Can joining a college a capella group help launch a career in the family business? Yes it can, Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud tells Kenning Associates Partner, Daryl Ogden–and it can provide the foundation for a marriage and family to boot!

Eliah joins us on the pod to discuss his career in music: One deeply rooted in his personal and family history, and one that was shaped by mentors and mentorship throughout. Eliah explains what he gleaned from his mentors (e.g., where to find energy, how to measure progress) as well what he still gathers from those he mentors (e.g., a new way to use a product, a fresh perspective from another company).

Eliah and Daryl go on to dig deep into what makes Soundcloud supremely well-poised to exploit the disruptions in the music industry–trends that Eliah had seen first-hand in the making throughout his years at Warner Music. As one of his mentors told him: “When you’re on a train, you can walk or run… but what really matters is how fast the train is going.”

In this episode, Kenning Partner Cathy Boeckmann looks back on the enduring value of the streaming series Ted Lasso. She ponders the question, is Ted Lasso still relevant? Her answer is yes, and she suggests that 2024 is a great year for anyone to revisit the show as a support for personal growth. She shares three ways the show could have practical value for career inspiration: for facing challenges around new roles, for enhancing relationships, and for changing your story to make new things possible.

Then, the episode continues with a special bonus – the full first episode of Cathy’s other podcast, Lasso Lessons, which was first released in September 2021. In what follows, Cathy and co-host Mike Merrill break down Ted Lasso S1E1. You will find out why Ted learns everyone's names and even over-praises Nate's sports drink. And you’ll get an analysis of Ted’s "Inclusive Leadership” with a comparison between Ted’s vs. Rebecca’s communications styles. Plus hear how you too can flip the pyramid for organizational success!

Also Mentioned:

Inverting the Pyramid: the book & the organizational principle

The Key to Inclusive Leadership

Kerouac’s The Dharma Bums

Barry Jentz on challenges to sense-making

In this episode, Kenning Partner Daryl Ogden speaks with Helen Chiang, head of Mojang Studios. Daryl and Helen’s relationship goes back many years, to the integration of Mojang, the Swedish creator of Minecraft, into the world of Microsoft’s Xbox. Despite the difficult reality of most acquisitions, they talk about how Helen and her team ensured continued growth and player satisfaction.

Helen’s long career in gaming, she explains, wasn’t her original plan in college or business school. But once exposed to the business side of gaming, she was drawn into the creative process. Discussing mentorship and sponsorship, Helen describes her own trials with imposter syndrome, and explains how she works with contributors throughout Microsoft to give their career in gaming a boost.

Daryl and Helen also focus on what it means to be a people-first leader, highlighting lessons learned in how to support creative, innovative talent. In a world where remote and hybrid work is becoming the norm, Helen’s experience with working across continents has great salience. She speaks of how diversity of insight is key to Mojang’s success, and how she and her team experimented with working arrangements until they got it right.

Note: This interview was recorded before Mojang released Legends.