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From leading with authenticity and to interacting with teams, six Maine business and nonprofit leaders shared insights and lessons universal to professionals in any capacity at a Mainebiz forum in South Portland on Wednesday.
The event covered “60 ideas in 60 minutes” in a candid discussion moderated by Mainebiz Publisher Andrea Tetzlaff. Around 170 people attended the morning event, which took place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel near the Maine Mall.
In preparation for the talk, each panelist was asked to share 10 ideas that were used as a starting point for the conversation and compiled in a booklet for attendees to take home.
Taking a creative approach as befits the head of a nonprofit performing arts organization, State Theatre Presents President Lauren Wayne put her suggestions in the form of a musical playlist. It spanned Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)” to “Once in a Lifetime,” by the Talking Heads.
She was joined onstage by fellow panelists Peter Carpenter, chief operating officer at Alliant Insurance Services; Gia Drew, executive director of EqualityMaine; Luke Holden, founder and CEO of Luke’s Lobster; Haley Israelson, CEO of ElleVet Sciences; and Matt Prindiville, former CEO of CLYNK, a South Portland-based bottle redemption and recycling company acquired last week.
For a flavor of the discussion, here’s a small sampling of ideas from the panelists.
Peter Carpenter: Be confident but never arrogant
Confidence comes from being an expert, and from having the expectation that you’re not supposed to know everything.
At this stage in his life, Carpenter said he feels gratified when other people feel they are better off for having had him in theirs — "that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing."
Gia Drew: Start your day with an accomplishment
Whether it’s taking a walk, listening to music or writing in a journal, Gia Drew likes to accomplish something physical or emotional to start the day before the workday takes over:
“My practice is to do something every day that’s good for me," she said.
Luke Holden: Tackle the hard conversations first
Holden, a third-generation lobsterman from Cape Elizabeth, said that the conversation you’re avoiding is often the one that matters the most:
“Avoiding the hardest conversations becomes a black hole of energy," he said. "Once you get the hard conversation over, it leads to good flow for the rest of the day.”
Haley Israelson: Fun is a strategy
Fun is part of the culture at ElleVet Sciences, a Portland-based animal health company.
Recently, when the company introduced an equine product, staff members marked the occasion with a pony-themed party.
“It was this great form of connection and the team wanted to do it," Israelson said.
Matt Prindiville: Be present
Prindiville, who plans to take time to reflect on his next professional chapter after the sale of CLYNK, underscored the importance of being present — being both aware and grounded.
“Presence is power, so be present and be grounded,” he said.
Lauren Wayne: Shake up your routine
Wayne, whose organization owns and operates the State Theatre in Portland as well as a summer concert series at Thompson’s Point, is a big proponent of keeping things fresh by shaking up one’s routine.
“When you fall into a routine, complacency happens,” she cautioned.
Mainebiz will hold a forum in Bangor on Wednesday, Dec. 3, in the same "60 ideas in 60 minutes" format but with different panelists.
Find out more and register here.
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Learn moreThe Giving Guide helps nonprofits have the opportunity to showcase and differentiate their organizations so that businesses better understand how they can contribute to a nonprofit’s mission and work.
Work for ME is a workforce development tool to help Maine’s employers target Maine’s emerging workforce. Work for ME highlights each industry, its impact on Maine’s economy, the jobs available to entry-level workers, the training and education needed to get a career started.
Whether you’re a developer, financer, architect, or industry enthusiast, Groundbreaking Maine is crafted to be your go-to source for valuable insights in Maine’s real estate and construction community.
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