{"id":4290,"date":"2024-09-18T10:53:11","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T14:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kellymeerbott.com\/?p=4290"},"modified":"2024-09-18T11:07:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T15:07:40","slug":"s9-ep1-podcast-hidden-human-alexy-posner-storytelling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/s9-ep1-podcast-hidden-human-alexy-posner-storytelling\/","title":{"rendered":"Crafting Impact: Alexy Posner on Strategic Storytelling in Media"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Welcome to Season 9 of the new and improved podcast <\/span>Hidden Human<\/span>! Learn the story behind the leader through powerful and authentic conversations guided by leadership expert <\/span>Kelly Meerbott, PCC<\/span> of <\/span>You Loud & Clear<\/span>. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to hear the experiences that developed them into the leader they are today. New episodes weekly!<\/span><\/p>

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This week, Kelly sits down with Alexy Posner<\/a><\/strong>, founder of AP Brand Group<\/strong><\/a> to explore the world of athlete and talent management. Alexy shares her unique approach to holistic brand management, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, social impact, and intuitive decision-making.\u00a0<\/span>She shares her leadership evolution, transitioning from a hands-on entrepreneur to a leader who trusts and empowers her team. Alexy also discusses navigating tense client situations with empathy, the significance of diversity in hiring, and the personal inspirations that drive her. The episode wraps up with a lighthearted rapid-fire round, touching on Alexy’s favorite comfort foods, music, and her love for Taylor Swift.<\/span><\/p>

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EPISODE <\/strong>TRANSCRIPT<\/strong><\/p>

\u00a0<\/p>

Kelly Meerbott<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Hey y’all. It’s Kelly meerbott, host of Hidden Human I cannot wait for you to listen to this really fun conversation between me and my friend, colleague and fellow entrepreneur, Alexy Posner, president and founder of AP Brand Group as we listen to what it’s like to be a woman in business, how there’s no such thing as competition, and how peanut butter and jelly is really the best comfort food out there.<\/span><\/b><\/p>

Let’s begin our conversation with one of my most favorite people. And I know I say this every podcast, but I just love this woman, she has inspired me more times than I can count. I don’t think she realizes the impact that she has on everybody in humanity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Welcome Alexy Posner, president and founder of AP Brand Group, which I am so enthusiastic about because I’ve watched Alexy over the years, grow this. And listen, I know in your business, time is currency, and I am so grateful that you spend some of that precious currency with us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So all right. So first question, if you were to explain to me in a way I could understand as a six year old child what it is that you do, how would you explain that?<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You are so funny. First of all, I had a guy ask me that on a date, and I thought it was the most bonkers way to ask somebody what they did. And I was like, \u201cWhy do you want me to speak to you like you’re six years old?\u201d so you’re not the second person ever in my life to say to me, like, \u201cIf you could describe what you do as if I was a six year old.\u201d So I’m cracking up that you would come up with that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Well, first of all, thank you for having me. You are amazing. I’m so grateful to be here. Yeah, so I have an athlete and talent management firm, and my job is to represent both on air talent, NFL players. What we really do is, I would call it holistic brand management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So our job is to look at an athlete, a talent, even a product or a place, right? And decide how we want that thing, person to show up, and then make sure that [we get] all consumer touch points. So that’s their social media, their media relations, community relations, brand deals, endorsement deals, collaborations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

