1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,920 Carol Cox: Here how you can repurpose one signature talk 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,240 into multiple presentations for different 3 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:07,080 topics and audiences. 4 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:09,400 No need to start from scratch with my guest, 5 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:11,200 Eloisa Marquez Gonzalez, 6 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:13,200 on this episode of the Speaking Your Brand 7 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:18,920 podcast. More and more women are making an 8 00:00:18,920 --> 00:00:21,040 impact by starting businesses, 9 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:23,760 running for office and speaking up for what 10 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:26,760 matters. With my background as a TV political 11 00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:28,320 analyst, entrepreneur, 12 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:31,000 and speaker, I interview and coach purpose 13 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,400 driven women to shape their brands, 14 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,760 grow their companies, and become recognized 15 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,080 as influencers in their field. 16 00:00:38,720 --> 00:00:40,640 This is speaking your brand, 17 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:43,040 your place to learn how to persuasively 18 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,280 communicate your message to your audience. 19 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:48,720 Welcome to the Speaking Your Brand podcast, 20 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:49,440 Eloisa. 21 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,400 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Hi, Carol. Thank you for having me. 22 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:54,600 Carol Cox: Well, it is great to have you back on the 23 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:58,800 podcast because you were on in May of 2024. 24 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:00,730 So about a year and a half ago was episode 25 00:01:00,730 --> 00:01:04,250 394, where you and another one of our thought 26 00:01:04,290 --> 00:01:06,050 leader Academy graduates share, 27 00:01:06,090 --> 00:01:08,450 Tim and versions of the signature talks that 28 00:01:08,450 --> 00:01:10,490 you worked on with us in our Thought Leader 29 00:01:10,490 --> 00:01:12,290 Academy. So we're going to talk about that. 30 00:01:12,930 --> 00:01:14,290 You had gone through our Thought Leader 31 00:01:14,290 --> 00:01:17,250 Academy program in the first part of 2024. 32 00:01:17,250 --> 00:01:19,330 So I'm excited to get a update like, 33 00:01:19,330 --> 00:01:20,370 where are you now? 34 00:01:20,690 --> 00:01:22,450 Updates. Since it's been about a year and a 35 00:01:22,490 --> 00:01:23,810 half, because I know you've been getting 36 00:01:23,810 --> 00:01:26,090 really good momentum on your speaking 37 00:01:26,090 --> 00:01:27,890 engagements. I also know that you have some 38 00:01:27,890 --> 00:01:29,570 changes that you've been making within your 39 00:01:29,570 --> 00:01:32,330 business, a podcast that you've launched, 40 00:01:32,330 --> 00:01:33,690 and a lot more. 41 00:01:33,850 --> 00:01:37,810 So let's go back first to that LinkedIn live 42 00:01:37,810 --> 00:01:40,210 that you did with us, that ten minute version 43 00:01:40,210 --> 00:01:42,130 of the signature talk that you worked on with 44 00:01:42,130 --> 00:01:43,330 us in a VIP day. 45 00:01:43,570 --> 00:01:46,100 So that signature talk ends up being about 35 46 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:47,890 to 45 minutes long. 47 00:01:48,130 --> 00:01:50,970 And then we have all of our grads like you 48 00:01:51,130 --> 00:01:54,050 deliver a ten minute version on our LinkedIn 49 00:01:54,050 --> 00:01:55,210 live YouTube live show, 50 00:01:55,210 --> 00:01:57,130 because we want you to get it out into the 51 00:01:57,130 --> 00:01:59,620 world, you know, to actually deliver it live 52 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:00,660 to an audience. 53 00:02:00,660 --> 00:02:02,900 And so tell us about how that felt to 54 00:02:02,940 --> 00:02:05,420 actually deliver that for the first time, 55 00:02:05,420 --> 00:02:07,620 that version of it. And then we'll talk about 56 00:02:07,620 --> 00:02:08,940 your experience in the Thought Leader 57 00:02:08,940 --> 00:02:09,540 Academy. 58 00:02:10,500 --> 00:02:13,300 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Yeah. So those first ten minutes, 59 00:02:13,580 --> 00:02:16,140 ten minutes were, uh, were great. 60 00:02:16,140 --> 00:02:19,700 It's the it was a springboard for pretty much 61 00:02:19,700 --> 00:02:23,380 everything that came after in the past year 62 00:02:23,380 --> 00:02:29,260 and a half. Uh, so at first it was when I was 63 00:02:29,260 --> 00:02:31,460 first developing the, uh, 64 00:02:31,460 --> 00:02:36,260 the talk, it was, uh, eye opening to go 65 00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:38,740 through the process that you and Diane, 66 00:02:38,820 --> 00:02:44,100 uh, walk us through and to help us distill 67 00:02:44,100 --> 00:02:45,540 our own framework. 68 00:02:46,340 --> 00:02:49,660 I had been I had been in business for, 69 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:52,180 uh, at that time for about four years. 70 00:02:52,540 --> 00:02:55,460 And I had been, uh, kind of, 71 00:02:55,540 --> 00:02:57,140 uh, firming up my methodology, 72 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,000 but I couldn't really get there. 73 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,240 And when I went into the, 74 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:07,640 um, the academy, you help us really firm it 75 00:03:07,640 --> 00:03:09,440 down, bring it to life. 76 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,400 And that does that makes such a big 77 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,920 difference. So I was, um, 78 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:17,400 enthusiastic, I was excited, 79 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,440 um, a little bit nervous. 80 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:21,680 It's that's that's, uh, 81 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:25,440 normal. Um, but I was very excited to 82 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:28,960 actually be showing to the world the shape 83 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,400 that my methodology actually took and how I 84 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,360 was able to communicate it in a more, 85 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:39,400 uh, in a more clear and even dynamic way. 86 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,480 Carol Cox: So and what I really liked about your talk, 87 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:45,400 Eloisa, is that even though it's been a year 88 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:48,120 and a half since I saw you deliver it, 89 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,480 is that I still remember a lot of your talk 90 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:53,560 and your slides. 91 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:54,880 So definitely, for those of you listening, 92 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:56,850 I'm gonna include a link in the show notes. 