Helen Polise is the Owner, Director, and Executive Producer of Muthership Productions, a company specializing in storytelling, lifestyle, healthcare, fashion, and testimonials. She is also the Founder and CEO of Socialize, a community for social media creators. As a professional director and interviewer, Helen has worked with notable brands like Blistex, Conair, and NFL Alumni to create engaging, cross-channel videos. As a video content creator and self-proclaimed social media guru, she is known as the TikTok Teacher, sharing her learnings via tutorials on TikTok.

The social media landscape is flooded with millions of daily uploads, so creators often struggle to stand out, connect meaningfully with their audiences, and earn a sustainable income. Many aspiring influencers follow trends and expert advice with limited engagement or long-term followers. With such a saturated and fast-paced environment, how can creators find their voice, build trust, and turn passion into profit?

According to social media educator Helen Polise, content creators can build a loyal following by leaning into their authentic purpose. She emphasizes the value of educational content, stating that videos offering tangible value drive deeper engagement and long-term follower growth. Helen recommends investing years in building trust before monetizing content and encourages creators to explore indirect income streams like speaking gigs and brand partnerships. Influencers can also structure content with compelling hooks and deliver on promises to sustain viewer attention and inspire action.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Helen Polise of Muthership Productions and Socialize returns to talk with Rolando Rosas about building a lasting presence as a TikTok content creator. Helen explains how she found her niche through teaching, why she prioritizes community over quick monetization, and how she leverages production expertise on commercial sets.

René Rodriguez is a renowned keynote speaker, leadership advisor, and the best-selling author of Amplify Your Influence, which offers practical strategies to enhance communication and leadership skills. With over 27 years of experience, he has applied behavioral neuroscience to address leadership, sales, and change management challenges. René created the AMPLIFII™ course, a methodology that has trained over 100,000 professionals worldwide.

In today’s hyperconnected world, the constant barrage of notifications, digital content, and virtual interactions has left many struggling with shortened attention spans, weakened interpersonal connections, and difficulty staying present. As more professionals transition to remote and hybrid work, how can we reclaim focus, foster meaningful connections, and lead effectively?

According to behavioral neuroscience expert René Rodriguez, storytelling, social media, and virtual communication impact how the brain processes and stores information. To reclaim focus, he suggests reducing social media consumption and replacing it with activities that stimulate creativity, such as puzzles or focused time blocks for thinking. Through attention-narrowing exercises, like staring at a single point to build concentration and the “40 for 30” technique — giving someone 40 volts of full attention for 30 seconds — leaders can foster meaningful interactions. René also recommends employing narrative storytelling techniques and upgrading your virtual setup to enhance presence, engagement, and communication.

In today’s episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly sit down with René Rodriguez, who talks about the neuroscience behind influence and communication. René explores the effects of doom scrolling, how leaders can counter negativity bias through storytelling, and how to maintain an optimal tone during interactions.

Andrea Sullivan is the CEO of vYve by Vayner, a high-performance accelerator program for entrepreneurs and C-suite executives. She is also a Professor in the Masters in Branding program at the School of Visual Arts and serves as a board member at Creative Spirit, the Ad Council, and the United Nations Association of New York. Before joining vYve by Vayner, Andrea was the Chief Marketing Officer at VaynerX, where she built C-suite communities and managed Gary Vaynerchuk’s marketing programs.

Today’s leaders are facing pressure like never before. With rapid changes in technology, cultural dynamics, and social media, CEOs and entrepreneurs are feeling the heat, and many admit that this stress impacts their decision-making and overall well-being. How can leaders rise above the chaos and create brands that resonate in today’s market?

According to leadership development and branding expert Andrea Sullivan, leaders can navigate these challenges by embracing vulnerability, self-awareness, and authenticity. She emphasizes the importance of leading from the heart, connecting with culture, and creating safe environments where people feel seen. Additionally, prioritizing organic storytelling over high-production messaging can foster deeper engagement and lasting brand loyalty. Leaders must also be willing to let go of their egos, build trust across teams, and maintain continuous introspection to evolve.

