In honor of election day in the United States, Jayzen is excited to bring back a fan-favorite episode with a very special guest, Congressman Mark Takano, who proudly represents California's 41st district. Starting his career as a teacher, Mark has always been a huge advocate for education and has worked to improve his community for over twenty years. In 2012, Mark became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress. His family roots in Riverside, CA go back to his grandparents who, along with his parents, were removed from their respective homes and sent to Japanese American Internment camps during World War II. After the war, these two families settled in Riverside County to rebuild their lives.

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Guest Bio

Mark Takano, Congressman for the 41st District of California

For more than twenty years, Mark Takano has worked to improve the lives of Riverside County residents, both as an elected official and as a teacher at Rialto High School.

Born and raised in Riverside, Mark's commitment to public service began at an early age. His family roots in Riverside go back to his grandparents who, along with his parents, were removed from their respective homes and sent to Japanese American Internment camps during World War II. After the war, these two families settled in Riverside County to rebuild their lives.

Mark attended La Sierra High School in the Alvord Unified School District, and in 1979 he graduated as the school's valedictorian. Mark attended Harvard College and received his bachelor's degree in Government in 1983. As a student, he bussed tables to help make ends meet. During his senior year, he organized a transcontinental bicycle ride to benefit the international development agency Oxfam America.

Upon graduation, Mark returned home to Riverside and began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District in 1988. As a classroom teacher, Mark confronted the challenges in our public education system daily.

In 1990, Mark was elected to the Riverside Community College District's Board of Trustees. At RCC, Mark worked with Republicans and Democrats to improve higher education for young people and job training opportunities for adults seeking to learn a new skill or start a new career. He was elected Board President in 1991 and helped the Board and the District gain stability and direction amid serious fiscal challenges.

In 2012, Mark became the first openly gay person of color to be elected to Congress.

Mark Takano represents the people of Riverside, Moreno Valley, Jurupa Valley and Perris in the United States House of Representatives. He serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and as a member of the Education and Labor Committee.

Links

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As we roll into the holiday season from Halloween to Diwali, Thanksgiving, and beyond, it’s also a critical time in your career. That’s right, it’s performance review time! Now is the time to formulate your plan and maximize the opportunity. Remember, your review is not just for your manager, but a reflection of you that many in the organization will see. You have to think about your performance review as your own advertising. That’s right, it is like creating your own personal billboard for leaders in the company to see. If you’re not thoughtful about completing it, it is like a brand leaving a huge billboard on the highway blank as people drive by. Don’t pass up an opportunity to market yourself when you control the message!

Tune in to this week’s show to hear Jayzen’s top three steps to make the most of your performance review. First, focus on your top accomplishments from the year. What did you do that you are proud of? What moved the needle? Then, with two or three in mind, use the S.T.A.R. model to highlight your success and tell your story most compellingly. Finally, you have to determine what your towering brand superpowers are and the skills that are going to help you achieve your next career breakthrough. Jayzen breaks it all down and gives you the info that will count!

This show, Jayzen welcomes Francesco Clark, the CEO & Founder of Clark’s Botanicals. After suffering a paralyzing spinal cord injury at the age of 24, Francesco started Clark’s botanicals in his kitchen with his father. As a side effect to the injury, he developed rosacea, eczema, and a hypersensitivity to ingredients. Literally, nothing helped his skin feel and look normal. Through an unexpected outcome of a social meeting with his former boss, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, the brand was born and quickly moved from his kitchen to being sold at Saks Fifth Avenue and around the world. A truly remarkable and inspirational story.

Guest Bio

Francesco Clark

CEO & Founder

Clark’s Botanicals

Francesco is the author of Walking Papers (2010, Hachette publishing), and CEO/Founder of Clark’s Botanicals skincare, which has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, ALLURE, PBS, CNN, CBS, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and many other publications. His company has won Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award, Allure’s Best of Beauty Award (6 time winner), Oprah’s Best of Beauty, WWD Best Beauty Products of All Time, Town & Country Best of Beauty, Cosmetic Executive Women’s Indie Brand of the Year, as well as Wallpaper’s design award.