How that manifests across those consumer platforms. So yeah, holistic brand management. We want people, all of our talent, to be just the most loved thing in the world by consumers, and so we make sure that’s felt all all across those platforms.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Yeah, and I didn’t think you could make me fall in love with Julia White again, but you did, and Julia White is one of Alexy\u2019s clients. But I love the approach of the holistic because it really is. I mean, when I watch your social media and things like that, I’m like, “Look at her go, that’s so amazing.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But what I was wondering is, when you bring on a client, what is the process? Do you do a Needs Analysis? Because it seems to me that you’re collaborating very closely, like you and your clients are in lockstep. So how does the relationship evolve into that?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So when we bring on a client, we always do a brand audit. But I think before we even bring a client on, for me, I operate really deeply off my intuition and gut feeling around someone. And so if I can immediately get that like, \u201cOh my gosh! I know how I can help this person.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And even if it feels like I just see all the puzzle pieces on a table, and I’m not totally sure how those pieces are going to go together yet, as long as I can see all the puzzle pieces and start to pull the picture, I’m like, this is a great client for me.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And there’s been other people that I’ve met with that are massive, massive names, and I just don’t have that, like, \u201cOh, I got this!\u201d you know, because it really does become such an intimate relationship, as you’re saying.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Like, one of the big prerequisites for working with me is that I can feel they’re going to be equally as vulnerable, like It is intimate work, right? Like getting into your passion and your purpose and how you want to show up in the world and the legacy that you want to leave.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Like that does take a level of vulnerability to kind of dive in, and also an ability to objectively look at where things are now, and do that without an emotion around it. Because it’s really hard for someone to come in and say, like, \u201cHey, your social kind of sucks.\u201d And for someone not to go, like, \u201cOh my god, that’s so mean\u201d right? And take that with a grain of salt, and take that with a like, we’re talking in this way because we know we want to get to a better place with all of it.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Since you operate off your intuition, and I do the same thing, like, I’ve walked away from big deals because I’m like, \u201cHmm no.\u201d Or, they’re trying to get me as an executive coach to come in and be the bad guy. And I’m like, \u201cYeah, I’m not doing that, that’s your job.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

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But are there things that you look for to disqualify them? Like, I know you’re just a perpetually optimistic person, but are there things that show up where you’re like, \u201cYeah, no.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Two big things for me. The first is, if someone comes to me and says, \u201cLet’s make millions of dollars\u201d because I think that’s operating from a vibrational standpoint, that, for lack of better words, feels really yucky to me. If you come to me and you’re like, \u201cLet’s get super rich!\u201d I don’t feel comfortable there.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But, and you even see in my body language like that gives me an actual like, physical reaction. A big thing for me as someone that does come forward, In conversation they have this, want to make the world a better place.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And that was the mission of the whole founding of AP Brand Group, was I wanted to work with athletes and talent who are excited to use their platform to create positive social change. So if I’m talking to someone and I feel that, hear those moments.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

You know, I think those are really big things for me, that I’m like, Oh yeah, we’re very much energetically aligned and we’re coming from the same place here.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Which is why I’m gonna say it. And please circle the calendar that I will be one of Alexys clients one day. That has been a big, hairy, audacious goal for me, because I love you, and I know that we can set the world on fire in the best way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I mean, I want it so bad, and every time I have a chance, I’m like, \u201cI’m going to be your client when someday I’m going to be your client someday.\u201d But tell me about a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your leadership style.<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So I’ve really run my company like an entrepreneur. I am, like, roll up my sleeves, get down in the dirty and do it. And do everything from the nitty gritty to the big projects and reading all the big contracts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And over the last couple of years, I’ve really been learning around, how do I grow this company? How do I actually step away from being just like balls to the wall entrepreneur, to actually being a CEO and actually running AP Brand Group, like something that I’m going to continue to scale and grow?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I don’t know if it was like one specific moment, but I think it’s just more been around that like, shift to thinking \u201cLet’s run this like a leader.\u201d And for me, I think a leader is not moving away from rolling up my sleeves and getting dirty.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Like one of my clients, Brandon Cooks. We do his NFL camp, his kids camp every year, and it’s like 500 kids, and the day before, you know, I’m sitting there, like blowing up balloons with Ashley, and I\u2019m like \u201cI’m down, like I’m in it with you!\u201d you know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I think that’s equally as important being a leader is knowing that your team knows that you’ve got them, they’ve got you. But just the mental shift for me was like, what does that look like now, to move away from feeling like I have to do every single thing myself and be in every single nitty gritty, to like, really building a team that I trust, and building a team that trusts me, and then and leaning on them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