In today’s episode of What The Teck? Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly chat with Andrea Sullivan, the CEO of vYve by Vayner, about building authentic leadership in a digital-first society. Andrea explains the role of emotional intelligence in brand building, the importance of vulnerability, and how to build a dynamic culture from the top down.

Derek Gaunt is a Negotiations Trainer and Coach at The Black Swan Group, a consulting firm specializing in negotiation strategies rooted in hostage negotiation principles. With 29 years of law enforcement experience, including 20 years leading hostage negotiation teams in the Washington, DC, area, he has trained organizations globally on applying hostage negotiation principles to business and leadership. Derek is also the author of Ego, Authority, Failure©.

Closing deals and winning negotiations can feel like an uphill battle, especially when clients are hesitant, defensive, or unresponsive. Many business professionals unknowingly create resistance by using the wrong approach, like pushing for a "yes" too soon, failing to address unspoken objections, or relying on email instead of in-person communication. How can you use proven negotiation techniques to turn difficult conversations into fruitful deals?

According to former hostage negotiator Derek Gaunt, business professionals can close more deals by applying hostage negotiation techniques to their pitches. He advises beginning with an “accusations audit,” which acknowledges potential objections up front to reduce resistance from prospects. Rather than trying to secure the deal too soon with questions requiring a “yes” response, you can ask “no-oriented” questions phrased like “Would you be against…?” to make clients feel in control and more willing to engage. Derek also suggests testing verbal agreements at least twice to ensure commitment and prevent last-minute roadblocks in negotiations.

In this episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas interviews Derek Gaunt, Negotiations Trainer and Coach at The Black Swan Group, about applying hostage negotiation strategies to business deals. Derek explains why emotions dictate responses in negotiations, how to identify manipulation, and the role of the amygdala in facilitating difficult conversations.

James Thomson is the Managing Partner at Equity Value Advisors, where he advises brand executives and investors on accelerating e-commerce revenues and aligning distribution and pricing strategies. He serves on the boards of and invests in companies such as Mamenta, Davinci Micro Fulfillment, and MAVI.io. Previously, James was the Chief Strategy Officer at Buy Box Experts, a managed services agency that assists brands in optimizing their online sales channels as well as investors of businesses selling on Amazon. Before Buy Box, he served as the Business Head of Amazon Services, the division responsible for recruiting tens of thousands of sellers annually to the Amazon marketplace, and he was the Senior Manager for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA).

Amazon has evolved beyond just a marketplace; it is now a data-driven company that leverages first-party consumer insights to dominate digital advertising. As generative AI reshapes online shopping, Amazon uses its vast data resources to enhance customer experiences, refine search results, and expand its advertising reach. How can retail-first brands break into this competitive space?

While Walmart remains a major player in retail, its e-commerce strategy differs significantly from Amazon’s. Rather than directly competing, Walmart focuses on converting its in-store shoppers into online customers, leveraging its physical presence to drive digital growth. However, many traditional retail brands struggle to adapt to Amazon’s algorithm-driven marketplace, where competitor brands thrive by optimizing keywords, pricing competitively, and constantly innovating. According to Amazon veteran James Thomson, brands that invest in data-driven decision-making, continuously refine their product listings, and adapt to Amazon’s evolving algorithms can increase visibility and outperform competitors.

In this episode of What The Teck?, James Thomson, the Managing Partner at Equity Value Advisors, joins Rolando Rosas to discuss the shifting dynamics of Amazon’s online marketplace. He explains Amazon’s evolving role in social commerce, how Amazon uses first-party data to influence customer experiences, and the importance of blocking out your calendar for family time.