Recently, Francesco purchased Clark's Botanicals back from Warburg Pincus, reclaiming his independence as the sole investor and CEO. His steadfast leadership reflects his unwavering commitment to excellence and his entrepreneurial spirit. Since acquiring the brand back, Clark’s Botanicals has reaffirmed its place in luxury skincare, recently launching in: Goop, Saks Fifth Avenue, and most recently signed a distribution agreement launched the skincare line as the highest revenue Cache Program launch to date in 25 Bluemercury doors in February 2024.

Francesco's involvement as an active board member with organizations such as the Johns Hopkins Institute for Bioethics and NYSCF (The New York Stem Cell Foundation) reflects his deep commitment to giving back to the scientific community to help better the lives of others. He is honored to be an ambassador for the Reeve Foundation, which strives to improve the lives of people with spinal cord injuries and their families.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

Fall is a huge season of conferences for many of us, both in-person and virtual…and it’s your chance to maximize the impact of your networking and meet those key individuals who can help you on your career journey. Tune in this week to hear Jayzen’s top tips on networking and how to put them into action. Including the Five/Ten Rule for interaction, his Ask/Tell/Listen model for effective conversations, key ways to build rapport and meaningful relationships and his top piece of advice for live events and interaction…. GET OFF YOUR PHONE! That’s right, when we have the chance to meet new people, it’s critical that we put our phones away and engage in conversation. He includes tons of tips and tricks that are useful for any situation.

Jayzen is excited to welcome an old friend to the show, Christel Miller. She has been responsible for and worked on some of the top shows on television that we all know and love, including Jury Duty, Superstore, Dexter and the upcoming Cruel Intentions series on Amazon Prime. Starting her career in the medical profession, she realized that she’d rather tell the stories of working in a hospital instead of actually doing so and quickly shifted gears. She has an incredible career story to share with fantastic advice we all can appreciate.

Guest Bio

Christel S. Miller

Head of Scripted Hybrid

Amazon MGM Studios

In her role, Christel oversees series through their entire lifecycle from pitch to launch, and was responsible for building original content on Freevee from the ground up including JURY DUTY (Emmy Nominated), PRIMO, BOSCH: LEGACY, SPRUNG, HIGH SCHOOL, along with the upcoming Prime Video launches CRUEL INTENTIONS, CLEAN SLATE, PRADEEPS, MOTORHEADS, and DICK WOLF’s ON CALL. Miller previously worked at NBC as VP of Current Programming on numerous series including New Amsterdam, Superstore, Parenthood, Good Girls, Blindspot, and Grimm, and at Showtime Networks during the Dexter and Nurse Jackie era.

She is alum of Rice University and UCLA’s Film and Television Producing Program. She has been honored as one of Glamour’s 2004 Top Ten College Women, Outsmart’s 2005 Top 12 GLBT Houstonians, Producers Guild’s 2006 Diversity Award Winner, NBCU’s 2011 Entertainment Associates Program Participant, NBCU‘s 2012 Going The Extra Mile Award, Power Up’s 2012 Rising Star LGBTQ Award, GO Magazine’s 2019 One Hundred LGBTQ Women We Love Award, and Rice University’s CSWGS 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award. Christel is a member of ColourTV, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and has been serving on the Board of Directors for GLAAD since 2017, which received the Emmy’s Governor’s Award in 2024.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

As Jayzen likes to point out…”It’s the most wonderful time of the year!” It’s not the holiday season yet, but it is the release of the latest iPhone from Apple - one of his favorite brands! While waiting in line for his new iPhone 16, it was a reminder that while many stores are struggling to stay open, Apple stores still have a line down the block for the new model. That is the power of a great brand. Tune in to hear Jayzen’s best thoughts on how to make sure that your personal brand is one that your SuperFans and those in your career audience are willing to wait in line for, want you on their team and ultimately help you achieve your next career breakthrough.

Jayzen is thrilled to welcome Nicole Hasse to the show. In 2022 Nicole teamed up with Melissa Gilbert, known to many as Laura Ingalls Wilder from the famous Little House on the Prarie television series. Together, they co-founded Modern Prairie. The brand is centered on women aged 50 and beyond, offering them a source of inspiration, engagement, validation, and connection. Built on the idea of community, Modern Prairie offers heirloom quality products and creates a space for women to come together and share stories of embracing change and finding power in it. She has had an incredible career working for some of the most notable retail brands and shares a wealth of success insights.

