Tea with Rich. Getting Real.

Back from our Summer break, Rich hand I invite a close personal friend, Scott Stephens, to the Podcast. While currently an executive at Rate.com, his career spans a stint at the first SPAM agency (90’s), and as the former COO of Playboy (2000’s), leading their first foray into digital transformation.In this conversation, we are completely unprofessional for most of the episode, with fits of seriousness as we talk about his role at Rate, and their goal of becoming a beacon for financial and health education. Before that however, we discuss his injuries from Pickleball, including knowing himself out and putting his head through a wall to win a point.We also go deep into micro-dosing, our culinary adventures, sharing humorous anecdotes about a potential cooking challenge built around Penne Alla Vodka. They also explore the intersection of food and romance, recounting how cooking has played a significant role in their relationships. The discussion takes a turn towards the professional realm as they reflect on Scott's extensive career at Playboy and the impact of the digital revolution on the brand. The episode is filled with laughter, camaraderie, a shared passion for food, and a good deal of ribbing.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates02:13 Celebrating Rich's Book Launch05:16 Pickleball injuries06:58 The Infamous Tattoo Story 10:16 Micro-dosing and Mental Health13:04 Transitioning to Fintech at Rate.com16:00 Financial Literacy and Youth Education21:41 Understanding Financial Literacy and Cash Flow24:12 The Mortgage Market and Its Complexities25:52 Real Estate vs. Stock Market: A Long-Term Perspective29:41 The Emotional Value of Home Ownership31:10 Generational Wealth and Family Assets32:26 Creating Memories vs. Financial Investments35:26 Culinary Adventures and Personal Connections42:50 Tattoo Memories and Culinary Adventures45:13 Cooking Techniques and Personal Recipes47:45 Food and Romance: A Culinary Love Story51:27 The Playboy Experience: Insights and Anecdotes55:44 The Evolution of Online Content and Business StrategiesPeace. -t...

In this engaging conversation, Marko Bon shares his journey from the early days of e-commerce as a brand-side creative leader through to his transition to a leadership role in the agency world. He discusses the impact of fatherhood on his personal growth, the importance of information architecture in design, and the challenges of transitioning from brand side to agency life.  The discussion also delves into the role of data in design, the evolution of his roles at Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Theory and all the spaces in-between, and the complexities of navigating being looked at as more than a designer. We then move into the founding of Tomorrow, a Shopify Agency, now known as Domaine, taking Private Equity, merging with their number one competitor, and the challenges that come with leadership in a diverse and rapidly growing practice.   Chapters00:00 - Fatherhood Reflections: The Joys and Challenges05:07 - Home Renovation: Crafting a Mid-Century Masterpiece07:42 - Diving into Information Architecture: A Designer's Path10:22 - The Role of Data in Design: A Turning Point13:15 - Brand Side vs. Agency Side: Navigating the Landscape18:50 - The Evolution of Retail: Challenges and Opportunities25:01 - The Shift from Design to Leadership27:35 - Finding Creative Outlets Beyond Design28:59 - The Art of Storytelling in Presentations31:10 - The Importance of Team Dynamics34:11 - The Birth of the Tomorrow Agency36:18 - From Product Concept to Agency Model39:38 - Building a Successful Agency41:36 - Leveraging Brand Experience in Agency Work44:41 - Navigating the Private Equity Landscape57:34 - Navigating Strategic Partnerships01:00 - The Evolution of Leadership01:03 - Cultivating Company Culture in a Remote World01:04 - Transitioning from Expert to Manager01:11 - Generational Perspectives in LeadershipPeace. -t...