93 00:03:56,850 --> 00:03:58,290 You can listen to the audio version, but 94 00:03:58,290 --> 00:03:59,730 definitely check out the video version 95 00:03:59,730 --> 00:04:01,650 because you'll see Eloisa in her slides, 96 00:04:01,650 --> 00:04:03,130 which are great because you talked about the 97 00:04:03,130 --> 00:04:04,970 story of when you went ziplining. 98 00:04:04,970 --> 00:04:07,730 I believe it was in Costa Rica and how that 99 00:04:07,730 --> 00:04:11,290 ended up birthing, like basically being the 100 00:04:11,290 --> 00:04:13,010 genesis of what you were doing. 101 00:04:13,010 --> 00:04:15,130 So can you tell us a little bit about that? 102 00:04:15,690 --> 00:04:20,290 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Yes. Uh, in talks, I have been giving talks 103 00:04:20,290 --> 00:04:22,050 throughout my career. Uh, 104 00:04:22,210 --> 00:04:26,410 however, I always struggle on like the start 105 00:04:26,410 --> 00:04:29,170 in the beginning. And even when I was giving 106 00:04:29,210 --> 00:04:33,130 talks, um, it was always to audiences that 107 00:04:33,130 --> 00:04:34,330 knew my topic. 108 00:04:34,650 --> 00:04:37,810 It was not like I was talking to complete. 109 00:04:37,930 --> 00:04:41,570 Uh, um, how can we call it, 110 00:04:41,650 --> 00:04:42,770 uh, like newbies? 111 00:04:42,810 --> 00:04:44,490 Carol Cox: Like, like newbies to it? 112 00:04:44,610 --> 00:04:45,890 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Yes. Correct. 113 00:04:45,930 --> 00:04:47,970 No newbies. They kind of had a sense of what 114 00:04:47,970 --> 00:04:49,290 I was going to talk about. 115 00:04:49,490 --> 00:04:54,490 So the, uh, when I was doing my talk, 116 00:04:54,490 --> 00:04:56,660 when I was designing the talk with Diane, 117 00:04:57,020 --> 00:05:01,660 um, she helped me define the story in the 118 00:05:01,660 --> 00:05:05,220 beginning of the talk and taking the essence 119 00:05:05,220 --> 00:05:08,220 of how I came up with the name of my 120 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:10,060 organization, A Walking tree, 121 00:05:10,580 --> 00:05:14,380 and embedded into that and give it life, 122 00:05:14,580 --> 00:05:19,180 because any show exactly what we do as an 123 00:05:19,180 --> 00:05:22,420 organization, all these different things 124 00:05:22,420 --> 00:05:25,140 really were able to come together. 125 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:29,820 And it just about the design of the of the 126 00:05:29,820 --> 00:05:32,100 talk. It's so important. 127 00:05:32,420 --> 00:05:38,100 And it also I, I was so excited and surprised 128 00:05:38,100 --> 00:05:43,100 to see how much designing your talk mirrors 129 00:05:43,100 --> 00:05:45,580 the work that I actually do for my own 130 00:05:45,580 --> 00:05:48,620 clients. When I do operational optimization, 131 00:05:48,860 --> 00:05:51,380 it's it's about that design. 132 00:05:51,780 --> 00:05:55,630 Um, many times we think that just having 133 00:05:55,670 --> 00:05:58,630 initial bullet points for your talk, 134 00:05:59,590 --> 00:06:01,590 it will come. The talk will come out 135 00:06:01,590 --> 00:06:05,310 organically and it's about the design. 136 00:06:05,350 --> 00:06:08,190 The intentional design of what I'm trying to 137 00:06:08,470 --> 00:06:10,430 to convey to the audience. 138 00:06:10,430 --> 00:06:11,670 How I'm going to convey, 139 00:06:11,710 --> 00:06:13,950 how I'm going to express it in a way that 140 00:06:13,950 --> 00:06:15,150 they understand it. 141 00:06:15,430 --> 00:06:19,550 So that's how Diane was able to show, 142 00:06:19,790 --> 00:06:22,710 show me the steps in the light of how to 143 00:06:23,030 --> 00:06:26,030 bring in my ziplining story, 144 00:06:26,430 --> 00:06:29,630 connected to what we do and make it 145 00:06:29,630 --> 00:06:31,030 interesting. Actually, 146 00:06:31,070 --> 00:06:34,150 I have used that start and ending of my talk 147 00:06:34,150 --> 00:06:36,910 so many times, and people lean forward 148 00:06:37,310 --> 00:06:40,910 because it's they don't expect my picture of 149 00:06:40,950 --> 00:06:42,990 ziplining to show up first. 150 00:06:43,030 --> 00:06:46,710 So, um, it is a very engaging way of, 151 00:06:46,870 --> 00:06:49,430 um, of starting your talk. 152 00:06:50,110 --> 00:06:51,870 Carol Cox: And it's memorable. Like I said, I remember 153 00:06:51,910 --> 00:06:53,200 it. And I'm sure a lot of people in your 154 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,280 audience remembers it as well. 155 00:06:55,280 --> 00:06:56,880 And then hopefully they'll think when they 156 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:58,240 need something like that, 157 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,440 you offer in your business that they'll think 158 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:02,160 of you and then come to you. 159 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:04,040 So actually, let's segue way into that. 160 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:06,280 Tell us about what you do in your business. 161 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:07,680 And then we're going to talk about why you 162 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,760 decided to join the Thought Leader Academy. 163 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,480 Like what was going on? Where were you 164 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:13,160 looking to do? So first tell us about your 165 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:13,800 business. 166 00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:19,000 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: So I am a collaboration strategist and we do 167 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,040 partnership optimization. 168 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:23,440 So we help organizations that are coming 169 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,480 together alliances, collaboratives. 170 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:28,880 They are coming together to provide a value 171 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,640 that they couldn't do it on their own. 172 00:07:31,000 --> 00:07:33,000 We help them work together, 173 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,240 create that structure so they can deliver the 174 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:37,800 value that that they are looking to to 175 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:41,160 provide. I like to think of us as the 176 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:42,680 conductor of the orchestra, 177 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:46,160 where every organization and every 178 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:49,080 multidisciplinary team brings their own 179 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,680 instrument, their own discipline, 180 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,940 their own culture, and we help them play in 181 00:07:53,940 --> 00:07:56,140 harmony. So that's. 182 00:07:56,180 --> 00:07:57,700 That's what we are doing right now. 183 00:07:57,700 --> 00:07:59,620 That's what we specialize and we do it in the 184 00:07:59,620 --> 00:08:02,420 clean energy space and social impact, 185 00:08:02,460 --> 00:08:03,700 uh, spaces. 186 00:08:03,700 --> 00:08:04,100 So. 187 00:08:05,420 --> 00:08:08,580 Carol Cox: So then, Eloisa, thinking back to the first 188 00:08:08,580 --> 00:08:12,300 part of 2024 and deciding to join the Thought 189 00:08:12,300 --> 00:08:13,860 Leader Academy, I think you came from 190 00:08:13,860 --> 00:08:15,340 listening to this podcast, 191 00:08:15,340 --> 00:08:16,860 the Speaking Your Brand podcast. 