Podcast

Shift Your Perspective

Jaime Taets, CEO, Visionary, and Founder of Keystone Group International talks about her summit to Mt. Kilimanjaro and her lessons learned along the way. Jaime talks about shifting your perspective and putting yourself in situations that make you think differently. In this raw, and authentic podcast, Jaime shares some of her vulnerabilities and experiences from her trip and how she is incorporating them into her personal and professional life. How fear can be a catalyst to move you forward instead of holding you back. Are you courageous in the face of fear? Listen now!

Also be sure to check out Jaime’s blog series, Lessons from the Mountain.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimetaets/

Blog

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Create The Space For People To Learn

Andy Risvold is the owner and founder of Forgotten Star Brewing. He is a serial entrepreneur and shares his leadership lessons and how he focuses on the new leaders to ensure they have the space and support to learn as they transition to leading others. So many organizations and leaders don’t take the time to train and mentor leaders in their organization to build the skills they need to be successful leaders and managers.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Sit In Your Mistakes

Alyza Bohbot James, Owner and CEO

Alakef Coffee Roasters and City Girl Coffee

As owner and CEO of Alakef Coffee Roasters, Alyza leads the specialty coffee roasting company that her family founded in 1990 in Duluth, Minnesota.  Alakef Coffee Roasters today provides responsibly sourced and produced coffee to grocery stores, co-ops, coffee shops, Universities, and restaurants throughout the Midwest, and online to retailers and consumers.

Shortly after taking over company reins in 2014, she launched an entirely new brand, City Girl Coffee, in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, featuring USDA Organic Certified blends. She is keeping Alakef’s longstanding support of the coffee industry alive – with a special focus on women. City Girl Coffee empowers women by sourcing as many beans as possible from women coffee farmers throughout the world. A portion of every sale goes to organizations that work to provide these women access to funding, education, resources, and more.  In January of 2021, Alyza launched The City Girl Empower Hour, an inspiring new podcast serving up grounded advice and whole bean wisdom on how listeners can succeed in both their personal and professional lives.

Alyza takes an active role in the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and its Women in Leadership program. She is a member of the Minnesota Leadership class of 2017, and currently sits on the Minnesota Chamber’s Board of Directors. She was recognized by the Minneapolis Business Journal as a recipient of its 2017 40 under 40 award, and by Minnesota Business Magazine as one its Women Who Lead. Awarded the Future Forward award from the WBDC for her business acumen, marketing savvy and entrepreneurial spirit. Most recently, she was awarded the Wavemaker award by Team MN Women for making waves in her community, profession, and for her demonstration of outstanding achievement, entrepreneurial spirit and initiative through leadership within her profession and community.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

How Can I Be Useful?

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Managing Your Own Energy

Kelly Aronson

Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer

Kelly is responsible for enterprise information technology strategy and implementation and providing strategic partner support to each of Andersen’s divisions and functions. Previously, she was vice president of information technology (IT) responsible for Andersen enterprise customer experience technology (marketing, sales, quote & order, service, and portal). She was also director of technology for Renewal by Andersen where she was responsible for all aspects of IT, including manufacturing technology and retail technology teams.​​​​​​​

Kelly joined Andersen in the fall of 2014. Prior to Andersen, Kelly held a variety of IT leadership positions at Target, Thomson Reuters and Accenture. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in from Saint Olaf College. She is a board of trustee member for the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download