It’s my favorite thing, is when they send me something, they’re like, do you want to double check it? I’m like, No, you got this. You got this, you know, so that I think would be the shift.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Okay, so where do you think your leadership philosophy began, and how has it evolved over time? Because typically, if we look at psychology, it says that your personality is set by six and like looking back at my life, my dad is a former professional golfer on the PGA Tour.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So the first four and a half years of my life were spent on the tour around Tee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer. And what I realized was that moment in time really informed what I do now, because I was around coaches and sports psychologists and all that, and I was like, \u201cOh, okay, those are good tools to get you to the next level.\u201d So did you have a moment like that?<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I don’t know that I had a set moment like that. I grew up riding horses very competitively. I was out on the farm from a very, very young age, and my mom, whether good, bad or the ugly, put a lot of pressure on me to be the best and be the best at school.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And like, I wanted to have my horses and get everything in that world that I dreamed and desired, I had to be an A+ student. And, you know, work really, really hard. So I think, like my leadership style, I had to unlearn a lot from my childhood and unlearn a lot from my earlier years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Because I didn’t really trust anyone, and also what I grew up learning was how to count on myself and only myself. Which, again, has made me a dope ass entrepreneur, and made me someone that doesn’t take no for an answer, but didn’t make me a very good leader.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Because I had a really hard time delegating to people. I had a really hard time trusting a team. Those are both things that at every job I had before I started my company years ago, I was fired for because team mentality was not my thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So there was a lot of unlearning that had to happen. And I realized that a couple years ago, and was able to get an amazing business coach. His name’s Richard, and he just knew how to grow and scale companies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Much older guy. I think he’s now in his mid 80s, but when he started working with me, he was like 80. He\u2019s just like the greatest mentor and really taught me about what it looks like to build a team that you trust, and what does it look like for a team to trust you? And so, yeah, there was more unlearning that had to happen.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I’m nodding my head, because it’s almost like we had a parallel life here. You know, the brain learns in contrast. So I was like, \u201cOh, all these people are showing me who not to be.\u201d Like, I became a coach because I had one good boss in 11 years in corporate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I was like, \u201cOkay, these are shitty managers, so I’ll just do the opposite.\u201d And like, that’s how the coaching business came and was built. So I love that. What would you say is the most challenging leadership position you’ve been in, and how did you navigate it?<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So I started my company almost eight years ago. It’ll be eight years this September. It feels so crazy. We talked about vulnerability earlier, being willing to be vulnerable with myself and say to the people on my team, \u201cThis is hard for me to have you run this like, this is my baby.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I have an amazing person, Ashley, who’s on my team. She started as an intern. She is such a hustler, and then got a full time job right out of college. Has been with me full time for a year and a half, and it’s been really cool as a leader to watch her grow and develop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

We have another girl we just hired full time as well, and she also started as an intern and has grown. But the most rewarding part as a leader is watching these amazing young women like that I’ve been able to mentor and grow along the way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But I think the hardest part for me has truly been delegating. Ashley’s running point on a client right now, and it’s so weird for me, because I’m the one that’s used to talking to clients every single day and having that intimate relationship.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And she’s now developing that relationship with this one client, And I’m equally as proud and as I am uncomfortable with it. So I think it’s just that ability to be vulnerable and get uncomfortable and be willing to create that growth out of that discomfort and vulnerability there.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I’m shaking my head, because back in the background is Cecily Kellogg, who’s worked with me on and off for 10 years. And we’ve gone through growing pains together like that. And I’m like, \u201cOh, I gotta have my fingers and everything.\u201d And then I was like, \u201cNo, then why do you have her?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I’ve seen her grow and evolve and go through her own journey, and to be able to facilitate that as a leader, especially as a female leader who didn’t have that in her own career. Like I had a mentor once, and it was a couple years ago, and she dropped off four months later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So to be able to be that, and model that for somebody else is such a gift. And I see you do that. It’s nice to know you personally, and to see the little snippets on Instagram, and see you working with Ashley, and I saw you blowing up the balloons.<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

She taught me how to make balloon arches. I got to give her the credit on that one, because she’s the one that taught me how to make balloon arches. But totally, I had somebody very early on, right before I started my company, that was a woman who was in PR on the main line, which is where I’m from. At that point, I was working in retail, because I had this whole crazy experience right before I started my company. I had this want to go do my own thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And she was a female business owner, and I remember reaching out to her for help. And I knew her really well. She ran PR at the store that I was working at and I reached out to her for guidance. I was like, \u201cHey, I’d love to pick your brain.\u201d And she shut me down so fast.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And it was that moment for me where I was like, if anyone ever reaches out to me, especially a female, a young college kid, high school kid, whatever age they are. I had a woman who was in her 40s and trying to do a career change and ask for time. And I was like, I will always give people time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

