Gen X Amplified With Adrion Porter. The Personal Branding And Leadership Podcast For Gen X.

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we have yes…another #FabulousOver40 Fireside Chat edition. And it’s with  my good friend, the fabulous and phenomenal Tara Jaye Frank. And we are going to be unpacking her latest and greatest book The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence. Which in my opinion Is a MUST READ for all workplace leaders today. Without question. About Tara Tara is an equity strategist, speaker, C-Suite advisor, and the President and CEO of TJF Career Modeling LLC — where she partners with executives to create learning experiences that advance critical culture and leadership goals. She is also the author of The Waymakers: Clearing the Path to Workplace Equity with Competence and Confidence. Prior to charting her course as an entrepreneur, Tara was a corporate executive at one of the most beloved consumer brands in the world, Hallmark Cards, Inc. Tara actually began her 20+ year career at Hallmark as a greeting card writer, where her gift as a powerful wor

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I have a great and important conversation with Zephrine Hanson. Zephrine is a veteran, farmer, story amplifier, and the founder of Hampden Farms, a suburban farming project that offers small-batch artisanal products made from organic ingredients that are lovingly grown and sustainably sourced. And she also happens to be a fellow member of LinkedIn’s inaugural cohort of its Creator Accelerator Program! During this episode, Zephrine and I discuss her personal story — which includes a beginning career in the military, how she got into lavender farming, and her insights and advice on managing one’s mental health. Particularly as a 40-plus professional, business owner, parent, and community builder.  About Zephrine Born and raised in San Fernando Valley California, Zephrine enlisted in the Air Force immediately after graduating high school. With a background in media communications and journalism, she served as a public affairs and medical photographer stationed in Germany and T

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am joined by the wonderful and amazing Kim Alexis Newton. Kim is a former Hallmark Cards Inc. corporate executive, quilt artist, board member, and also my fellow Vanderbilt Business School alumni! She is also one of the featured phenoms in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn. During this episode, Kim and I chat about her 20-plus years experience working for Hallmark Cards – which was her dream job coming out of business school. And also why and how she decided to leave corporate after many years to pursue her dreams of creating magic and meaningful impact with her art.   About Kim Kim is a seasoned global marketing executive, board director, advisor, quilt artist, and entrepreneur. She is also the creator of the Intentional Pause™ Project, a media, product and experience platform helping women embrace “pausing” as a powerful way to achieve their dreams. Prior to her entrepreneurial journey, Kim spent 20+ years as an executive leader for one of the most iconic

We are back for another #FabulousOver40 edition of Gen X Amplified, featuring my chat with Sunny Bonnell, who is the co-founder and CEO of Motto — one of the top branding agencies in the country. Sunny is also the co-author of the bestselling book RARE BREED: A Guide to Success for the Defiant, Dangerous, and Different (HarperCollins), which has been hailed as one of the most unique business books of its time and used by global teams everywhere. During our conversation, Sunny and I discuss her professional journey, her insights on thriving in mid-career, and also unpack the gems and nuggets of her book RARE BREED. And as mentioned, Sunny also happens to be one of the phenomenal leaders previously featured in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn. About Sunny Sunny is a leadership and brand expert, speaker, and the co-founder and Chief Visionary Officer of MOTTO — one of the top branding agencies in the country. Along with her fellow MOTTO co-founder Ashleigh Hansberger, Sunny is also the author of

For this episode of Gen X Amplified, we’re back for another #FabulousOver40 Fireside chat edition, featuring Erik Moses, President at Nashville Superspeedway, which is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR. Erik is is also one of the recognized leaders in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn. As mentioned in his spotlight, when Erik was named president of Nashville Superspeedway in 2020, it marked a watershed moment for representation — as he became the first Black track president in NASCAR history.  During this episode, Erik and I discuss his professional story, his thoughts on thriving as a seasoned professional in mid-career, and his plans for making race week at Nashville Superspeedway a “must-attend” destination in the Southeast Region. About Erik Erik Moses is the President at Nashville Superspeedway, which is the largest concrete-only track in NASCAR. Also notable is Erik made history in 2020 when he became the first African-American NASCAR track president. Because of his successful lea