Guest Bio

Nicole Haase

Co-Founder and CEO

Modern Prairie

Nicole Haase is a dynamic executive and brand builder with over 20 years of experience creating innovative product concepts, leading ambitious teams, and facilitating profitable growth. She has been building high performing brands for over two decades, serving in leadership positions at companies such as Williams-Sonoma, Lucky Brand Jeans and ModCloth. As an executive, she is known for her unique ability to combine both creativity and financial insight to deliver extraordinary results.

Recognizing a significant gap in the market, in 2022 she teamed up with Melissa Gilbert to co-found Modern Prairie. The brand is centered on women aged 50 and beyond, offering them a source of inspiration, engagement, validation, and connection. Built on the idea of community, Modern Prairie offers heirloom quality products and creates a space for women to come together and share stories of embracing change and finding power in it. Since its launch, the brand has organically grown to nearly 500,000 followers on social media and 30,000 on its dedicated app.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Haase’s upbringing was steeped in the entrepreneurial spirit instilled by her parents. Embracing their ethos, she champions the message of limitless possibilities and firmly believes in the transformative power of opportunity. Her academic pursuits include studying at Boston College and obtaining her master’s at the Carroll School of Management where she honed her skills and shaped her vision for the future.

Haase currently resides in Huntington Beach, CA and believes that talent, teamwork, and tenacity will always lead to success.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

Check out Modern Prarie at Modernprairie.com

For many, The Walt Disney Company is known for creating “The Happiest Place On Earth.” For Jayzen, the company represents the best example of a brand truly knowing and super-serving their super fans. Disney has an amazing ability to identify, understand and tap into everything that is fandom for their brands - and leverage it for sales. That in mind, in your career, your super fans are the people who are your sponsors and supporters. The people who can advocate for you and support your work even when you’re not in the room. Tune into hear Jayzen’s top tips on how to make sure that you have identified and have a plan to super–serve your career super fans as you strive for your next career breakthrough.

Jayzen is excited to welcome Rachel Hernandez to the show. Rachel is the Director of Brand Strategy at Next Net Media. In this role, she spearheads the world’s largest global network of trusted media outlets, link partners, and global news websites, catapulting clients to online retailing success with high-authority backlinks and targeted organic visitors. With a decade-long career in digital content creation and strategy, Rachel initiated Next Net Media’s content department in 2016, overseeing in-house teams and a vast network of 700+ freelancers, generating thousands of premium content pieces weekly. Recognized as a finalist for Woman in Content Marketing of the Year, Rachel is a sought-after guest on marketing podcasts and an esteemed speaker at international events, sharing her expertise in content marketing, brand strategy, and SEO. Rachel shares how you can use the tools that she uses for clients in your own career.

Guest Bio

Rachel Hernandez

Director of Brand Strategy, Next Net Media

Rachel Hernandez is the Director of Brand Strategy for Next Net Media, the largest global network of trusted media outlets, link partners, and global news websites, providing clients with a steady influx of high-authority backlinks and targeted organic visitors – making them the world’s largest and most successful online retailer of optimization products and services.

With a rich decade-long history as a digital content creator and strategist, Rachel stands as a beacon of innovation. In 2016, she launched Next Net Media’s content department, ingeniously leading both in-house teams and 700+ freelancers, culminating in the creation of thousands of top-tier content pieces every week.

Notably, Rachel’s success extends beyond her professional endeavors. She earned a coveted finalist spot for the Woman in Content Marketing of the Year by Masthead Media and Content Marketing Institute. An authority in her field, she’s a sought-after guest on marketing podcasts and a revered speaker on the international circuit, where she imparts wisdom on the pivotal intersections of content marketing, brand strategy, and SEO.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

Like so many around the world, Jayzen was glued to the television over the past few weeks enthralled with the Olympic Games in Paris. From a brand perspective, everything about the games was a showcase of the host city. Yes, there were travelogues and picture-perfect iconic locations but when we dive deeper, everything was quintessentially Parisian. An opening ceremony that mashed up the Can Can, Les Miserables and the metal band Gojira. There were athletes in boats down the seine and an Olympic flame floating in a hydrogen balloon inspired by French physicist Jacques Charles putting us in the middle of something out of a steampunk Jules Verne novel! Even the medals that winning athletes received were designed like a piece of fine French jewelry with a piece of the Eiffel Tower in each. Yes, these past 2 weeks have truly been the Olympics by Paris.

