Influence Ecology

Catherine Newton is the CEO of Catherine Newton Consulting. She is a fiercely motivated, dynamic executive coach, trainer, speaker, and mentor who loves to help purpose-driven individuals master their businesses and lives so that they can serve more people with their inspired vision and mission. Her mentoring is rooted in upgrading a leader’s internal operating system and ensuring they have the tactics and strategy to succeed. It is grounded in decades of education and training. With 20+ years of coaching and advising leaders, 25 years of personal experience in business ownership, and immersion for over a decade in the study and practice of entrepreneurship and soul design, her coaching and advice are both practical AND heart-centered. She’s shared the stage with Oprah, – and has recently completed the fundamentals of Transaction and Mechanics and Practice programs here at Influential U. Today, she’ll tell us more about how Influential U helped her uplevel – to organize her ideas and use transactional compe

Anthony Nicoli is the Aerospace Senior Director for Siemens Digital Industries, and he leads Siemens’ efforts to help the aerospace and defense industry digitalize its electrical engineering systems development. He has a Masters and Bachelors in Science from MIT and an MBA from D’amore McKim School of Business at Northeastern and completed the corporate venturing program from The Wharton School. He’s also completed the Fundamentals of Transaction, Mechanics, and Practice programs and is towards the end of his Mechanics and Practice 2; PSTI program and is a brilliant man and a fantastic student. Today, he’ll tell us more about how his insatiable hunt for education and knowledge led him to study transactional competence here at Influential U. He lives in Wilsonville, Oregon, with his wife, Doreen, and has two kids. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or an

Mike Fend is an Air Quality Representative for PDC Energy in Colorado. Mike is one of many of our ambitious professionals who study with us at Influential U and are training to give themselves more opportunities in the marketplace. He holds his Master’s in Management from the TUM School of Management and has a bachelor’s from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in Civil Engineering. Mike also shares that he just picked up the keys to his first home that he purchased with what he learned here at Influential U during his Fundamentals of Transaction program. Today, Mike will tell us more about his journey over the last six months and how he learned to lead with curiosity and genuinely care even more about his team through his studies. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to k

Cindi is a Gender Specialist and Transition Expert; an author, speaker, trainer, coach, and therapist with her company Cindi Grace Inc. She’s also the President of Insurance Happiness, where she brings happiness and success to companies’ current benefit offerings without the need to replace their existing health plans or their insurance broker. Today, she’ll tell us more about her journey and how she learned to be more authentically herself. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or special downloads we talked about. This podcast is made possible by the Influential U staff, mentors, and members around the world. Special thanks to our executive producer, Tyson

Jeff Cady is a longtime student of Influential U; beginning his studies in 2018, he’s completed the Fundamentals of Transaction Program, Mechanics and Practice program, and is now completing the most prestigious of our programs – Mechanics and Practice 2: PSTI. Jeff is an Enterprise Architect for Presidio in New Braunfels, Texas, and has a passion for how his clients use technology to transform their businesses. Today, he’ll tell us more about his journey over the last four years of study and how he went from being thoroughly naive to having a plan for many areas of his life. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or special downloads we talked about. This po

Dallas Jackson is the Managing Director at Humaneering, where she improves business performances by fostering agility across all domains. She helps companies transform the way work is done by encouraging the right mindset and cultural change to align people, processes, and technology to maximize organizational health and performance. Dallas draws from her experience as a Scrum Master and Agile Team Coach and trainer and is certified in Neuroleadership and Transactional Competence. She’s also completed the Fundamentals of Transaction, Mechanics, and Practice, Transactional Competence Across Teams, and is currently in our Thrive membership program and a mentor for the Fundamentals of Transaction Program. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out o

Crystal Evans owns Conejo Awards – a fifty-year-old promotional products, awards, business gifts, and signage company located in Thousand Oaks, California. Crystal holds her bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Marketing from California Lutheran University and has completed the Fundamentals of Transaction and Mechanics and Practice programs. She is currently working through Mechanics and Practice two: Planning, Strategy, Tactics, and Implementation. Crystal describes herself as ambitious, creative, disciplined, and eager to learn, and as you’ll hear in this interview, she had to face a lot of naivete in her thinking and is still doing the work to help her business thrive. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for