192 00:08:16,860 --> 00:08:18,980 And then what? Why was that the right time 193 00:08:18,980 --> 00:08:20,700 for you? What what was going on with you and 194 00:08:20,700 --> 00:08:22,180 your business? And why did you decide that 195 00:08:22,180 --> 00:08:24,260 the Thought Leader Academy and doing more 196 00:08:24,260 --> 00:08:26,380 with speaking was the direction you wanted to 197 00:08:26,380 --> 00:08:26,860 go in? 198 00:08:28,020 --> 00:08:31,260 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: So I as I mentioned, I had been speaking for 199 00:08:31,260 --> 00:08:33,580 many years, for 20 years in my career. 200 00:08:33,740 --> 00:08:38,700 Um, however, I was never confident enough on 201 00:08:39,740 --> 00:08:41,700 just going for audiences that were not 202 00:08:41,700 --> 00:08:44,140 familiar, uh, with my topic. 203 00:08:44,420 --> 00:08:48,580 And how do I create a an engaging 204 00:08:48,790 --> 00:08:50,110 Presentation. 205 00:08:50,470 --> 00:08:53,310 And there's so many, uh, 206 00:08:54,430 --> 00:08:57,670 examples out there that could be better. 207 00:08:58,310 --> 00:09:00,670 And it will make me nervous just to come out 208 00:09:00,670 --> 00:09:02,190 there and say, I'm going to give a 209 00:09:02,190 --> 00:09:03,550 presentation where I'm like, 210 00:09:03,590 --> 00:09:04,710 am I engaging them? 211 00:09:04,710 --> 00:09:09,150 I had all these questions because I, 212 00:09:09,910 --> 00:09:12,910 I felt that the audience is giving me their 213 00:09:12,910 --> 00:09:14,070 time and their attention, 214 00:09:14,070 --> 00:09:16,990 and I owe it to them to to deliver something 215 00:09:17,190 --> 00:09:19,990 useful, practical, valuable, 216 00:09:19,990 --> 00:09:22,350 entertaining, make it worth their while. 217 00:09:22,750 --> 00:09:25,830 And that's where I had always been, 218 00:09:25,910 --> 00:09:28,910 um, in the back of my head where I wanted to 219 00:09:28,950 --> 00:09:30,270 speak more in public. 220 00:09:30,430 --> 00:09:33,470 However, I wasn't completely sure how to go 221 00:09:33,470 --> 00:09:35,790 about it, and I was lucky enough that I found 222 00:09:35,790 --> 00:09:38,190 your podcast. And then I started following 223 00:09:38,190 --> 00:09:41,230 you, and, uh, and the third Academy. 224 00:09:41,270 --> 00:09:42,910 I came along and I said, 225 00:09:42,910 --> 00:09:44,550 like, well, let's just do it, because if I'm 226 00:09:44,550 --> 00:09:47,630 not going to do it now when there's never a 227 00:09:47,630 --> 00:09:50,640 good time. So let's just do it. 228 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:52,240 So that's where I register. 229 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:55,560 And, um, and it was a fantastic experience. 230 00:09:56,600 --> 00:09:59,280 Carol Cox: And, and I know that I hear this quite a bit 231 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:01,000 from women where they ask me like, 232 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:02,600 you know, I don't know if this is the right 233 00:10:02,640 --> 00:10:04,320 time. I don't know if I have enough time to 234 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:05,520 dedicate to it. 235 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,160 I don't know how many hours per week is it 236 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,040 going to take. So thinking back to your 237 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:11,560 experience, and I know it's been a little 238 00:10:11,560 --> 00:10:14,040 while, did the time commitment seem 239 00:10:14,040 --> 00:10:15,360 manageable and about how. 240 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:16,680 And so it was. 241 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:18,240 It was an eight week program. 242 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:20,000 When you went through it, about how much time 243 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:21,400 were you spending each week? 244 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:25,720 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: The time was manageable. 245 00:10:25,960 --> 00:10:28,320 It was very manageable. 246 00:10:28,560 --> 00:10:31,200 Um, maybe I was spending, 247 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,200 um, 2 or 3 hours, including the including the 248 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,120 meetings. Uh, I could have spent more time. 249 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:40,160 I wanted to spend more time, 250 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:41,360 but life happens. 251 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:45,080 Um, and and as you know, 252 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,210 there were times where I was scheduled to be 253 00:10:48,250 --> 00:10:51,410 at the session, but then I had to be 254 00:10:51,410 --> 00:10:54,090 somewhere else, so I don't know if you 255 00:10:54,090 --> 00:10:56,410 remember. Sometimes I would join the call 256 00:10:56,410 --> 00:11:00,410 from the park and I would like try to find. 257 00:11:00,450 --> 00:11:02,850 It was, uh, one of those, 258 00:11:02,850 --> 00:11:04,810 uh, hot days I remember. 259 00:11:04,810 --> 00:11:06,450 So it was a really bright, 260 00:11:06,730 --> 00:11:09,890 uh, but you were very flexible. 261 00:11:09,890 --> 00:11:12,650 The group was very flexible on the fact that 262 00:11:12,650 --> 00:11:15,850 we're just we're doing our best, 263 00:11:15,850 --> 00:11:18,330 and we show up and we show up with the best 264 00:11:18,330 --> 00:11:19,690 intention and the best, 265 00:11:19,730 --> 00:11:23,730 um, uh, with our willingness to learn. 266 00:11:23,890 --> 00:11:28,530 So it's what I would say to folks that are on 267 00:11:28,530 --> 00:11:30,170 the fence is just do it. 268 00:11:30,210 --> 00:11:33,010 It's there's never going to be a good time 269 00:11:33,450 --> 00:11:37,450 better than today. So just just get in there, 270 00:11:37,690 --> 00:11:40,770 start learning, and then we get access. 271 00:11:40,890 --> 00:11:43,690 Um, at least back then we had access to the 272 00:11:43,690 --> 00:11:44,930 materials afterwards. 273 00:11:44,930 --> 00:11:48,580 So I kept going back even this year. 274 00:11:48,700 --> 00:11:51,700 Almost a year after, I was still going back 275 00:11:51,700 --> 00:11:55,700 into the, uh, the library and looking at the 276 00:11:55,700 --> 00:11:57,140 videos, etc. 277 00:11:57,140 --> 00:11:59,300 so it's completely worth it. 278 00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:01,420 It's totally worth it. And having your 279 00:12:01,420 --> 00:12:04,660 support in Diane's guidance is just 280 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:05,540 invaluable. 281 00:12:06,100 --> 00:12:08,100 Carol Cox: Well, and that and that leads me to the next 282 00:12:08,100 --> 00:12:10,500 thing, which is that I know that you sent me 283 00:12:10,500 --> 00:12:12,180 and Diane a lovely email. 284 00:12:12,220 --> 00:12:14,540 It was in early February of this year. 285 00:12:14,540 --> 00:12:16,500 So again, maybe like eight months, 286 00:12:16,500 --> 00:12:18,260 8 or 9 months after you had actually gone 287 00:12:18,260 --> 00:12:20,820 through the program and you were sharing with 288 00:12:20,820 --> 00:12:22,460 us your excitement about this, 289 00:12:22,460 --> 00:12:24,100 the speaking momentum that you were getting 290 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:25,580 and the speaking engagements that you were 291 00:12:25,580 --> 00:12:28,460 doing, and I and so this is I think, 292 00:12:28,500 --> 00:12:30,260 an important thing is that when, 293 00:12:30,300 --> 00:12:32,700 you know, whatever coaching program someone 294 00:12:32,700 --> 00:12:35,260 decides to do, as long as what you're 295 00:12:35,260 --> 00:12:36,700 learning is evergreen, 296 00:12:36,940 --> 00:12:38,460 right, in the sense that, like the 297 00:12:38,460 --> 00:12:40,900 fundamentals of how to how to make a great 298 00:12:40,940 --> 00:12:42,580 talk and how to present really well don't 299 00:12:42,580 --> 00:12:44,220 really change, right? 