Ellen Frank-Miller, PhD, is the Founder and CEO of WORC (Workforce & Organizational Research Center), an applied research and evaluation consultancy creating an inclusive economy for worthwhile jobs. She has spent her 30-plus year career collaborating with employers, investors, national advocates, and community-based organizations to enhance jobs and make them more accessible.

As an organizational scholar, Ellen spent 15 years in human resource consulting, creating evidence-based programs and policies. Before launching WORC, she founded and led the Workforce Financial Stability Initiative at Washington University’s Social Policy Institute.

Decades of research have shown that higher-paying jobs and profit-sharing programs for frontline workers lead to increased engagement and retention and a healthier bottom line for organizations. Yet, many companies hesitate to implement these incentives, not recognizing their widespread value. How can frontline managers effectively communicate the advantages of these initiatives to executives while aligning them with company goals?

According to workforce researcher Ellen Frank-Miller, companies that align employee ownership programs with performance observe frontline workers taking responsibility for their contributions. These incentives encourage employees to pursue professional development opportunities and further their careers. Ellen advises frontline supervisors to communicate openly with their team and collaborate with them to solve problems. They can then convey the results to executives to foster a dialogue about profit-sharing and employee ownership plans. While implementing these incentives into larger corporations may involve legislation, smaller, locally owned businesses can integrate them into their succession plans.

Welcome back to What The Teck? as Ellen Frank-Miller, PhD, Founder and CEO of WORC (Workforce & Organizational Research Center), returns to talk with Rolando Rosas about how employee ownership programs benefit companies and workers. Ellen explains how to align employee incentives with organizational goals, her research into human capital management and value creation, and how to invest in frontline employees and give them opportunities.

Kaila Uli is an e-commerce business builder and the Founder of Puffie Slippers. She also founded Brillies.co, a vintage and retro sunglasses brand she lost in a cyber attack. As a TikTok content creator, Kaila educates entrepreneurs on building their businesses.

Some small business owners believe they’re safe from cyber attacks because of their size. Yet, 50% of attacks occur against small businesses since attackers aren’t always after just revenue. How can online business owners mitigate these threats and recover their companies?

After multiple failed business ventures, content creator and online entrepreneur Kaila Uli was confident her next company would prosper. However, an unexpected cyber attack from a competitor caused her to lose everything. The attackers flooded her site with bots, overwhelming the servers and kicking her offline. Kaila recommends investing in services like Cloudflare, which can limit excessive traffic directed at a network or server during an attack and ensure your business remains online. You can also purchase cyber insurance to secure personal information and pixel data.

In today’s episode of What The Teck?, Rolando Rosas speaks with Kaila Uli, the Founder of Puffie Slippers, about how she navigated a cyber attack and rebuilt her online presence. Kaila also talks about generating sales from viral content, how to acquire capital for a new business venture, and firsthand insights into multilevel marketing schemes.

Steven Schneider is the Co-founder and CEO of TrioSEO, which helps SaaS and B2B brands create content that generates high-intent organic traffic. Before TrioSEO, he co-owned a portfolio of 40 blogs, managed 400 articles monthly, and helped scale a collection of brands by 500% to seven figures in three years.

In a digital world overflowing with content, how can businesses ensure they stand out and capture audience attention? With nearly 95% of online content receiving no clicks, it’s not enough to create content arbitrarily. What strategies can marketers employ to improve their visibility and engage their target audience?

Rather than trying to fit as many keywords as possible into one piece of content, SEO master Steven Schneider suggests conducting in-depth keyword and customer research to develop a central topic. This allows you to create high-intent, ROI-focused content to achieve brand goals. Additionally, building backlinks is an evergreen SEO strategy that can boost you to the first page of search results by generating credibility and authority.

Welcome back to What The Teck? as Rolando Rosas and Dave Kelly invite Steven Schneider, the Co-founder and CEO of TrioSEO, to discuss SEO strategies for e-commerce brands. Steven talks about maintaining caution when employing AI for content generation, how Amazon has gained trust in the marketplace, and how to build customer trust.