Mathew Heggem is the Founder and CEO of 10kCreators.com, a social enterprise whose mission is to help ten thousand creators achieve financial freedom through mentorship, training, and access to critical resources. In his role, Mathew helps professional artists make and manage their money by serving as their business advisor, coach, mentor, and consultant. In his eighteen-plus years in the accounting industry, he has served in leadership and growth roles at various firms, consulting with entrepreneurs and small business owners. He has been a member of multiple boards, including the Sage Accounting Advisory Council, Womxn Talk Money Advisory Board, the Greenwich Village Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, and Pentacle. CPA Practice Advisor has recognized Mathew as a “Twenty Under Forty Superstar,” and he’s been a featured speaker at QuickBooks Connect and Xerocon. He also has published thirty-plus articles for the Accountex Report, SmartCEO, and Entrepreneur.com. He is an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs Ten Thousand Sm

Tiran is the living embodiment of inspiration. He became an entrepreneur because of difficult and challenging circumstances that you’ll hear about in this episode, and through this, he found his strength and resiliency. He’s a motivational speaker, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and engineer. Tiran’s purpose is inspiring other through his personal experiences and helps his clients and anyone who hears his voice to manage and overcome their own personal crisis through his company, Reborn Resilient – and you can find out more about him at RebornResilient.com He is a champion and consultant to small businesses and franchises looking to add structure and develop strategies on how they want to turn their visions into tangible products and has a background in engineering and was focused on product development, testing, and program management in the fields of aerospace, oil and gas, and energy. Tiran holds his Bachelor’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Tennessee State University, Has his MBA from th

Todd Brossart is the founder of Mental Events, a company that offers mindfulness-based therapy and workshops that allow his clients to connect with what’s important. Todd is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board-Certified Diplomate who worked for over ten years for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He specializes in providing cognitive-behavioral therapies, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, cognitive processing therapy, and acceptance and commitment therapy. He helps people change their relationship with their emotions and thoughts, learning to relate to them as ongoing and changing experiences so they can respond more flexibly to life events and challenges in the moment. He has over twelve years of post-master’s education and experience working in social work. He holds his Master of Social Work from the University of Denver and a Bachelor’s degree from Minnesota State University. He graduated from the Fundamentals of Transaction Program and is currently in the Mechanics and Practi

Today, we have Summer Lynn Anderson, the author of her new book, “Start Within: Better ROI Begins with You,” on the Influential U podcast. Her study with Influential U gave her a foundation to understand that small replicable habits can create outstanding results. Summer is a graduate of our Fundamentals of Transaction and our Mechanics and Practice programs. One thing we can say is she is a brilliant thinker, so grab a pen and get ready because when she starts to speak, something valuable is about to be said! Summer is the managing director at ZRG Partners, LLC; she holds her BA in Sociology from UC Berkley and, as you’ll hear in this podcast, is a life-long learner and avid reader. She has over twenty years of global experience in shaping retained executive-level recruiting strategies and delivering results for companies such as Allergan, Booz Allen Hamilton, and various Fortune 500 Technology and fast-growing eCommerce companies. She’s been married to her husband Tom for over 26 years and has three daugh

In this episode, we speak with Liz Smiley, and if you study with us, you know her well, but for those who haven’t yet – Liz is a partner at Influential U, the Director of Admissions, and serves as our registrar. She has over 25 years of experience in the personal and business performance space. As you’ll hear today, we rely on her to make things happen. And most of the time that our faculty introduces her, you hear her say, “She’s the glue around here.” And she really is. She has managed, and coordinated training for thousands of people internationally and has been responsible for the training, development, and management of hundreds of leaders, managers, and mentors. She lives in Ventura, California, with her Husband, Son, and Chickens. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want

Today we’re speaking with Jennifer Caldwell, the Chief Development Officer of FoodShare of Ventura County. You’ve heard her story before, as she was on our podcast before the Covid-19 Pandemic and it’s a favorite episode of many of our listeners. She’s been a morning show co-host and producer, 40 Under 40 Recipient from the Pacific Coast Business Times, Young Professional of the Year with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and is the current Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ventura County Leadership Academy. She had some amazing results in her Fundamentals of Transaction Program and lives in Ventura County. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or specia