For this very special #FabulousOver40 Fireside Chat edition of the podcast, I am having a conversation with the phenomenal and MACKnificent...Mack Mckelvey — who is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies... And also who I had the pleasure of featuring in the #FabulousOver40 Spotlight Series on LinkedIn! During this episode, Mack and I chat about her professional journey, her passion for diversity, equity, and inclusion, the importance of community, and the power of your "name."   About Mack Mack McKelvey is the Founder and CEO of SalientMG, a strategic marketing firm focused on accelerating market position for growth stage tech companies, and also the executive presence and visibility for their respective leaders. SalientMG’s clients have included Rovio (Angry Birds), Etsy, Verizon, Starwood Hotels, UberMedia, Ogury, Caesars Entertainment, ExecOnline, Whitebox and Sparkfly. A true catalyst of positive disruption

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are excited to have another special Gen X Amplified LIVE conversation that's all about generations! That's because I am  joined by Marcie Merriman, who is the Americas Cultural Insights & Consumer Strategy Leader at EY (Ernest & Young). And will be discussing not only her professional journey as a Gen X leader, speaker, and strategist for one of the largest professional services in world, but also the impact of Gen Z in both today's workplace and in the future of work. Marcie Merriman is EY Americas Cultural Insights & Customer Strategy Leader. She is an internationally recognized leader in cultural anthropology and brand strategy, having her work frequently featured in news publications. For over 25 years she has been working with teams to anticipate disruption and propel growth through human-centric strategies. She leads practices focused on helping organizations understand the nuances of human behaviors and the organizational implications that can be addre

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we are having another special conversation with speaker, author, champion for women, and the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of Ebony & Jet Magazine, Michele T. Ghee. And we will be chatting about the power of nurturing strong relationships, and also how to be resilient during difficult and uncertain times. Such as the current coronavirus pandemic that all of us are going through right now. Michele T. Ghee is a strategic force inside and outside the bounds of corporate america, having managed more than a billion dollars in revenue for some of the world’s largest media companies including: CNN, A&E, The History Channel, The Weather Channel, and BET Networks/BET Her. Michele now currently serves as the new Chief Executive Officer of the legacy brands Ebony and Jet. Both are iconic and legacy brands founded by John H. Johnson, that celebrate the life of Black America. Michele is also the author of Stratechic: Life and Career Winning Strategies for Women, Strate

On this very special episode of Gen X Amplified, we are featuring the video and audio from our premiere livestream event- Building Generational Bridges Through Crisis: A Candid Conversation about the Impact of COVID:19 on all generations, particularly Gen X. And for this special conversation, Adrion is joined by two friends and phenomenal thought leaders and Gen X Amplified former guests: Lindsey Pollak, multigenerational work expert, NYT bestselling author, speaker, and Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2020, and Tara Jaye Frank, speaker, consultant, Founder at MORE THAN: A Movement, and former Hallmark Cards, Inc. executive. Currently, we’re going through one of the most unprecedented and challenging experiences in our lifetime. The coronavirus, specifically COVID-19, has shaken all of us. from every age, and every generation – both personally and professionally. Especially for many of us that are in that “middle” such as Gen X, are sandwiched, and building bridges between the older and younger generations… both wh

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion Porter is joined by Jon Fortt, who is the co-anchor of Squawk Alley on CNBC, and the host of the Fort Knoxx podcast. And they discuss not only Jon's professional journey as a business journalist and anchor, but also his thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic and its significant impact on people of all ages. Adrion and Jon also spend time unpacking how Gen Xers are uniquely positioned to be very effective and powerful leaders that can build bridges across all generations - especially during challenging times such as these. Jon Fortt is co-anchor of CNBC’s “Squawk Alley” (M-F, 11AM-12PM ET) broadcast live from the New York Stock Exchange. Previously, he was an on-air editor based at CNBC’s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J. Fortt joined CNBC as technology correspondent in July 2010, working from CNBC’s Silicon Valley bureau where he covered the companies, start-ups and trends that are driving innovation in the industry. He also contributes to CNBC.com. He