300 00:12:44,260 --> 00:12:45,640 I mean, you can change your cultural 301 00:12:45,640 --> 00:12:47,600 references and things that are more current, 302 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:49,640 right? Like that kind of stuff. But what 303 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,720 you're learning and what you're building is, 304 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:55,800 is those like fundamental skills and then 305 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,400 being able to repurpose what you're, 306 00:12:58,560 --> 00:12:59,920 what you built with your talk. 307 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:02,280 So tell us about how did these speaking 308 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,480 engagements come about that you started, 309 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,160 that you started getting at the end of last 310 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:07,560 year and the beginning of this year? Tell us 311 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:09,520 a little bit about kind of what the events 312 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:11,240 were like, what the audiences were like, 313 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,080 what your goals were going into those 314 00:13:13,080 --> 00:13:14,560 speaking engagements, and then what you got 315 00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:15,240 out of them. 316 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,400 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Yeah. So I as we said, 317 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,520 life happens. So there was a little bit of a 318 00:13:21,560 --> 00:13:25,240 pause on my momentum last late 2024. 319 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:29,960 However, um, starting I think it was December 320 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:35,320 when, um, I got a call for a, 321 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:38,680 um, for a panel and I said, 322 00:13:38,720 --> 00:13:41,560 like, yes, let's I'll do that panel. 323 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:47,090 And then I'm also an advisor in a couple of 324 00:13:47,090 --> 00:13:48,770 groups for entrepreneurs. 325 00:13:49,130 --> 00:13:52,810 And they asked me if if I knew AI. 326 00:13:52,850 --> 00:13:54,970 And I say, yes, I do know AI. 327 00:13:55,330 --> 00:13:59,050 So okay, would you do a would you do a talk 328 00:14:00,130 --> 00:14:02,570 and would you be part of a panel first? 329 00:14:02,570 --> 00:14:05,690 I'm like, yes. And then from there evolved. 330 00:14:05,690 --> 00:14:07,490 And they said, okay, well now I need you to 331 00:14:07,530 --> 00:14:09,010 be the keynote speaker. 332 00:14:09,210 --> 00:14:11,370 I'm like, okay, well, I'll do that. 333 00:14:11,690 --> 00:14:14,290 And at the same time, in parallel with 334 00:14:14,330 --> 00:14:18,010 someone else, uh, reached out and asked me to 335 00:14:18,050 --> 00:14:20,850 do a talk on, uh, operational excellence, 336 00:14:20,850 --> 00:14:25,210 so I did. I also put that into the roster, 337 00:14:25,530 --> 00:14:27,810 um, into my schedule. 338 00:14:28,250 --> 00:14:32,050 And from having those conversations, 339 00:14:32,050 --> 00:14:34,010 someone said like, hey, we need someone in 340 00:14:34,010 --> 00:14:37,730 sustainability to talk about sustainability 341 00:14:37,730 --> 00:14:39,170 or sustainable operations. 342 00:14:39,210 --> 00:14:40,970 Do you know anything about that? I'm like, 343 00:14:41,010 --> 00:14:42,660 yes, that's exactly what I do. 344 00:14:43,020 --> 00:14:46,420 So I got into that conversation, 345 00:14:46,780 --> 00:14:50,980 and from those three first three 346 00:14:51,180 --> 00:14:54,100 conversations, what happened was that as I 347 00:14:54,100 --> 00:14:56,420 was preparing for that conversation, 348 00:14:56,460 --> 00:14:59,620 for the talks, and I was having conversations 349 00:14:59,620 --> 00:15:03,220 with the with the organizers, 350 00:15:03,700 --> 00:15:05,940 they, um, they first of all, 351 00:15:05,940 --> 00:15:09,220 they told me that my questions were before 352 00:15:09,220 --> 00:15:12,140 the talk were very insightful because I asked 353 00:15:12,140 --> 00:15:13,700 from demographics like, 354 00:15:13,740 --> 00:15:16,820 I need to know who what are the ages exactly, 355 00:15:16,860 --> 00:15:19,340 for example, for AI or even for 356 00:15:19,340 --> 00:15:21,980 sustainability? Everyone cares something 357 00:15:22,020 --> 00:15:23,860 about something different. 358 00:15:24,100 --> 00:15:27,660 So, um, I asked about the room, 359 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:29,340 uh, about the technology. 360 00:15:29,340 --> 00:15:31,540 So I asked all these questions and they were 361 00:15:31,540 --> 00:15:33,140 like, these are so insightful. 362 00:15:33,140 --> 00:15:35,260 Some things they have not even thought about. 363 00:15:35,660 --> 00:15:40,910 Um, so I had not even given talks yet When 364 00:15:41,350 --> 00:15:44,190 the organizers recommended me for other 365 00:15:44,190 --> 00:15:46,590 talks, it recommended me to other people 366 00:15:46,630 --> 00:15:49,510 because of how my questions, 367 00:15:49,590 --> 00:15:53,030 um, they like the preparation that I was 368 00:15:53,030 --> 00:15:54,270 putting into the talk. 369 00:15:54,310 --> 00:15:57,310 It wasn't just like, oh yeah, I'll go and say 370 00:15:57,310 --> 00:15:58,590 something, you know? 371 00:15:59,070 --> 00:16:01,790 It was very obvious that I was preparing 372 00:16:01,790 --> 00:16:04,350 myself, that I had a structure. 373 00:16:04,350 --> 00:16:07,430 I talked about objectives for their audience, 374 00:16:07,430 --> 00:16:09,710 objectives for the organization, 375 00:16:09,710 --> 00:16:11,830 if they wanted to promote something. 376 00:16:12,070 --> 00:16:16,790 Um, so I, I was looking at all stakeholders, 377 00:16:16,950 --> 00:16:19,990 um, that were going to be in the event that 378 00:16:19,990 --> 00:16:22,150 that day. So from there, 379 00:16:22,230 --> 00:16:24,550 uh, they recommended me to other, 380 00:16:24,710 --> 00:16:27,630 uh, organizations, some to private companies 381 00:16:27,630 --> 00:16:31,150 to give, uh, talks inside the company. 382 00:16:31,470 --> 00:16:34,470 Um, so that's how my momentum started. 383 00:16:34,470 --> 00:16:36,110 I ended up giving, uh, 384 00:16:36,110 --> 00:16:37,710 six talks in five weeks, 385 00:16:38,150 --> 00:16:39,840 which SH it I. 386 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:41,760 It was, uh. 387 00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:44,440 It was crazy. It was very, 388 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:47,200 uh. It was. I had never given so many talks 389 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:49,480 in such a short period of time. 390 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:52,600 So it was a very different, 391 00:16:52,680 --> 00:16:54,160 uh, experience. 392 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:56,440 Carol Cox: And were these in-person, 393 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,120 virtual accommodation? 394 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:00,000 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: It was a combination. 395 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:02,440 Um, I had three in-person. 