Casually Pro Podcast

12 - Success Without a Script: A Conversation with Jose (Jay) Cruz

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Jay: Driven and versatile professional with experience in multiple industries, including filmmaking, tech, and business strategy. I bring a unique combination of creativity, data-driven decision-making, and an innovative mindset to every challenge. A natural leader and collaborator, I excel at building strong relationships and aligning diverse teams around shared goals.
Currently serving as the Founder at IFT Network - an independent media company focused on creating innovative content for a global audience. I'm passionate about leveraging the intersection of technology and storytelling to create meaningful connections and drive positive change.
My diverse background has taught me to approach each new project with curiosity, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Eager to continue growing, learning, and making a lasting impact in the media and entertainment industry.
As the Founder of IFT Network, I'm dedicated to revolutionizing the way independent artists connect with global audiences who love their work. Drawing on my experience as a veteran in the independent film and theater industry, I understand the challenges creators face in monetizing their creations and building sustainable careers. IFT Network is a direct response to these challenges, providing a comprehensive ecosystem designed to empower artists at every stage of their journey.
My leadership at IFT Network has birthed several innovative initiatives:
• IFT Network TV on Roku: A free streaming channel showcasing independent films, shows, and live theater.
• Subscription apps and website access: Exclusive content, interactive features, and the pioneering ProducerPay® Program, enabling filmmakers and producers to earn from their work.
• Annual International Indie Film & Theater Festival: Showcasing talent and fostering connections.
• A collaborative community: Fostering connections, innovation, and growth among creators.
I'm proud to lead the charge in creating a platform that supports independent artists, celebrates diverse storytelling, and redefines the entertainment landscape. Join me on this journey as we shape the future of the creative world, one story at a time.
 
About the Hosts: 
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/ 
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact. 
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/ 
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. 
 
Links
iftnetwork.com services
iftnetworktv.com streaming
linkedin.com/in/jaycruzcreative/

11 - Confidence Through Rejection: Why Hearing 'No' Is a Win – A Conversation with Karmin Habibi

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Karmin Habibi is a sales expert and creator of the Savvy Closer Method, with over 14 years of experience helping professionals transform conversations into conversions. Known for consistently achieving a high closing rate, winning awards and gaining recognition across various industries, Karmin's mission is to simplify the sales process and empower people to boost their income, impact, and confidence. Through masterclasses and coaching, Karmin teaches ethical, client-centered techniques that turn sales professionals into confident closers.
 
About the Hosts: 
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/ 
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact. 
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/ 
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. 
 
Learn more at www.savvycloser.net

10 - Designing for Dignity: Mike Clapper On The Future of Inclusive Travel

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Mike Clapper is a leader in brand strategy, marketing, and business development with over 20 years of experience. His work focuses on making accessibility a strategic advantage that drives profitability, customer loyalty, and brand growth in the travel and hospitality industries.
As both a traveler with a disability and a seasoned business professional, Mike brings a unique perspective on how inclusive design benefits both brands and consumers. He helps companies gain a competitive edge by creating seamless, welcoming experiences for all. His approach transforms accessibility from a compliance requirement into a business opportunity, elevating customer satisfaction and the bottom line.
 
About the Hosts: 
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/ 
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact. 
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/ 
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. 
 
Links
LinkedIn

9 - Why UX/UI Should Start with People: Insights from Itzy Ramirez

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Itzy Ramirez is a UX/UI designer based in Brooklyn, NY with over a decade of experience in design. Itzy spent time collaborating with Indigenous communities in Mexico and Guatemala, igniting a passion for socially impactful design.
She leverages her background in graphic design to create digital products that are user centric.
 
About the Hosts: 
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/ 
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact. 
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/ 
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. 
 
Links
www.itzyramirez.comwww.xochitlnopalli.comLinkedinIG @itzy_designs

8 - From Factory to Front Door: Rachid Maliki on Modern Supply Chains

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Rachid Maliki helps global organizations achieve multimillion-dollar cost savings, operational excellence, and revenue growth through strategic supply chain operations management and optimization.
As a Chief Supply Chain Officer with 20+ years of experience, he specializes in overseeing and streamlining supply chain operations, distribution networks, logistics, and transportation for industry-leading organizations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.
He is recognized for achieving multimillion-dollar cost savings, controlling multibillion-dollar supplies and materials, and managing high-value budgets. Rachid has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, maximizing revenue generation, optimizing inventory management, augmenting production capacity, expanding networks, and enhancing team performance and productivity.
He possesses exceptional talent for leading large-scale teams of 400+ members to deliver supply chain projects within scope, timelines, and budgetary constraints.
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality.
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. Join the conversation and learn more about the complex world of Executive Coaching!
 