It might only be 30 minutes. It might be an hour, whatever that is, but that was such a moment that left that marker on me of what not to do. Which is why we resonate so well together, rising tides, raise all ships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I know I just got on a little side tangent. But that’s why I think I’m so proud of Ashley and now our new girl. Just so proud that the team is really growing. We’ve got another girl, Kaylee, who’s amazing. Just that I really made it a very deep core value mission that I will never do that to somebody because it can be really impactful and not a good way.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I actually had a very similar situation happen. So we moved to Philly in 2013 from Norfolk, right? And I always have Google Alerts on executive coaches and all of that, just to keep my finger on the pulse of the industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I heard about this woman. I’m not going to name her name, because she’s got a practice here in Philly, who was retiring from Comcast and becoming an executive coach. And I started my business in 2009 so this was three years down the road.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I sent her an email, and I was like, \u201cI’d love to sit down and talk to you, I’m moving to Philly.\u201d So I met her in Center City, and we’re talking, and she said to me, \u201cCan I give you some unsolicited advice?\u201d And I go, Sure. And she goes, \u201cYou need to change the trajectory of your practice. There are enough leadership coaches here in Philadelphia. You should look at sales.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And then she started talking shit about me in Philly and saying that I wasn’t competition, and I wasn’t at her level. And that moment for me, like the one with you, I was like, I’m never gonna do that to another coach. I don’t see coaches as competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

In fact, I give my time to coaches all the time. I will open up my business for them, and I will also walk away from deals that are not good for me, not for the most benevolent outcome, for the greater good, and hand them off to other coaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Because with coaching, just like what you’re doing, it’s intimate, and there has to be a chemistry there. And I’m just like, why as women are we doing this to each other? So maybe I should ask you this. This is a great question, why do you think we’re so horrible to each other?<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I think that comes from a place of just insecurity. It’s super sad that, like both society and just our own limiting beliefs have taught us that the world is competition, and that is a really hard concept for me. Because in my mind there really isn’t any such thing as competition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Are there other managers and other talent agencies out there? 1,000,000%. And I think it’s really great to keep a pulse on what other people are doing, learn from them. If you go at it with a mindset that others are your competition, if you go at it with the idea that competition is outside of yourself, all you’re doing is expending energy in places that it doesn’t need to be.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Then all of a sudden, you’re looking outside of yourself and that’s actually not where you should be looking for leveling up. It should be an internal process and thinking \u201cHow can I be better than who I was the day before?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But I think as females there’s been this notion that there’s only that one spot, there’s not enough for everybody. That scarcity mentality will only lead to further scarcity versus coming from a place of abundance. Hey, let’s all hold hands, because guess what, there is enough room for all of us. And if there isn’t, let’s take it up anyways and make that room there. So I think that’s really where I try to lead from, because that comparison game gets real gnarly, real fast.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It really does, and it gets you in a bad head space. And also it’s a function of the patriarchy and white supremacy. It’s a scarcity mentality. If Alexy succeeds, Kelly can’t, which you and I both know that’s not true.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I think a great example that the world saw was Simone Biles, Jordan Chiles, and giving Rebeca Andrade her flowers, and not only doing that, but bowing to her. And they said in there, she’s a queen. And Queens recognize Queens. And like, all that did was show us what is possible when women come together. And I think you’re a great model of that. I really do.<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Thank you.<\/span><\/p>

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Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

So in terms of, like, challenging times that you’ve either had in your personal life or with your clients, talk to me about maybe a tense situation that you navigated and and changed it, right? So I’ll give you an example. I had a COO pitch a tantrum in the middle of a C suite meeting, and it was directed at me, and it was anger and insecurity on full display.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And instead of playing into that, what I did was dropped my voice and looked at him, and I said, \u201cOkay.\u201d that was it. And then two days later, I got an apology note from him, which is apparently a huge thing, because he never admits he’s wrong. So when you’re in those challenging situations, how do you navigate that?<\/span><\/p>