396 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:04,640 There were actually 50, 53 in-person and 397 00:17:04,640 --> 00:17:06,200 three remote, so. 398 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:08,600 Carol Cox: Well, I'd love to hear. I love hearing that 399 00:17:08,600 --> 00:17:10,680 the event organizers were so impressed with 400 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:12,640 your preparation, with the questions that you 401 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:14,440 were asking, that they went ahead and 402 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:16,640 referred you to other speaking opportunities 403 00:17:16,640 --> 00:17:18,400 even before they heard you speak. Because 404 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:20,520 like to your point, it shows that you cared. 405 00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:22,600 You cared. You wanted to make sure that the 406 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:25,200 event in the audience had a good experience 407 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,160 with you. And so one thing that we do in the 408 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:28,280 Thought Leader Academy, for those of you 409 00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:30,280 listening, is that we have a checklist of 410 00:17:30,280 --> 00:17:33,000 questions to ask the event organizer ahead of 411 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:34,480 time, whether it's about the AV, 412 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:36,920 the audience, what the room looks like, 413 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:38,160 what to expect. 414 00:17:38,210 --> 00:17:40,490 So that way you, as the speaker, 415 00:17:40,650 --> 00:17:42,090 can prepare, you know, 416 00:17:42,130 --> 00:17:44,730 in your mind visually what it looks like and 417 00:17:44,730 --> 00:17:46,010 you know you have everything. 418 00:17:46,010 --> 00:17:48,410 But oftentimes even organizers are very 419 00:17:48,410 --> 00:17:51,090 impressed because not that many speakers ask 420 00:17:51,090 --> 00:17:52,570 them those things, and then they feel 421 00:17:52,570 --> 00:17:54,890 relieved that, you know, 422 00:17:54,930 --> 00:17:56,890 you know, at least you have your part covered 423 00:17:56,890 --> 00:17:58,610 and they don't have to worry about you then. 424 00:17:59,090 --> 00:18:02,930 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Correct. And there was one of those talks 425 00:18:02,930 --> 00:18:05,530 that, uh, was for a Hispanic audience. 426 00:18:06,370 --> 00:18:10,250 And, uh, so I, we talked about doing it in 427 00:18:10,250 --> 00:18:11,650 English. So. Okay. 428 00:18:11,690 --> 00:18:13,690 And if someone has a question in Spanish, 429 00:18:13,730 --> 00:18:16,570 I'm happy to switch to English or Spanish. 430 00:18:16,850 --> 00:18:19,210 And it was uh, it was funny because when I 431 00:18:19,210 --> 00:18:22,290 first got there, one of the other organizers 432 00:18:22,290 --> 00:18:23,930 said, oh, so you're giving the talk in 433 00:18:23,930 --> 00:18:25,130 Spanish? And I was like, 434 00:18:25,130 --> 00:18:26,810 wait, what? Like. 435 00:18:28,050 --> 00:18:31,330 And I said, like, I prepare for English, 436 00:18:31,330 --> 00:18:33,610 but I can just run it in Spanish. 437 00:18:33,610 --> 00:18:35,690 That's no like, I will do it. 438 00:18:35,690 --> 00:18:37,230 That's no problem. 439 00:18:37,230 --> 00:18:39,590 But I ended up delivering it in English. 440 00:18:39,750 --> 00:18:42,790 Um, and uh, but yes, it is one of those where 441 00:18:42,790 --> 00:18:45,150 you have to think on your feet and hey, 442 00:18:45,190 --> 00:18:47,110 if it happens, I'm ready. 443 00:18:47,110 --> 00:18:50,150 I'll just, uh, maybe I'll pause a little bit 444 00:18:50,150 --> 00:18:53,350 longer than in some occasions. 445 00:18:53,710 --> 00:18:56,590 Um, but it can be done, 446 00:18:56,630 --> 00:18:57,070 so. 447 00:18:57,550 --> 00:18:59,030 Carol Cox: Okay. Hold on. I gotta ask you about this 448 00:18:59,030 --> 00:19:00,830 now. This is fascinating to me, Eloisa. 449 00:19:00,830 --> 00:19:02,710 So Spanish is your. 450 00:19:02,750 --> 00:19:04,510 Is the language you learn first, 451 00:19:04,550 --> 00:19:05,910 right? When you were growing up. 452 00:19:06,230 --> 00:19:06,990 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Correct? 453 00:19:07,030 --> 00:19:09,470 Carol Cox: Correct. So obviously you speak fluently in 454 00:19:09,470 --> 00:19:11,910 English as well. So is it the case that if 455 00:19:11,910 --> 00:19:14,670 you are preparing for a talk that is supposed 456 00:19:14,670 --> 00:19:17,310 to be in English, that switching at the last 457 00:19:17,310 --> 00:19:19,150 minute to presenting it in Spanish would 458 00:19:19,150 --> 00:19:20,750 feel, I mean, obviously you could do it 459 00:19:20,750 --> 00:19:22,710 because you know, Spanish fluently, 460 00:19:22,710 --> 00:19:24,870 but would it? But does it feel different, 461 00:19:24,910 --> 00:19:27,630 like weird not to have prepared for it in 462 00:19:27,630 --> 00:19:29,030 Spanish originally? 463 00:19:30,950 --> 00:19:33,750 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Uh, yes, a little bit because of the cadence. 464 00:19:33,910 --> 00:19:37,240 Um, we also our sentences are much longer in 465 00:19:37,240 --> 00:19:43,040 Spanish, so I had not timed myself up to the 466 00:19:43,040 --> 00:19:45,520 set amount of time that I had for the talk, 467 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:49,160 so then maybe I had to cut some things. 468 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:50,920 And also the punchlines. 469 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,720 There's always like a delivery, 470 00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:54,720 something that you wanted to make it 471 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,760 memorable. Um, those punchlines. 472 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,880 I had not prepared them in Spanish so I could 473 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,040 deliver the message, but I'm not sure if they 474 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:10,000 would remember it with such an emotion. 475 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,320 I guess if I would, if I would hit their 476 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:15,560 emotions as I wanted to do so. 477 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:17,120 Carol Cox: Oh, that is so fascinating. 478 00:20:17,120 --> 00:20:19,000 All right. I just I just had to ask you that 479 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:21,200 because I, I mean, I studied French for eight 480 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:23,120 years because I studied French history, 481 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:26,040 but I definitely was not I could not speak it 482 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:27,120 fluently at all. 483 00:20:27,120 --> 00:20:29,440 So I just, I just I just find that 484 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:31,560 fascinating. Okay, so tangent aside, 485 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:34,240 we'll come back to that conversation. 486 00:20:34,930 --> 00:20:35,650 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Conversation. 487 00:20:36,330 --> 00:20:38,730 Carol Cox: Okay, so you gave these six talks in five 488 00:20:38,730 --> 00:20:40,170 weeks, which is great because talk about 489 00:20:40,170 --> 00:20:42,010 building your speaking muscles, right. Like 490 00:20:42,050 --> 00:20:44,490 continuing to do it now since they were all 491 00:20:44,530 --> 00:20:46,530 on somewhat different topics. 492 00:20:46,570 --> 00:20:48,170 I mean, they were they're all related to the 493 00:20:48,170 --> 00:20:50,090 work that you do, but every topic was a 494 00:20:50,090 --> 00:20:51,250 little bit different. 495 00:20:51,250 --> 00:20:53,410 So obviously you had your signature talk from 496 00:20:53,410 --> 00:20:55,290 the VIP day that you did in the Thought 497 00:20:55,330 --> 00:20:56,410 Leader Academy. 