So the question to you is, “what do the Olympics by you look and feel like?” How would they be uniquely you? Of course, you’re never going to host an Olympics personally, but when you think about it, your career is a series of Olympics…every assignment, every project, even every task is something that many people could do. The real question is what is your signature style? What is your brand filter? What are the things that you do that leave your calling card or how are your fingerprints all over it? How do you execute things in a way that says quite simply that no one else could have done that and reminds people that you are the go-to person who can execute in your unique way?

Jayzen is thrilled to welcome Monika Krimendahl to the show. In addition to her role as BlitzBe, Monika is COO of Click Riot (a software company leveraging technology to build, grow and scale) and the Co-Executive Producer of The Gold Rush Summit 1.0, The Gold Rush Summit 2.0, The Gold Rush Crypto Summit, and The Gold Rush Pride Summit. She is an International Bestselling Author and enjoyed the collaborative process of writing “Action Takers Who Get Sh** Done.” Her career has spanned from teaching school, being a massage therapist to now running marketing agencies, all with an incredible through line that makes perfect sense.

Guest Bio

Monika Krimendahl

COO, BlitzBe Marketing

Monika Krimendahl is the COO of BlitzBe Marketing, Click Riot (a software company leveraging technology to build, grow and scale) and the Co-Executive Producer of The Gold Rush Summit 1.0, The Gold Rush Summit 2.0, The Gold Rush Crypto Summit, and The Gold Rush Pride Summit.

She works with her team to develop strategies for Business Development, Online Audits, Producing Virtual Summits, and Training Entrepreneurs to grow to 6 and 7 Figures with Online Marketing strategies. As a teacher and educator for 25 years, Monika enjoys educating entrepreneurs about Marketing, Mindset and Creative Strategies to grow their businesses.

Monika is an International Bestselling Author and enjoyed the collaborative process of writing “Action Takers Who Get Sh** Done.”

With a background in healing, transformational work, Massage Therapy, Meditation and Yoga, Monika believes in the power of transformation! Team meetings begin with, “We have a world to change!” The foundation of everything she does is about helping people who help people grounded in the acknowledgment that “a rising tide raises all ships.”

Monika is a member of several networking groups and enjoys meeting new entrepreneurs all over the world! She believes in multiple streams of income and working with other fabulous entrepreneurs to create win-win-win relationships.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

To learn more about the GOLD RUSH PRIDE SUMMIT visit thegoldrushsummit.com/pride-summit

On a recent trip to Portugal, Jayzen came across a very unique outpost of one of his favorite brands to talk about, Starbucks. Situated in a centuries-old building, the small Starbucks kept the original look and feel of the building and neighborhood and simply added very subtle branding to the exterior. It was an incredible reminder about how you can still be on-brand, and fit into your surroundings or a unique environment when you need to. Tune in to hear Jayzen’s thoughts on how with your brand, it’s really about knowing when to modulate and turn up or down the volume on your various brand attributes to best meet specific situational needs. You always need to be on brand - but you can lean in and out of aspects of your brand when it makes sense.

Jayzen is excited to talk with Jai Khanna this week. Jai’s company is a top content producer telling amazing stories rooted in sports. Among others, they are known for their 2023 Emmy-nominated TNT documentary 'The Great Debate with Charles Barkley.' Upcoming projects include a documentary focusing on worldwide legend Kobe Bryant as well as a documentary profiling golf prodigy Michelle Wie exclusively set for Peacock.

Guest Bio

Jai Khanna

Co-Founder and CEO, Victory Media Group

Jai Khanna is the Co-Founder and CEO of Victory Media Group, a global producer and financier of premium content across film, television and digital media– telling the stories of the journey to victory. Khanna guides the strategy and vision for the company’s three content brands- Victory Sports, Victory Women and Victory Film.

