossible).
• Fitness has the potential to unlock your capacity and time.
• Eat well, move well, sleep well and your future self will be happy with you.

You can follow Dilan's story at:
Dilagence Website / LinkedIn

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Alexandria Butler, aka Lexi B, accidentally landed in Silicon Valley but that hasn't stopped her from making an impact at a number of globally recognized tech companies like Airbnb, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft. As an accomplished storyteller, she believes that anyone can be a storyteller and recommends reading stories from skilled storytellers to learn how to tell impactful stories. Lexi also emphasizes the value of transferable skills and being adaptable in the ever-changing world of technology. Despite how it may look on paper, Lexi's journey has not been about collecting badges from prestigious companies, but about finding great managers to work with that help her follow her curiosity. Lexi also discusses the creation of Sister Circle: Black Women in Tech, a community that provides resources and support for Black women in the corporate world. She highlights the need for accountability and feedback in professional settings and the importance of personal and professional growth. Lexi also talks about her podcast (Sit with Lexi B), where she invites leaders to share transformative lessons from their careers.

You will learn:

• Success comes when you are curious about things and willing to start digging and seeing what you find.
• “I don’t know” is an appropriate answer. You don’t always have to know everything.
• Personal and professional decisions go together. They can’t be separated.

You can follow Lexi B's story at:
LinkedIn / YouTube / Website

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Zach Nunn, CEO of Living Corporate, shares his story and how he prioritizes workplace fairness and creating space for honest conversations about navigating the world of work. He walks through his personal journey of growing up in a small town in Georgia and the influence of his single mother on his values and aspirations. Zach discusses the changing landscape of work, emphasizing the need for better experiences for all employees and customers. He shares his definition of fairness as giving everyone an equal shot at the best possible experience and highlights the importance of support, respect, feedback, and coaching in creating fair employee experiences. In this conversation, Zach and Matt discuss the importance of creating equitable experiences for customers and the impact of resilience and adaptability in personal and professional life.

You will learn:

• The Future of Work is in flux and will continue to move at a faster pace.
• Organizations usually have a primary problem that leads to creating unfair experiences for customers and employees.
• The importance of appreciating the moment while respecting the future.

You can follow Zach's story:
Living Corporate Website | Living Corporate IG | Living Corporate LinkedIn

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory

Victor Simmons, a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging expert, shares his story of growing up in a military family and his journey to becoming a leader in the hospitality industry. He discusses the importance of building relationships and problem-solving in his career. Victor also emphasizes the significance of DEI in the workplace and how it leads to better business outcomes. He shares his experiences as a husband and father, highlighting the importance of being present and supportive.

You will learn:

• You will never know what could happen until you take the leap.
• DEI has always been a marathon that has its struggles.
• The biggest obstacle to executives becoming successful is their inability to build partnerships.

You can follow Victor's story at:
LinkedIn / IG

Follow the pod:

• IG - https://www.instagram.com/podwhatsyourstory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@podwhatsyourstory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/PodWhatsYourSto

Follow my story:

• Main site - https://www.mattestory.com/
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattestory/
• IG - https://www.instagram.com/mattestory/
• TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@mattestory
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/mattestory