BoomerJack's Grill’s Post

Yesterday marked a pivotal moment in my journey to becoming an accredited Executive Coach through Meyler Campbell‘s Mastered Programme as we entered the second half of our program. It’s amazing how much the depth of our discussions has changed, allowing us to delve deeper into our learning experiences. I can scarcely believe that next year we too will be graduating as the 2024 cohort did last night. What I am particularly enjoying about coaching is the focus on supporting others in finding their own paths to success. It’s not about giving advice or sharing knowledge; it’s about providing leaders with a structured way of thinking that can help break down problems and accelerate development. That said, much of what I am learning relates to my personal journey towards becoming the leader that I aspire to be. I am convinced that in a world of rapid and disruptive change, a manager’s role can no longer be to direct and decide alone—we cannot have all the right answers. Leaders will succeed by drawing out the best in their teams, who will, in turn, learn to adapt and generate fresh, innovative ideas more quickly. So, a few observations from my journey so far: - Listening is the ultimate superpower 🦸. It allows others to feel fully seen and heard while also providing us with valuable insights. It’s also incredibly difficult. - Words, 📖 even chosen in haste, often uncover underlying truths. Clarifying and exploring these phrases can help us find new paths forward. - Learning is a lifelong journey. Changing behavior is challenging, but even small steps can lead to a more significant transformation. I’m grateful to my wonderful group (my fellow Vikings) for their support and shared wisdom on this adventure: Mark Carnegie-Brown, Tim Wakefield, Dominic Ely, Eva Sarma, Sophie Kent and our leaders Keith Krasny and Catherine Devitt For more on coaching as a leader, I recommend the HBR article—see the link below in the comments. #meylercampbell #leadership #vikings

So excited to see my colleague, Amon Haruta, on this professional panel at The University of New Mexico, talking about careers post-grad school. Not only has Amon led climate-related projects on all seven continents, he is the Director of Project Management at Explora Science Center and Children's Museum, advancing initiatives that increase accessibility, access to STEM careers, and more. Go, Amon!

This is roughly how I feel whenever I finish a course on Coursera.

Imagine this... It’s August 1, 2025—National Planner Day, no less. What’s the one consistent habit or task you’ll kick off the month with, all rooted in a goal you set today? For me, I’ll be starting the month with a check-in with Charles Groce and Iris van Ooyen — my 2025 accountability partners. Why? Because they’ve been crushing their goals all year, and I’m already gearing up to celebrate their big summer wins. We’re all striving for something incredible, and their progress keeps me motivated too. So, what’s the goal you’re intentionally planning to conquer in 2025? Share it below—because today’s the day to start laying the foundation for next year’s success.

WHAT BETTER WAY TO START THE NEW YEAR… Than a bigphat promotion for our incredible Hannah Beckett. Hannah, you (quite literally) threw yourself in to the UNKNOWN 2 years ago as our people operations partner. Our brief to you then: Help us build a business of healthy, high performing, high earning humans whilst keeping our values and beliefs in tact. There was a lot to do before you could really start to do the job you came in to do. - Building trust. - Ripping up systems. - Refining values. - Redefining what it means to be an Unknownian. - Clarifying what it means to not be an Unknownian. - Holding everyone here to a higher standard. -And literally everything in between. Now, after 2 years, it’s time to really let you do what you came here to do: - Create an unreasonably awesome employee experience. - Nurture and grow our high performance culture whilst everyone feels empowered to be their best selves. - Partner with people inside and outside of this business to make operational magic together. And much more as our brand new shiny, Head of People and Operations. I know I say this a lot but… I really don’t know how we / I survived for three years without you here. Thank you so much for the last two years of grit, accountability and curiosity. Here’s to the next 2 ☺️

Scott Russell, the new CEO of NICE, faces several key challenges that will shape the company's future and his leadership style. One of the main priorities will be leading a seamless strategic transition following the departure of former CEO Barak Eilam, ensuring continuity and innovation in the company’s direction. As NICE operates in a highly competitive enterprise software market, Scott must continue to differentiate the company from major competitors like Salesforce, Oracle, and Microsoft. His ability to maintain a competitive edge will be crucial for sustaining long-term growth. A key challenge for Scott will be the adoption and integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and intelligent automation. NICE is at the forefront of providing advanced data analytics solutions and workforce optimization software. Scott must continue to invest in R&D and leverage cutting-edge technologies to meet the growing demand for AI-driven solutions, ensuring that the company remains competitive in an increasingly dynamic market. Expanding NICE’s global presence is another critical challenge. With increasing demand in international markets, Russell must navigate local regulations and cultural differences to establish tailored strategies. The penetration of emerging markets will require innovative market-entry strategies, along with efficient resource management, to effectively expand NICE's footprint in these regions. In parallel, Scott Russell must focus on sustainable growth and operational efficiency. As the company scales, maintaining this balance will be essential for long-term success. Establishing and nurturing strategic partnerships with key industry players will further enhance NICE’s value proposition, enabling the company to provide integrated, comprehensive solutions to clients worldwide like LATAM.

Interested in the Director of Institutional Giving role at Merit? Join us for this webinar next week to learn more! I will also post the job link in the comments.

20 years ago this month, Andre Lavoie and I sat down in a Dunkin' Donuts in Newton Center with our attorney to sign the incorporation paperwork for what eventually became ClearCompany. For me, the company really started almost two years earlier, when Andre called me back one evening and said, "what are you doing with that idea with the resumes you told me about? I like that one." We'd kicked dozens of concepts around over the prior few years, but one of us always found a reason to bounce them--until then. But this one, the more we chewed on it, the more it felt like The One. And so in September of 2004 we made it official, and six months later launched our first product, with our first paying customer (though I never did get around to sending them a bill for their $3000 subscription). A while back a candidate I was interviewing asked me what was the biggest surprise after (almost) 20 years, and I said, "how much the essential problem hasn't changed." What was obvious to Andre and I, even as overconfident and inexperienced twentysomethings, was how poorly companies understood their people, and the processes they used to manage and (hopefully) maximize the value of that enormous investment. We believed that a single system which could accompany the employee from the moment of first contact to the end of their journey would help companies hire better, build great cultures, and develop and retain the top talent needed to hit their goals. Since then, the work of HR teams has migrated from being mostly on paper--if it was tracked at all--to a vast ecosystem of tens of thousands of HR and recruiting apps, and I'm not sure it's benefited the overworked and underappreciated HR teams as much as it's benefited the HCM industry. And that's why our vision--our North Star--remains largely the same as it was over two decades ago. It's been an incredible ride and it wouldn't have been possible without the help of hundreds of employees and thousands of customers who put their trust in us over the years. Thank you!