Links
LinkedIn

7 - Stories Over Style: How Gurjinder Singh Helps Startups Connect Beyond the Surface

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Gurjinder Singh is founder of Gesso (Design Studio) that helps Series A startups position and brand correctly before launching their GTM campaigns. 
He brings a diverse background working in-house at a MarTech startup, and agency side as Director of Brand & Design at Coinbound (leading Web3 marketing agency). His specialties are in brand identity, positioning, web design, and product UI. 
Gurjinder is notorious for posting: 
- day-in-the-life of a designer memes, 
- Rotten Tomatoes style blog for scoring newly dropped logo & branding campaigns, 
- and running a candid podcast on the good, bad, and ugly of design with a friend from Bangalore, India. 
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. Join the conversation and learn more about the complex world of Executive Coaching!
 
Links:
http://www.gesso.one
www.gesso.one/glow-up-meter
LinkedIn
X

6 - Gregg Schoenberg: No Allstars, No Results, No Problem - Making Moves as an Executive Coach

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Over the past 30+ years, Gregg Schoenberg has held a diverse range of professional roles, including legislative aide, government affairs representative, investment banker, crisis consultant, media start-up founder, content creator, angel & crypto investor, and corporate strategy advisor.
His extensive experience across various industries has equipped him with valuable knowledge and insights that he brings to his coaching and mentorship practice. Gregg has also built a wide network of valuable relationships around the globe, who have generously shared their wisdom with him.
Outside of his work with clients, Gregg advises a global macro hedge fund, serves on the board of directors for a music technology company, and collaborates with a local non-profit on providing need-based college scholarships for young adults in his community.
Gregg holds a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis and a Master of Business Administration from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. Join the conversation and learn more about the complex world of Executive Coaching!
 
Links: 
LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggschoenberg/
Why every CEO needs a coach or the equivalent: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCBy-Dx8CE4
Career Reinvention = mc²: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMeFqlKHHQQ
https://greggschoenberg.com

5 - Introverts Vs. Extroverts: Finding Your Social Sweet Spot

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In this episode of Casually Pro, we’re diving into a conversation that’s close to home for so many of us: the ways introverts and extroverts navigate social experiences. Whether you’re the life of the party or the quiet observer in the corner, we all bring something unique to the table when it comes to building practical skills.
We’ll share stories, laugh about the quirks of each personality type, and talk about the strengths (and challenges) of both introverts and extroverts in professional and personal settings. Spoiler alert: it’s not about being one or the other—it’s about how we show up as ourselves and make those experiences meaningful.
If you’ve ever wondered how to embrace your natural style—or understand someone else’s—this one’s for you. Come hang out with us as we unpack what makes each of us tick, Casually Pro style.
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality.
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/

4 - Silk, Soul, and Creativity: Ida Ivanka Hamilton’s Journey Through Art and Design

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Ida is a contemporary artist and multidisciplinary designer working internationally with businesses and nonprofits. She is widely recognized for her large-scale abstract paintings made from silk cocoons, featured in her acclaimed series The Birth of an Idea. As a designer, her focus is on innovation and enhancing everyday life. In her charitable work, she is dedicated to two key areas: healing nutrition and talent development.
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. Join the conversation and learn more about the complex world of biology!
 
Websites or links:
WebsiteWikipediaLinkedIn
 

3 - Influencers vs. Connectors: Who’s Calling the Shots in the Networking Revolution

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Ever wondered what sets influencers apart from connectors? In this video, we break down the key differences between these two roles and why they’re both essential in today’s network-driven world. While influencers thrive on reach and visibility, connectors excel at building relationships and creating meaningful bridges. Whether you’re looking to grow your brand, strengthen your community, or make a bigger impact, understanding these dynamics can make all the difference.
Tune in to discover:
The unique traits of influencers vs. connectors
How connectors drive authentic engagement
Tips for identifying which role suits you best
 
About the Hosts:
Charles is a strategy consultant, community builder, and advocate for purpose-driven businesses. With a knack for creating actionable insights, Charles helps leaders turn their vision into reality. 
Connect with Charles here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-leyte/
Jef is a former developer turned public speaking coach who knows how to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages. With a passion for storytelling and empowering others, Geoff helps individuals and teams communicate with confidence and impact.
Connect with Jef here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoffrey-huck/
Together, they share strategies, stories, and insights to inspire and empower their audience. Join the conversation and redefine the way you think about influence!