This episode’s guest, Sean Gillespie, is an award-winning sculptor who’s known for illuminating the innate beauty of wood. Sean is an excellent example of a solopreneur who found new freedom, productivity, and significant financial wins by assembling an effective team. He’s completed Influential U’s entire course curriculum, is an esteemed alumni, and a powerful advocate for what we teach. He’s been on the podcast before but today, he’s back to share new lessons he’s learned. Sean lives in Colorado, and you can learn more about him and his art by visiting SoulfulObjects.com. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or special downloads we talked about. This pod

Today we’re speaking with Tim Nicklas, whose story began with some early losses he worked to overcome as an intrapreneur within a major children’s hospital. Like many of us, at work, Tim faced personalities he failed to influence – or struggled to understand. All of us need buy-in from others at work. His remedy? Tim acknowledged his cognitive bias to think that other people share his worldview and found true value in diverse personalities. Having first participated in our programs in 2011, he still holds his role at the hospital, teaches new fathers how to be new Dads, and has recently joined the Faculty of Influential U. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, book

Today we’re speaking with Nicole Briones with Consortium Health Plans, where she is Director, of Actuarial & Analytics. Nicole’s journey through our programs revealed some key takeaways about ethics, money, personality, and more. As an outcome of her study with Influential U, she’s championed the mantra, “let accurate thinking lead the way.” Her story includes being recognized for her skills, moving across the country, and nearly doubling her annual income. Nicole now lives in Nashville, TN with her husband. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or special downloads we talked about. This podcast is made possible by the Influential U staff, mentors, and m

 Today’s episode features Jean Lloyd who is a Cultural Architect with a unique approach as she does not prescribe a blueprint for success, because her clients are already experts in their fields. Rather Jean brings guidance and critical thinking to her clients to impact their success and they get a new, mind-bending outlook that equips them to re-imagine, then excel, in an exceptional new culture. Jean is the Owner and President of Jean Lloyd consulting, the founder of The iCommunicate Summit, and founder of Alma’s Alchemy Inc. She lives in Baltimore Maryland and is a graduate of the Fundamentals of Transaction program, Priority and Practice program, and is currently completing the Mechanics and Practice program with Influential U. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to kn

Today’s guest is Influential U CEO and Co-founder John Patterson. You’ve heard him on this podcast since 2016, but somehow, we’ve never gotten to listen to him tell his story. In 2005, John was having an existential crisis, and his job, relationship, and life were simply not working for him, so he needed a change. At this time, John had already been long-time friends with Kirkland Tibbels, Influential U’s other Co-Founder, and through hundreds of hours of conversations with Kirkland, John was able to discover that he was being loyal at all costs. In other words, John was more committed to people and ideologies than he was to taking care of himself. Soon after, he ended his relationship, lost 70 pounds, earned a sizeable 6-figure income, and would eventually found Influential U along with Kirkland. Now John has thirty years of experience focused on personal, business, and management effectiveness and performance and has facilitated training for tens of thousands of people internationally. Each week the Influen

Today we speak with Dr. Gary Ward, a family physician and Lead Faculty Member at Influential U from Perth, Australia, where he lives with his wife, Claire. A common theme on this podcast is discussing our members’ journey and the before and after they found Influential U. In Dr. Ward’s case, he describes it as going from struggle and chaos to harmony and satisfaction. As you’ll hear in this episode, he’s accomplished a lot in his life and his profession, but there have been times when it’s been a struggle to find the balance between work, relationships, and family. This is a common struggle that many people experience, and Dr. Gary Ward was able to achieve harmony and satisfaction by implementing what he learned with Influential U. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to kn

Today’s episode features Meredith Hart, a Fundamentals of Transaction graduate here at Influential U who learned that “Cooperation May be More Valuable than Competition,” or as Kirkland Tibbels always says, “Amateurs Compete. Professionals Cooperate.” Meredith Hart is the Economic Development Director for the City of Ventura. Her specialized knowledge in the marketplace is to help the city of Ventura with business engagement and vibrancy. She connects with economic partners on behalf of the city and helps businesses facilitate avenues toward success. She lives here in Ventura with her Husband, Ryan, and son, Dylan. Each week the Influential U Podcast is streamed live on our website, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. If you enjoyed this podcast, share it with others. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any place you get your podcasts. Don’t be shy. Give a rating or review. We want to know what you think. Check out our show notes for links to connect with our guests – plus links to websites, books, or spec