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Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I am really lucky coming from the space of the mission that I have, and just the relationship development. I don’t deal with any massive drama queens because I don’t have to and I don’t want to. This is my whole life, my essence is built into this company, and what I get to do every single day that just feels like such a privilege<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I definitely do have volatile clients who get upset and who maybe don’t want to listen. I will do my best to navigate those conversations. If they’re really stuck on one idea, I will always present my feelings on it. And then a lot of times you have to think how do I just deflate this and come back to it?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And so it’s having that understanding that they’re not in the headspace to actually be listening, so it’s my job just to listen to them. Let’s re approach it in a day or a couple of hours. It’s negotiating 101, right? If you’re not both trying to get to the same endpoint, even if you’re coming from two separate ends of the spectrum, then you’re just going to be crossing ships at night.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So when there’s a lot of emotion and someone’s really heightened, you can’t even see what the end goal is there. So I just sort of let that happen. And there are times where clients will call and they’re never screaming or yelling at me, but they just need to be heard, right? And they just need to freak out for a second, and I listen and then I will approach it later.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But I think, as you did, just trying to deflate those situations. And then there have been times where I\u2019ve fired clients. I had a Chef client who was completely emotionally abusive and would put me in horrible situations and scream and yell and freak the fuck out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I was just like, \u201cYeah, I don’t want to do this anymore.\u201d And so it’s that difference of knowing when the person just needs the space and needs to be heard. I think it’s like leadership too, right? Like, there are times where I can just tell that one of my girls that they need just to be listened to, and they need somebody to hold that space for them, so they can just get out whatever they’re feeling inside.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And then as soon as they realize someone is going to hold that space, then we can move into productivity around it. But there’s a fine line, right? Like there have been clients that push that limit a little bit, and then they push it way too far and become abusive. And I’m like, \u201cI don’t need to work with you, bye!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We have an unwritten rule at our business that we don’t work with assholes. And if somebody abuses a member of my team, I don’t even listen. I’m like, I’m done. Now, fortunately, 15 years into this, I’ve got a really good way to vet people, so I just don’t work with them.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

But I’m wondering, because you’ve got a very diverse client base, both professionally but also how they manifest in life, and you’ve got an all female team. If you were talking to other business owners, other CEOs, how would you explain why diversity, equity and inclusion is important?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I might not give you the answer you’re looking for on this one, because for me, I don’t look at black, white, male, female, I look at talent and grit and drive. And ultimately, I can teach anything else in between, but I would rather look at who’s the most hungry. You can have the world’s greatest education, but you could have zero drive and zero grit and zero ambition and continue right along, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I would rather hire the person that doesn’t have a college degree or doesn’t have this, that and another thing. I tell people this all the time. What you can control is your energy, your attitude, and how you show up, right? If you\u2019ve got your energy, attitude and ambition, I can teach you the rest of the stuff.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

It’s more those qualities that I look at versus worrying if my team is like all white men, or all girls, or whatever that is. And I\u2019ve just found some great, some great peeps on the squad, because those are the qualities I look for.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Yeah. And to be clear I’m not looking for any answer, whatever your answer is , is beautiful. I know there’s a lot of chatter about DEI hires and all of that. And for me I really look at, as a business owner as well, who’s the best person for the job? And like you said, I hire for character, not for skill.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Now, if there’s a hole in our team, which I felt like there was with Tiktok, because that was something you told me to get on, and we listened. I needed somebody who was a little less seasoned in life and knew that, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

So that was the parameter I looked for. And then did we have chemistry? Did they fit into the team? Were they bringing value? So there is a skill set I need, but I want the character there as well.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

That\u2019s more important than anything, absolutely.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

And I think we’re hitting on that pretty significantly. But what I’m wondering is, if we were to go back to that moment in time where you were talking about calling the PR person, and she shut you down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

What are some actionable, specific steps that you can take to overcome that and not listen to the naysayers and build what you want to build? For me, I’m just like, \u201cGrab your popcorn and watch me.\u201d But not everybody’s like that. Some people need specifics. So what would you say?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I think I approach those people just with a lot of empathy and love. I’m really sad for you, that that’s how you want to go through life. It’s <\/span>Bren\u00e9 Brown<\/span>, right? I’d rather be the person in the arena. And so I love when people tell me I can’t do something. And I don’t care what people think. We talked about this earlier, this idea of looking outside of ourselves.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