498 00:20:56,410 --> 00:20:58,570 So I assume that you probably took bits and 499 00:20:58,570 --> 00:21:00,930 pieces from that, like maybe the opening 500 00:21:00,930 --> 00:21:02,690 story with the zipline or something like 501 00:21:02,690 --> 00:21:05,010 that, but then I know you probably had to 502 00:21:05,050 --> 00:21:07,890 then put new content in as well. 503 00:21:07,890 --> 00:21:09,690 So how did you approach creating these 504 00:21:09,690 --> 00:21:11,050 different presentations? 505 00:21:12,330 --> 00:21:16,810 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: So the, uh, so this is the beauty of the, 506 00:21:16,850 --> 00:21:18,850 of the framework that, 507 00:21:18,850 --> 00:21:22,090 uh, and it has really and this, 508 00:21:22,210 --> 00:21:25,450 uh, I'll tell a story later on related to my 509 00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:29,010 niche. But they all these talks are actually 510 00:21:29,010 --> 00:21:33,220 related because to be Sustainable. 511 00:21:33,660 --> 00:21:35,940 You need to have good operations, 512 00:21:36,380 --> 00:21:38,380 you have to have good processes. 513 00:21:38,500 --> 00:21:41,340 And then the technology enables that 514 00:21:41,340 --> 00:21:43,820 operation and enables that sustainability. 515 00:21:44,060 --> 00:21:45,980 So there are all linked. 516 00:21:46,420 --> 00:21:49,820 What I did is I took the um the Optima 517 00:21:49,820 --> 00:21:54,220 framework, which you, you all help me name, 518 00:21:54,700 --> 00:21:58,260 and I just gave it the lens of 519 00:21:58,260 --> 00:21:59,460 sustainability. 520 00:21:59,860 --> 00:22:02,180 So and I took that lens also from the 521 00:22:02,180 --> 00:22:03,260 organisation. 522 00:22:03,260 --> 00:22:05,700 So I was talking to a university. 523 00:22:05,700 --> 00:22:08,980 So how I made all the examples very much 524 00:22:08,980 --> 00:22:11,500 relevant to, to the university. 525 00:22:11,660 --> 00:22:13,260 I talked to an engineering group. 526 00:22:13,260 --> 00:22:15,340 I made those examples very, 527 00:22:15,540 --> 00:22:18,100 um, relatable for the engineers. 528 00:22:18,100 --> 00:22:20,140 I changed the language actually. 529 00:22:20,140 --> 00:22:22,460 That was a very interesting experience 530 00:22:22,500 --> 00:22:24,860 because most of my talks are for, 531 00:22:25,180 --> 00:22:28,140 um, the business in general. 532 00:22:28,820 --> 00:22:32,190 And here I was talking to an Engineering 533 00:22:32,190 --> 00:22:36,350 group. So I my background is in industrial 534 00:22:36,350 --> 00:22:39,710 engineering. So I pull all my lingo. 535 00:22:39,750 --> 00:22:41,910 I pull the punches like no, 536 00:22:41,910 --> 00:22:45,110 no, I put everything in engineering. 537 00:22:45,110 --> 00:22:48,230 So that was part of, um, 538 00:22:48,990 --> 00:22:51,990 them knowing that I was the real deal, 539 00:22:52,030 --> 00:22:54,230 that I knew what I was talking about. 540 00:22:54,470 --> 00:22:57,710 So I purposely changed my lingo, 541 00:22:57,750 --> 00:23:00,910 changed the way that I spoke to cater to that 542 00:23:00,910 --> 00:23:01,630 audience. 543 00:23:04,230 --> 00:23:07,110 Carol Cox: So okay, so you took your your main 544 00:23:07,110 --> 00:23:10,230 framework, Optima, which you had created with 545 00:23:10,230 --> 00:23:11,910 us and, you know, you had already had it, but 546 00:23:11,950 --> 00:23:14,390 kind of streamlining and naming all that. 547 00:23:14,390 --> 00:23:16,110 So you kept that. And I love this, 548 00:23:16,110 --> 00:23:18,870 but you gave it a different lens or a 549 00:23:18,870 --> 00:23:21,470 different emphasis depending on whatever the 550 00:23:21,470 --> 00:23:25,310 main topic was or whoever the audience was at 551 00:23:25,310 --> 00:23:26,870 the time. And so I think that's something 552 00:23:26,870 --> 00:23:28,830 also for for those of you listening to think 553 00:23:28,830 --> 00:23:30,550 about is that you could you could have your 554 00:23:30,730 --> 00:23:32,530 core intellectual property. 555 00:23:32,730 --> 00:23:33,970 It could be a framework. 556 00:23:33,970 --> 00:23:35,330 It could be a methodology. 557 00:23:35,330 --> 00:23:38,370 It could be just something that you do and 558 00:23:38,610 --> 00:23:42,010 think about how it the same framework or IP 559 00:23:42,050 --> 00:23:43,730 can apply to many different types of 560 00:23:43,730 --> 00:23:47,330 audiences and many different types of events 561 00:23:47,330 --> 00:23:48,690 and even topics. 562 00:23:48,690 --> 00:23:50,930 But you still bring in your intellectual 563 00:23:50,930 --> 00:23:52,210 property because that's your thought 564 00:23:52,210 --> 00:23:54,530 leadership. That's what sets you apart from 565 00:23:54,530 --> 00:23:56,570 other speakers who are also talk about 566 00:23:56,570 --> 00:23:58,930 sustainability or operations or AI or 567 00:23:58,930 --> 00:24:00,330 whatever it happens to be. 568 00:24:00,330 --> 00:24:02,690 But you're bringing your unique thought 569 00:24:02,730 --> 00:24:04,610 leadership and intellectual property into 570 00:24:04,610 --> 00:24:08,090 your talk so that then they remember not only 571 00:24:08,090 --> 00:24:10,810 that, but then remember your stories as well. 572 00:24:10,850 --> 00:24:12,970 How you know how connecting your stories to 573 00:24:13,010 --> 00:24:14,690 the overall thought leadership message that 574 00:24:14,690 --> 00:24:15,370 you're sharing. 575 00:24:16,490 --> 00:24:17,330 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Absolutely. 576 00:24:18,090 --> 00:24:19,850 Carol Cox: All right. Eloisa, so you mentioned to me 577 00:24:19,850 --> 00:24:21,650 when we were scheduling this podcast 578 00:24:21,650 --> 00:24:25,650 conversation that you decided to niche down 579 00:24:25,770 --> 00:24:28,450 in your business, which I know from having 580 00:24:28,450 --> 00:24:31,100 been in business for over 20 years. 581 00:24:31,340 --> 00:24:34,620 It is something that everyone says to do, 582 00:24:34,660 --> 00:24:36,340 right? Niche down. Niche down. Niche down. 583 00:24:36,340 --> 00:24:39,660 But it also feels really hard to do because, 584 00:24:39,700 --> 00:24:41,820 you know, you think about, well, but I but 585 00:24:41,820 --> 00:24:43,900 there's clients over here who I can serve. 586 00:24:43,900 --> 00:24:46,140 And you know, I don't want to exclude them. 587 00:24:46,180 --> 00:24:48,660 Right. So it's kind of like this tension that 588 00:24:48,660 --> 00:24:50,860 all entrepreneurs walk between, 589 00:24:51,100 --> 00:24:53,180 you know, figuring out how far should we 590 00:24:53,180 --> 00:24:56,100 niche down or which niche niches should we 591 00:24:56,100 --> 00:24:58,020 focus on. So tell me about that experience 592 00:24:58,020 --> 00:24:58,580 for you. 593 00:24:59,780 --> 00:25:02,740 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Yeah. So as you said, it's it's scary. 594 00:25:03,540 --> 00:25:04,780 It let's start with that. 595 00:25:04,940 --> 00:25:08,140 Uh, we're not we're not going to say it's 596 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:12,620 not. Um, however, it's, 597 00:25:12,860 --> 00:25:15,860 it's about defining what you're going to say 598 00:25:15,860 --> 00:25:18,020 no to at the end of the day. 599 00:25:18,060 --> 00:25:20,620 How are you going to just as you said before, 600 00:25:20,660 --> 00:25:23,740 I had so many different topics I was talking 601 00:25:23,740 --> 00:25:26,060 about. And while they are related, 602 00:25:26,300 --> 00:25:29,390 I had to be Switching contacts. 603 00:25:29,590 --> 00:25:31,710 So that is. It's tiring. 604 00:25:31,950 --> 00:25:33,470 Um, but it's doable. 605 00:25:33,630 --> 00:25:37,470 So, uh. Uh, so what happened here was, 606 00:25:37,470 --> 00:25:40,270 uh, in January of 2025, 607 00:25:40,310 --> 00:25:42,430 there were two main events. 