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we have a conversation with advertising veteran, digital expert, thought leader, and awesome Gen-Xer... the one and only Ian Schafer, who joins Adrion to discuss and unpack his latest venture, Kindred, and its inaugural event Kindred 2020, which will be held on September 14-17 in San Diego. Kindred, is an events-based startup that focuses on bringing together brands, nonprofits, and cultural leaders to accelerate sustainable, purpose-led business transformation.  Ian Schafer has been named a "Media Maven" by Advertising Age, one of Campaign Magazine's "40 over 40",  and the "Best CEO on Social Media" by the Shorty Awards. He has been at the forefront of media, content, advertising and marketing since 1997 - including being the founder, CEO, and Global Chairman of the influential advertising agency Deep Focus - which had been the winner of numerous accolades including Cannes Lions, Webby, and Emmy Awards.   However, Ian recently mad a major career pivot ,and is now focused o

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, highly acclaimed journalist and author Ada Calhoun joins Adrion to discuss her latest book and New York Times best­seller Why We Can’t Sleep: Wom­en’s New Midlife Cri­sis – which is an expan­sion of her viral sto­ry for Oprah​.com and a ​“gen­er­a­tion-defin­ing explo­ration of the new midlife cri­sis fac­ing Gen X women.  In Why We Can’t Sleep, Calhoun opens up the cultural and political contexts of Gen X’s predicament and offers solutions for how to pull oneself out of the abyss—and keep the next generation of women from falling in. The result is reassuring, empowering, and essential reading for all middle-aged women, and anyone who hopes to understand them. Resources mentioned in this episode: Ada Calhoun’s Website “Why We Can’t Sleep” on Amazon Ada’s original article “The New Midlife Crisis” on Oprah.com Ada at The Milken Institute Ada’s Personal Theme Song “Unsatisfied”, by The Replacements Thank you for listening!

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I have the pleasure of speaking with Melissa (McGhie) Proctor, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of the Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena. Melissa joins me on the podcast to discuss her fascinating Gen X professional story – which includes beginning her career as a ball-girl for the Miami Heat, to her current role of leading the brand for the Atlanta Hawks. Also at the beginning of this special episode, Melissa and I briefly spend some time talking about the unfortunate and tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna – and what Kobe meant not only to us personally, but also to our generation. Listen! Melissa Proctor serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of both the Atlanta Hawks and the State Farm Arena (the home facility of the Atlanta Hawks) . In this role, Melissa oversees the day-to-day operations of the club’s marketing, Hawks Studios, live experience and production, brand merchandising, creative services, co

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I chat with Walter T. Geer III, digital advertising executive, multi-patent holder, biometric lab creator, and currently the SVP, Group Creative director at TBWA/WorldHealth. Walter joins us on Gen X Amplified to discuss his viral LinkedIn post (Yeah yeah…40 under 40 and 30 under 30. I’m not impressed…), diversity and inclusion, and why we should all focus on eliminating ageism in the workplace. Walter T. Geer III serves as the SVP, Group Creative director at TBWA/WorldHealth – which is a leading healthcare agency collective. A veteran of the digital advertising space, Walter holds a total of six U.S Patents for digital ad formats, and has developed ad products and implemented creative strategies for a variety of publishers and leading technology and media companies including Google, Viacom, NYTimes and MySpace. Throughout his twenty-year career, Walter has architected market-first usability labs, applying biometric research to the development of creative executions and min

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, I am joined by Lindsey Pollak, New York Times bestselling author, keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on Millennials and the multigenerational workplace. Lindsey is here to actually discuss her latest book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace.  We are have a very detailed and fun conversation around generations in general, Gen Xers in politics, old movies, and just how awesome it is to be Gen X! Lindsey Pollak is a leading expert on the Millennial generation and today’s multigenerational workplace. Often called a “translator,” she advises both young professionals looking to succeed in today’s work environment and the organizations that want to recruit, retain and engage them. Lindsey's latest book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace, is much needed guide for today's workforce. In it, Lindsey combines the most recent data with own original research, as well as detailed cased studies from