A couple of weeks ago, in Cannes, there was this big private dinner. And I didn’t get invited, but my client got invited. And I was so stoked that he got invited to this dinner, because it was really exclusive.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And he was like, \u201cIt’s weird, you should be coming with me.\u201d And then it turns out the head honcho guy said to him, \u201cOh well she’s a divorce waiting to happen.\u201d Like, saying because I’m too pretty, I couldn’t go to this dinner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

I’ve gotten a lot of that my whole career, the people saying I can’t do it. For a long time, I used to use it as fuel. And then I realized the step deeper than that is going like, \u201cI’m just gonna turn it off.\u201d I don’t need your opinion of me to either make me work harder, make me work less. I actually don’t need your opinion at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I think it’s like finding that self motivation and finding that self understanding and worth and being like, I actually do have this. So I’m gonna just keep on going and you can think whatever you want. You can think I’m a divorce waiting to happen. You can think I’m too bubbly, I’m going to keep being \u201ctoo\u201d, because that’s what makes me happy, and that’s how I know my God given purpose is to show up in this world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

and I’m laughing because people will look at me and think I’m stupid based on how I look. I’d love to share this with you, I live by the 4 Fs when it comes to that. If they’re not friends with you. And I mean the friends that you can call at three o’clock in the morning and go \u201cAlexey bring duct tape, a burlap sack and bail money.\u201d And you’re like, \u201cOkay, cool.\u201d Family, and family is chosen, whoever’s close to you. Fucking you or funding you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Their opinion doesn’t matter. Does not matter at all. And when I realized that, I’m like, wait, you’re not paying my mortgage. You’re a W2 employee. You have no idea what it’s like. So guess what? Your opinion doesn’t matter and I\u2019m turning down that noise. But one last question before we go to rapid fire. In terms of influence and inspiration, who are the leaders that have inspired you and lit you up inside, and what lessons did you take from them?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I mean, my mom definitely comes to mind, she’s like the hardest working woman I know. She’s wildly unemotional, but is a total friggin badass. She runs a neuroradiology program at Penn and just as is a rock star.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

It’s interesting, because I feel like the people that inspire me the most are not really leaders. It’s more people that are pursuing their personal legend, and people that have tapped into their purpose in this body on this planet, and they’re just unapologetically doing that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And that, to me, feels so inspiring. Sue Bird is one of those women that I just look at, I met her and I was like, \u201cI think I’m in love with you.\u201d Because she just radiates this unbelievable energy of I’m here to stay, and I’m here to make an impact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

And I’m just obsessed with her. It’s less the leaders and more those people that I come into contact with, and I’m just like, oh hell yeah. You’re out there doing it and doing it big. Even in my Instagram bio it says live life big. And so it’s when I encounter those individuals and those humans that just feel like they’re freaking all in on the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Those are the ones that I just get so excited to be around. We’re a reflection of who we spend our time with. That vibrational energy of those people that are living so big and fulfilling their purpose, It definitely fires me up.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Well, what Sue did for you, you do for me. I fell in love with you kind of immediately. I fall hard pretty quickly.Rapid fire questions, okay, what’s your favorite comfort food?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Oh, my favorite comfort food is something with chocolate, mushy chocolate, deliciousness. Or like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I love peanut butter and jellies. I don’t know why I’m just obsessed with them. They\u2019re just everything good in the world.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I’m going to teach you a trick. So I got into uncrustables when Brian and I hiked the Grand Canyon last year, because a bunch of our hiker friends were like, get them frozen, throw them in your pack, and when you get down and you can eat they’re good, because carbs, all that stuff. Well, when we got home, we have uncrustables in the freezer, and I throw them in the air fryer.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Yeah, it sounds amazing. I want that.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It is ridiculous. I’m smiling because, oh my god. There are things I don’t know about you after knowing you for like, eight years. Okay, what books are on your nightstand?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Alchemist. I read the alchemist twice a year. And it’s so interesting because I just pick it up, I’ll turn to a random page and just start reading, but I’ve read it cover to cover a million and a half times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Dare to lead, Bren<\/span>\u00e9<\/span> Brown, Harry Potter. Attached is the other one that I was reading. It’s about human attachment styles and relationships.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Very interesting. So have you read Bren\u00e9 Brown’s Rising Strong? Because I love Dare to Lead, but Rising Strong is so great. All right, what songs are on your playlist right now?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I’m obsessed with Taylor Swift at this very moment in time. I’m seeing her in London in a couple of weeks or next week. I used to love her, but then I kind of fell out of love, and now I’m back in love. The playlist has been all Eras tour playlist, so that I can learn every single song and be ready to go.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You know I’m gonna have to ask this question, because I’ve been dying to go to the Eras tour. And I don’t know how it’s gonna happen, but I’m putting it out there. What era are you going as? Because I saw you make friendship bracelets.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I’m doing midnights. I’m hand rhinestoning a whole outfit, and going with a group of friends in London. It’s gonna be really, really, really fun. I’m obsessed with the song Bejeweled. I’m obsessed with it and I love midnights.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I had that on repeat forever and Vigilante Shit is my favorite. I love that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s so good. If you actually peel back and listen to her lyrics like she’s just, I’m just obsessed with her. It’s awesome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Yeah she\u2019s a poet. She just is. So it was funny, just talking about hand bejeweling things. Alexey went to this concert with these great cowboy boots and shorts and this fringe jacket. And I was like, Where’d you get that? She’s like, I made it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I\u2019m going to Morgan Wallen on Thursday. And I’m hand making my whole outfit as well. So you’ll see a whole nother crazy bejeweled fringe outfit coming up in a couple days.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I may need an instruction on how to do that, because I love to bling things out. My mom, when I turned 40, was like, Don’t you think you’re too old for glitter? And I was like, you think there’s a lot of glitter now? Oh, you ain’t seen nothing yet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