608 00:25:42,470 --> 00:25:44,510 The first 1st January 15th. 609 00:25:44,550 --> 00:25:46,310 We all know what, uh. 610 00:25:46,350 --> 00:25:48,750 What happened? We have a new administration. 611 00:25:48,750 --> 00:25:50,390 And for the dear listener, 612 00:25:50,550 --> 00:25:55,590 uh, my organization focuses on on the clean 613 00:25:55,590 --> 00:25:57,870 energy industry, social impact. 614 00:25:57,870 --> 00:26:00,470 And we help we have other clients that do 615 00:26:00,470 --> 00:26:02,230 good to the world medtech, 616 00:26:02,270 --> 00:26:05,150 but ed tech and biotech. 617 00:26:05,390 --> 00:26:09,310 So all those industries got a hit. 618 00:26:10,470 --> 00:26:12,470 Um, and then the second, 619 00:26:12,590 --> 00:26:15,390 uh, the second event that happened was I was 620 00:26:15,430 --> 00:26:16,910 having a conversation with a young 621 00:26:16,910 --> 00:26:20,670 professional. And when I mentioned I my 622 00:26:20,670 --> 00:26:22,430 organization does sustainability, 623 00:26:22,430 --> 00:26:24,790 operational excellence and technology. 624 00:26:25,310 --> 00:26:26,430 Her reaction was like, 625 00:26:26,430 --> 00:26:28,760 whoa, those are such a different, 626 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,280 um, different topics. 627 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,160 And that made me pause, 628 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,960 because from the expert side, 629 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,680 I see everything is interrelated. 630 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:43,360 Everything plays with each other, 631 00:26:43,360 --> 00:26:45,760 and you have to have a balance around those 632 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:50,240 areas. However, from my audience perspective, 633 00:26:50,400 --> 00:26:52,000 those are disjointed. 634 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:59,360 So I took the moment to to think through how 635 00:26:59,360 --> 00:27:02,760 I could best service, how can my organization 636 00:27:02,760 --> 00:27:04,840 best service, the industries and the 637 00:27:04,840 --> 00:27:06,440 customers that I want to serve? 638 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,720 How can we keep moving the needle on the good 639 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,360 work that all these organizations in the 640 00:27:12,360 --> 00:27:14,400 clean energy space and the social impact 641 00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:15,960 space are doing? 642 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,080 And that's where after, 643 00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,960 um, doing some analysis of all the projects, 644 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:24,560 the work that we had been doing, 645 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,490 I came to realize that we really excel on, 646 00:27:28,730 --> 00:27:31,650 uh, on helping optimize the work of 647 00:27:31,810 --> 00:27:33,650 multidisciplinary teams. 648 00:27:34,530 --> 00:27:37,650 So organizations, either organizations that 649 00:27:37,650 --> 00:27:40,290 are bringing very different, 650 00:27:40,570 --> 00:27:42,850 uh, disciplines together, 651 00:27:42,850 --> 00:27:45,610 sometimes you have engineering with editors 652 00:27:45,810 --> 00:27:49,530 or creatives and with financials, 653 00:27:49,530 --> 00:27:52,290 and they are just their conversations are 654 00:27:52,290 --> 00:27:55,410 just going, uh, not, not, 655 00:27:55,530 --> 00:27:57,930 uh, coming together as they should. 656 00:27:58,250 --> 00:28:03,250 Um, or we have a coalition of companies that 657 00:28:03,250 --> 00:28:04,410 are bringing in their own, 658 00:28:04,450 --> 00:28:06,730 their own vision, their own culture, 659 00:28:06,890 --> 00:28:08,610 their own ways of working, 660 00:28:09,450 --> 00:28:11,530 their own ways of using technology. 661 00:28:11,530 --> 00:28:14,050 And AI is one of them. 662 00:28:15,170 --> 00:28:18,490 And they are trying to create value that they 663 00:28:18,490 --> 00:28:19,850 couldn't create on their own. 664 00:28:20,450 --> 00:28:23,610 But it is difficult when they don't when when 665 00:28:23,610 --> 00:28:28,190 In the this coalition of organizations is 666 00:28:28,230 --> 00:28:30,910 these partnerships are um, 667 00:28:31,190 --> 00:28:33,830 they come in with with the strategy of hope 668 00:28:34,030 --> 00:28:36,950 thinking that the processes in the way of 669 00:28:36,950 --> 00:28:39,270 working will organically happen. 670 00:28:39,790 --> 00:28:42,350 And in reality, you have to design it, 671 00:28:43,350 --> 00:28:45,510 you have to design how you're going to work, 672 00:28:45,510 --> 00:28:47,190 how you're going to, uh, 673 00:28:47,310 --> 00:28:49,950 govern the the work that is being done, 674 00:28:49,950 --> 00:28:51,750 the value that is being created. 675 00:28:51,950 --> 00:28:54,350 Um, I can go on and on. 676 00:28:54,990 --> 00:28:58,950 But this is how I decided to move the 677 00:28:58,950 --> 00:29:02,870 organization and and focus on the partnership 678 00:29:02,870 --> 00:29:06,430 optimization and the clean energy space and 679 00:29:06,430 --> 00:29:09,630 social impact. So that is where I niched 680 00:29:09,630 --> 00:29:12,870 down. And that's that's the focus that we are 681 00:29:12,870 --> 00:29:13,910 having right now. 682 00:29:14,230 --> 00:29:17,790 We are, um, starting to give more talks about 683 00:29:17,790 --> 00:29:23,160 it and, and also optimal Methodology. 684 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,320 The framework is being carried over. 685 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:29,960 Now we have an optima for partnerships. 686 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:33,360 So it is it is the same work. 687 00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,880 We are just deciding where we focus, 688 00:29:35,880 --> 00:29:38,680 where we put our energy so we can help the 689 00:29:38,680 --> 00:29:40,000 industry move forward. 690 00:29:40,480 --> 00:29:41,720 Carol Cox: Mhm. I love that Eloisa. 691 00:29:41,720 --> 00:29:43,560 And that really does I think, 692 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:46,800 reflect so much of what you care about your 693 00:29:46,800 --> 00:29:49,200 mission and helping because partner 694 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:52,040 collaborations and partnerships are going to 695 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:55,080 make both entities stronger going forward. 696 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,280 And so, you know, taking your skill set and 697 00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:58,920 your expertise and your background as an 698 00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:01,840 engineer and everything that the work that 699 00:30:01,840 --> 00:30:03,640 you've done and then focusing on that, 700 00:30:03,760 --> 00:30:06,320 like you said, to make the message clear to 701 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:08,160 the people on the other side, because I'm 702 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:09,720 with you, I do the same thing. 703 00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:11,280 Like, I can see how everything is 704 00:30:11,280 --> 00:30:13,680 interrelated to what my interests are or what 705 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:16,080 I do is it's it's, you know, 706 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:17,920 crystal clear to me. But I can see from 707 00:30:17,920 --> 00:30:19,720 someone on the other side who clearly does 708 00:30:19,720 --> 00:30:22,410 not live in my, my mind to them. 709 00:30:22,410 --> 00:30:24,050 They're like, okay, how do all these things 710 00:30:24,050 --> 00:30:27,530 fit together? And I think as individual 711 00:30:27,570 --> 00:30:29,610 humans, it makes us interesting. 