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, Ken Coleman, career expert, Ramsey Personality, and nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show joins us on Gen X Amplified to discuss his latest book, The Proximity Principle: The Proven Strategy That Will Lead To The Career You Love. During our conversation, Ken talks about his journey of pursuing his passion for communication and how he decided to write his latest book to help other get unstuck and their career. Ken unpacks some key nuggets from The Proximity Principle, and also provides insights on how Gen-Xers can get out of our own way, so we can achieve the professionals goals we truly desire. Ken Coleman is a career expert, #1 national best-selling author, and nationally syndicated radio host of The Ken Coleman Show. Ken is also the host of the Entreleadership Podcast, which is a top-rated podcast founded by the only and only Dave Ramsey.  Pulling from his own personal struggles, missed opportunities and career successes, Ken helps people discover what

On this episode of Gen X Amplified, we’re excited to have tech marketing expert and proud Gen Xer, Katrina Wong, who is the VP of Marketing for Hired (hired.com). During our conversation, Katrina discusses her professional journey in the Silicon Valley tech world, leading up to her current role as Hired’s head of marketing. Katrina also gives us some key insights about how to navigate today’s multigenerational and digital workplace as a Gen X leader. Which includes… why we all should lead by “influence” and not just by position, especially as Gen Xers. Katrina Wong is true marketing expert with 15+ years in a variety of customer facing roles including marketing, go-to-market and revenue growth for both B2B and B2C SaaS / Enterprise software companies. Katrina is currently the VP of Marketing at Hired (hired.com), which is a career marketplace that matches tech talent with the world’s most innovative companies. Hired combines intelligent job matching with unbiased career counseling to help people find a job th

For this value-packed episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Chris Hogan, #1 national best-selling author, dynamic speaker, and financial expert with Ramsey Solutions. During this interview, Chris unpacks his latest book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth – and How You Can Too. And why having a strong belief, knowledge, and plan of action can help anyone be on the path to reach their financial goals. Chris Hogan is a national best-selling author, podcaster, and dynamic speaker in the areas of personal finance, retirement and leadership. A former all-American football player, he is now serving… for over 10 years…..as a trusted financial coach and Expert, working side-by-side with one-of the most world renowned leaders on money and business, Dave Ramsey. As an author, his first book, Retire Inspired, has helped thousands of people learn how to change their current money situation and make wise investing decisions. Chris’s latest book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordin

For this exciting episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by the one and only, Mario Armstrong, who is 2X Emmy Award winner, entrepreneur, podcaster, and the creator and host and the Never Settle Show. During this value-packed conversation, Mario takes us along his journey from launching his career, elevating his entrepreneurial ventures alongside his wife, and also launching the first ever Facebook Watch show that has won an Emmy Award. We also discuss chat about the challenges of entrepreneurship and the recommended solutions needed to make our dreams become a reality. Mario Armstrong is a two time Emmy Award–winning talk show host, Digital Lifestyle Expert®, and a regular contributor on NBC’s TODAY show, CNN, Dr. Oz, Steve Harvey, and Rachael Ray. Mario is also the host of the Emmy winning Never Settle Show, the world’s first crowd-produced, live-streamed talk show with live participation from the in-studio & online audience. Mario focuses on positivity, motivation, and tactical advice to inspire

On this awesome episode of Gen X Amplified, Adrion is joined by Chip Conley, bestselling author, hospitality entrepreneur, and strategic advisor to Airbnb. During this great interview, Chip unpacks his latest book, Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder. Part manifesto and part playbook, Wisdom@Work outlines and amplifies a much needed conversation not only about ageism in the workplace, but also a rallying cry for those in midlife to unlock the virtues of this stage in the curve of life. Adrion and Chip also discuss how Gen X is now in the prime sweet spot of midlife, and why that's a good thing! Especially being in the position to facilitate mutual beneficial relationships with younger generations, especially Millennials. Chip Conley is a bestselling author, hospitality entrepreneur, strategic advisor to Airbnb, and the Founder of the Modern Elder Academy. At the age of twenty-six, Chip founded Joie de Vivre Hospitality and turned it into the second largest boutique hotel brand in the world. After sellin