Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to your younger self? Deirdre Booth and Kate Robinette swap professional and personal advice in this fireside chat. If you have advice to share, please post to our social media pages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram #psmshow!

Resources:

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski (available on Amazon)

First, Break All the Rules: What the World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently, by Marcus Buckingham (available on Amazon)

Citizenship in a Republic (The Man in the Arena), by Theodore Roosevelt

Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com

**Recorded live at the 2024 SMPS Pacific Regional Conference in Portland, Oregon**

Ryn (Kathryn) Bennett, MPH, is a non-binary 40 under 40 award winner, world-record-holding strongman competitor, celebrated TEDx and Ignite speaker, and advocate for developing mental toughness. They are the author of Productive Pain, a personal memoir and inspirational guide. With a background in social and behavioral health and process improvement, Ryn’s professional career spans industries including tech, healthcare, and engineering/construction. Ryn used the mental fortitude and tenacity they learned in the gym to advance their career and overcome burnout, working from an entry-level process improvement role into a director position. Ryn is a Certified Professional Services Marketer and is nationally ranked as a strongman competitor. They are passionate about helping others develop the mental tenacity and internal strength they need to succeed, no matter the adversity they’re facing.

The podcast picks up after Ryn’s keynote. A few excerpts from the keynote have been included for context, but the podcast discussion does not depend on having heard the address.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathrynbennettwrites/

Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com

You’ve heard of common sense and street sense. Get ready for farm sense, as doled out by SMPS Weld Cox awardee, Donna Corlew, FSMPS, CPSM. Learn how this self-described farm girl got her start, what she sees as the biggest changes in AEC marketing and BD, and what today’s marketers can do for themselves to get ahead. Deirdre and Donna bless all the hearts in this uplifting look at our craft.  

A native Tennessean, Donna Corlew’s roots run deep in Southern hospitality, a culture of giving, and an abiding love of SEC football and Nashville Predators hockey. Don’t let that Southern twang fool you – under the surface lies the heart and soul of a Steel Magnolia driven by a passion for coaching and helping architects, engineers, and builders identify and maximize their unique talents and expertise. She works with AEC firms across the country to focus strategic vision and market research, grow connections and chemistry with clients and prospects, and help technical staff and marketing and business development professionals to thrive and win profitable work. With over 700 technical professionals trained as effective doer-sellers, Donna brings an understanding of the AEC market and a proven track record of performance and results.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnacorlew/ 

Resource links:

Patrick Lencioni, The Ideal Team Player, available on amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Ideal-Team-Player-Recognize-Cultivate-ebook/dp/B01B6AEJJ0  

Catch Donna at these conferences:

https://convention.agc.org

https://smps-serc.org

https://smpsmvrc.com

https://smpsheartland.org

https://smpsheartland.org

https://www.amplifyaec.org/

Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com 

In today’s episode, we have a case study on authentic and intentional leadership. Frank and Deirdre talk with Justin Conger, of Conger Construction, about leadership, decision making, culture, brand, and how marketing impacts a firm.

At the helm of Conger Construction Group, Justin Conger stands as a paragon of transformative leadership. His distinct approach, grounded in the principles of servant leadership, has been the compass guiding the company’s ascent in the construction sector. With the conviction that true leadership stems from serving first, Justin continuously places the needs and professional growth of his team at the forefront. This ethos has not only fostered a culture of mutual respect, trust, and empowerment within Conger Construction Group but has also been instrumental in its sustained business expansion.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/justin-conger-27636614/ 

Resource links:

Conger Construction: https://www.congerbuilt.com/ 

Vistage: https://www.vistage.com/ 

Off Balance, Matthew Kelly: https://www.amazon.com/Off-Balance-Work-Life-Professional- Satisfaction/dp/1942611331    

The 5 Disfunctions of a Team, Patrick Lencioni: https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-Team-Leadership-Fable/dp/0787960756 

Music by RomanSenykMusic on Pixabay. www.pixabay.com