712 00:30:29,610 --> 00:30:32,170 But as businesses, we have to make sure that 713 00:30:32,170 --> 00:30:34,650 our messaging is really clear so that our 714 00:30:34,650 --> 00:30:36,530 prospective clients figure out, 715 00:30:36,530 --> 00:30:38,370 okay, yes. Like they're the they're the 716 00:30:38,370 --> 00:30:39,890 business for me because they understand my 717 00:30:39,890 --> 00:30:41,930 problem and how they and how they can solve 718 00:30:41,930 --> 00:30:42,490 it for me. 719 00:30:43,090 --> 00:30:44,850 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Correct. Absolutely. 720 00:30:45,330 --> 00:30:48,330 And I have been doing part of my niching 721 00:30:48,330 --> 00:30:50,970 down. I have been doing a listening tour. 722 00:30:51,250 --> 00:30:53,010 So I'm having conversations with many 723 00:30:53,010 --> 00:30:55,410 companies. And when I explain what we do, 724 00:30:55,450 --> 00:30:56,770 the focus that we have, 725 00:30:57,410 --> 00:30:59,490 I'm getting so many reactions of, 726 00:30:59,490 --> 00:31:02,250 oh, I didn't know someone did this type of 727 00:31:02,250 --> 00:31:04,090 work. I needed your help. 728 00:31:04,250 --> 00:31:06,490 Three months ago, I needed your help six 729 00:31:06,490 --> 00:31:10,210 months ago. And so it's it's now it's 730 00:31:10,250 --> 00:31:13,250 becoming, um, memorable. 731 00:31:13,730 --> 00:31:14,130 So. 732 00:31:15,050 --> 00:31:17,970 Carol Cox: So, so keeping these things in mind, 733 00:31:18,010 --> 00:31:19,210 the direction that you're going with your 734 00:31:19,210 --> 00:31:21,020 business, what is next for you? 735 00:31:21,060 --> 00:31:23,780 What types of speaking engagements are you 736 00:31:23,820 --> 00:31:26,020 looking for? And any projects that you're 737 00:31:26,020 --> 00:31:26,660 working on? 738 00:31:27,580 --> 00:31:32,500 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: So, uh, I am looking to do more talks on on 739 00:31:32,540 --> 00:31:34,100 partnership optimization, 740 00:31:34,100 --> 00:31:36,100 just in partnership in general. 741 00:31:36,420 --> 00:31:40,900 Um, and we have, uh, one going on in the 742 00:31:40,940 --> 00:31:43,260 works for a webinar. 743 00:31:43,660 --> 00:31:46,860 Uh, and I also have a couple other podcast 744 00:31:46,860 --> 00:31:49,060 appearances that will be happening. 745 00:31:49,260 --> 00:31:51,540 So I am trying to, uh, 746 00:31:51,740 --> 00:31:54,780 gain regain that momentum with this new topic 747 00:31:55,060 --> 00:31:58,460 and, uh, streamline my own speaking 748 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:02,620 engagements to by focusing niching down on 749 00:32:02,620 --> 00:32:04,380 also what I'm speaking about. 750 00:32:04,580 --> 00:32:09,180 Um, yes. And as we move into the end of the 751 00:32:09,500 --> 00:32:12,220 of the year, the second half of the year, 752 00:32:12,620 --> 00:32:14,540 I'm looking to have more of those 753 00:32:14,540 --> 00:32:17,020 conversations to start supporting those, 754 00:32:17,140 --> 00:32:20,590 um, more partnerships because they are being 755 00:32:20,590 --> 00:32:23,870 built, especially here in Massachusetts. 756 00:32:24,110 --> 00:32:26,430 There's a lot of partnerships happening, 757 00:32:26,670 --> 00:32:29,750 and we want to make sure that they are strong 758 00:32:29,750 --> 00:32:32,590 so they can deliver the value that they want 759 00:32:32,590 --> 00:32:34,950 to and that they will need as a society. 760 00:32:35,430 --> 00:32:38,750 So it's um, yeah, it is. 761 00:32:38,790 --> 00:32:40,630 It is about moving forward, 762 00:32:40,670 --> 00:32:43,510 uh, and having those conversations. 763 00:32:43,510 --> 00:32:48,390 So if anyone has questions about partnership 764 00:32:48,630 --> 00:32:51,110 optimization or how does that work? 765 00:32:51,110 --> 00:32:53,190 Because it's I'm also working with, 766 00:32:53,190 --> 00:32:55,390 uh, having conversations with the lawyers, 767 00:32:55,430 --> 00:32:57,310 um, because they look at the legal 768 00:32:57,310 --> 00:32:58,430 perspective. 769 00:32:58,750 --> 00:33:02,710 But if the organizations don't have that 770 00:33:02,710 --> 00:33:05,710 structure, that system, 771 00:33:06,310 --> 00:33:09,630 then the legal agreement cannot hold. 772 00:33:09,870 --> 00:33:12,030 They cannot actually comply with that legal 773 00:33:12,030 --> 00:33:15,310 agreement. So it's about having that balance 774 00:33:15,310 --> 00:33:17,870 between your legal agreements are very 775 00:33:18,010 --> 00:33:20,490 important, but also your structure, 776 00:33:21,130 --> 00:33:24,130 your system on how all organizations are 777 00:33:24,130 --> 00:33:26,090 going to work together. It's very important. 778 00:33:26,250 --> 00:33:30,010 So, um, if if anyone has questions about how 779 00:33:30,050 --> 00:33:31,090 does that work? 780 00:33:31,210 --> 00:33:33,530 Like just give me a call. 781 00:33:33,570 --> 00:33:35,570 Carol Cox: So okay. Great. 782 00:33:35,570 --> 00:33:37,170 And we'll have links in the show notes to 783 00:33:37,210 --> 00:33:39,450 your website and to your LinkedIn profile so 784 00:33:39,450 --> 00:33:42,010 that listeners can connect with you there. 785 00:33:42,050 --> 00:33:43,690 Eloisa. Well, thank you so much for the 786 00:33:43,690 --> 00:33:45,210 important work that you're doing and the 787 00:33:45,210 --> 00:33:47,810 clean energy space around and around climate 788 00:33:47,810 --> 00:33:50,370 change. We certainly know that we need to 789 00:33:50,370 --> 00:33:52,130 keep moving forward on that, 790 00:33:52,170 --> 00:33:54,770 regardless of other factors that are going 791 00:33:54,770 --> 00:33:56,090 on. The climate doesn't care. 792 00:33:56,570 --> 00:33:58,930 It's going to keep doing what it wants to 793 00:33:58,930 --> 00:34:00,410 doing. And and also, like, 794 00:34:00,770 --> 00:34:03,370 I want my energy prices to go down and wind 795 00:34:03,370 --> 00:34:05,650 and solar and other forms of renewable energy 796 00:34:05,650 --> 00:34:07,330 are going to help make, 797 00:34:07,370 --> 00:34:11,570 uh, make energy more, more cost effective for 798 00:34:11,570 --> 00:34:13,570 all of us. So thank you for that work. 799 00:34:13,730 --> 00:34:16,010 And thank you so much for being part of the 800 00:34:16,010 --> 00:34:18,180 speaking your brand community for being a 801 00:34:18,180 --> 00:34:20,300 graduate of our Thought Leader Academy and 802 00:34:20,300 --> 00:34:22,220 for coming back on the podcast, 803 00:34:22,220 --> 00:34:23,260 I so appreciate it. 804 00:34:23,900 --> 00:34:25,980 Eloisa Marquez-Gonzalez: Thank you Carol, thank you for having me and 805 00:34:25,980 --> 00:34:28,140 for all your support, because I keep going 806 00:34:28,140 --> 00:34:30,380 back to my notes, keep going back to the 807 00:34:30,380 --> 00:34:33,260 videos, and it has been so helpful. 808 00:34:33,500 --> 00:34:35,740 Um, I highly recommend, 809 00:34:35,820 --> 00:34:39,020 uh, the Academy for anyone who wants to, 810 00:34:39,060 --> 00:34:42,900 um, have a speaking career or just have a 811 00:34:43,180 --> 00:34:47,500 clearer thought on how they impact their 812 00:34:47,500 --> 00:34:49,740 organization, how they impact the world. 813 00:34:49,980 --> 00:34:52,460 Uh, you help us bring clarity to our 814 00:34:52,460 --> 00:34:53,580 thinking. So thank you. 815 00:34:53,900 --> 00:34:55,060 Carol Cox: Oh, well, thank you so much. 816 00:34:55,340 --> 00:34:57,020 And if you're listening and would like to 817 00:34:57,020 --> 00:34:58,660 learn more about our Thought Leader Academy, 818 00:34:58,660 --> 00:35:00,620 you can get all of the details at Speaking 819 00:35:01,980 --> 00:35:03,940 Academy. Again, that's speaking your brand 820 00:35:05,300 --> 00:35:07,100 academy. Until next time. 821 00:35:07,100 --> 00:35:08,140 Thanks for listening.