It’s like, super meditative. I love it. It makes me very present. I love it. Just like your book, actually, that’s why I love your book, because then you get to color along, and I’ll sit there and just doodle and play, I love it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

When your phone goes away and you get to just do arts and crafts. We get so far away from our childhood joy. There’s something about picking up color pencils, crayons and just doodling that I love. I meant to tell you that it’s one of the things that I’ve really enjoyed about your little fables. I love it so much.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I\u2019ve already written Volume Two, and I love that you got it. So I wanted to write a fable, have the questions, and then I wanted you to reflect on them slowly and let them sink in as you were coloring and you actually you got it. You got it. Okay, so what are you most grateful for in this moment right now?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I am most grateful for my family and my friends. Really having just an amazing group of individuals around me that love me unconditionally and show up for me unconditionally. I\u2019ve poured into them at a time in my life where I am not able to pour into others, and they\u2019re like \u201cHey, we got you, and we’re going to pour into you.\u201d So it’s a very cool moment for me, and I’m very grateful for that.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

I will always pour into you whenever you need it. I got you. So if somebody was a potential client and they wanted to work with you, how did they get in touch with you?<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Instagram’s always great. So @alexeyposner. Shoot me an email, <\/span>alexey@alexeyposner.com<\/span><\/a>. I’ll always take an introductory conversation and if it’s not the right fit for me, I’ve got a tool belt of some awesome managers and other people that I know.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Well, thank you, Alexey, I love you to bits.<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Alexy Posner\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Love you. Thank you for having me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Kelly Meerbott\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

To our audience, thank you so much for listening. It’s our intention on Hidden Human to inspire you to go out and have authentic conversations, to deepen their relationships in your life. Thank you so much and make it a great day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u00a0<\/span><\/div>
\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Season 9 of the new and improved podcast Hidden Human! Learn the story behind the leader through powerful and authentic conversations guided by leadership expert Kelly Meerbott, PCC of You Loud & Clear. Don\u2019t miss this opportunity to hear the experiences that developed them into the leader they are today. New episodes weekly! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":4292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[159,301,193,210,209,66],"tags":[304,245,197,305,206,254],"class_list":["post-4290","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-belonging-at-work","category-communication","category-empathetic-leadership","category-executive-leadership","category-leadership","category-podcast","tag-ap-brand-group-alexy-posner","tag-culture-of-empathy","tag-empathetic-leadership","tag-hidden-human-podcast","tag-kelly-meerbott","tag-podcast"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4290"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4304,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4290\/revisions\/4304"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4290"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4290"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.kellymeerbott.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4290"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}