Victory Media Group has quickly produced a critically acclaimed slate of programming since its inception in 2023, garnering an Emmy nomination for the TNT documentary 'The Great Debate with Charles Barkley.' Upcoming projects include a documentary focusing on worldwide legend Kobe Bryant as well as a documentary profiling golf prodigy Michelle Wie exclusively set for Peacock. Additionally, in collaboration with Will Ferrell, a captivating feature film following the Seattle Seahawks. Plus a docu-series that dives deep into the intriguing true crime saga surrounding FIFA's stolen and un-recovered World Cup trophy.

Prior to launching Victory Media Group, Khanna served as a strategic leader at the preeminent management and production firm Brillstein, where he worked for over 22 years. Throughout his tenure at Brillstein, Khanna held various strategic roles, including Talent Manager, Producer and Packaging Agent. He played a pivotal role in assisting top-tier clients in launching multiple ventures across film, television and technology. Clients over the years included talent such as Eva Mendes, Sarah Silverman,Tiffani Thiessen, Ike Barinholtz, Larenz Tate among others. His credits include over 25 films, where he served as Producer or Executive Producer. Additionally, Khanna was responsible for securing over $300 million in capital for client projects.

A veteran entertainment executive, Khanna started his career as a Talent Agent at Writers & Artists Agency. While there, he represented notable actors such as James Gandolfini, William H. Macy and Eva Mendes.

Khanna was named by The Hollywood Reporter as one of the 'top 35 executives in Hollywood.' He has been profiled in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Business Insider recognized him as one of the '100 influential Indian American leaders in the US' and he was celebrated as one of the "Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business" by the Asian American Business Development Center.

Khanna graduated from the University of California at Davis as a student-athlete.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com

Happy Summer! This week, Jayzen takes a deep dive into Step Three of the Five Steps to Lead With Your Brand…Refine Who You Want to Be. When working on your personal brand and what you want to be known for, spending a good amount of time on this step is critical. That is, what are the SuperSized brand words that you use to distinguish yourself from others. How do you talk about your self not in coffee language, but as a SuperPremium brand like Starbucks. Tune in to hear Jayzen’s tips on developing a word bank that you will use on everything from your resume, to your LinkedIn profile to your performance review….even in your next interview!

Jayzen is excited to welcome Amy Shoenthal to the show. She is a journalist, marketing consultant and the author of The Setback Cycle, a book about how today’s prominent founders and leaders overcome obstacles to find success. Everyone experiences setbacks at some point. Amy shares some of her incredible insights into how to take challenges and turn them into the catalyst for success.

Guest Bio

Amy Shoenthal

USA Today Bestselling Author of The Setback Cycle.

Amy Shoenthal is a journalist, marketing consultant and the author of The Setback Cycle, a book about how today’s prominent founders and leaders overcome obstacles to find success. In her years spent profiling these leaders for outlets like Forbes and Harvard Business Review, nearly every discussion revealed a common theme: what they learned during their biggest setbacks led them to their most successful ventures. Setbacks are an unavoidable aspect of life—and while uncomfortable, they provide an opportunity to redefine success and gain a renewed perspective. But why does this happen? That’s the answer Amy searched for as she researched this phenomenon, speaking with executive coaches, neuroscientists and psychologists to come up with a framework that helps people identify setbacks and work through them.

Told through the stories of leaders like Robin Arzón, Reshma Saujani, Norma Kamali, Stacy London and others, Amy takes people through this common experience in a way that enables them to understand it, address it, and come out the other side with a renewed sense of growth and a clear vision.

Amy also boasts a two-decade marketing career, working with some of the world's largest brands, from Procter & Gamble to Google. Now, through her consulting firm, Visionaries Collective, she works with Founders, corporations, nonprofits and small businesses to shape their brand narratives and captivate audiences through strategic storytelling.

After completing The Setback Cycle, she began working with organizations to help their employees and managers confidently lead through tumultuous times, offering the tools to help their teams navigate their own inevitable setbacks together.

Amy previously wrote a local children’s book about the independent-owned businesses in her own beloved neighborhood of Sunnyside, Queens, where she lives with her husband and daughter.

Links

To book Jayzen for a speaking engagement or workshop visit Jayzenpatria.com