In this week’s episode of Tea with Rich, we are joined by Kim Georgeton, the CEO of Cloudality, where she shares her extensive career journey from her early days at Amazon to her leadership role at Cloudality. A few fun facts here on Kim, I think…(a) Kim was Amazon employee number 270-something, ish. Shhhh. I’m writing from memory. The facts are within the cast.(b) Kim was brought in to Amazon to pilot their first 150 SKU’s of gifting ideas, or non-books as I like to say. You know, to see if people would buy something other than reading materials. I think we all know how that turned out.(c) Faced with a possible layoff of 30+ people that reported into her, in a prior leadership role, she successfully negotiated a role for herself AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, at a new company, despite having other offers that would of benefited her more personally.As a new CEO, I’ve had a front row seat to her exceptional thought process and leadership style. She’s definitely one to watch. Her style is both direct and collaborative, backed by an Advisory Group that is a who’s who of professional services success.Chapters00:00 - Personal Reflections on Family and Mother’s Day03:21 - Early Days of E-commerce and Amazon's Growth04:51 - Transitioning to Trade Global and Digital Marketing07:57 - Leadership Dynamics and Business Evolution11:17 - Career Transitions and Team Loyalty16:21 - Leadership and Team Protection19:31 - Navigating CEO Challenges28:51 - Mentorship and Personal Inspiration32:56 - Who Inspires You34:53 - Leadership Lessons and Realizations39:26 - The Emotional Burden of Leadership48:51 - Navigating Capital and Growth Strategies58:59 - Starting an Advisory Board Early in the ProcessPeace. -t...

On this weeks episode of Tea with Rich we welcome Ethan Zohn to the Podcast. Ethan is the winner of Survivor Africa, founder of Grassroots Soccer, a 2-time Cancer survivor, and motivational speaker. We cover his personal and professional journey, including how we met, his role in public speaking, overcoming adversity, and key moments that forever changed his life. We of course share insights from Ethan's experience as a Survivor winner and repeat contestant, his work with Grassroots Soccer, the emotional aspects of public speaking, and the evolution of reality TV. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling and connection in both personal and professional contexts. Ethan discusses his journey leading up to and getting on Survivor, the importance of using fame for good, and the challenges faced during and after the show. We of course get personal, and share stories related to our travel adventures, the challenges of managing relationships and expectations, overcoming adversity and the lessons learned from difficult experiences. We end with a few questions from Ethan around how Rich and I handle the idea of competition and building long-lasting alliances. Chapters00:00 - Introductions03:00 - Friendship and Networking in the Industry06:02 - Survivor Experience and Public Speaking09:02 - Overcoming Adversity and Sharing Stories11:58 - Emotional Aspects of Public Speaking15:10 - The Evolution of Survivor17:55 -  From Professional Soccer to Survivor Contestant25:07 - The Tryout Process for Survivor29:14 - Grassroots Soccer and Making a Difference35:08 - Health Challenges and Survivor's Impact39:14 - Future Reality Shows and Personal Reflections48:56 - Life Milestones, Family Connections and Safari Goals54:55 - Surprise Vacations and Planning56:49 - Food Obsessions and Weight Management01:01 - Overcoming Adversity and Life Lessons01:04 - Charity Events and Personal Connections01:13 - Competitive Spirit and Game Dynamics01:14 - The Impact of Cancer Research01:17 - Leadership Retreats and Team Building01:20 - Business and Survivor: Relationships Matter01:29 - Business and Survivor: Creating AlliancesPeace. -t...

On this weeks drop of Tea with Rich we welcome Erik Huberman of Hawke Media to the Podcast, where we cover everything from personal updates to politics, origin stories, and the future of agencies. Erik and the Hawke team continue to execute on an impressive acquisition strategy, so we delve into the importance of maintaining a positive company culture, his vision for the future of the agency - emphasizing growth and innovation, and looking for and grooming future leaders.On the personal side Erik touches on the influences from his family that shaped his personal and professional growth, emphasizing the significance of mentorship and the lessons learned along the way, and his own journey of entrepreneurship prior to Hawke.Chapters:00:00 - Introductions, the Fallout from the LA Fires, and Catching Up03:13 - Health and Wellness Journey06:04 - Leadership and Business Growth09:01 - Navigating Political and Economic Challenges11:53 - Acquisition Strategy and Integration15:09 - Vision for the Future27:48 - Navigating Business Decisions and Market Changes31:44 - Balancing Family Life and Entrepreneurship37:10 - Raising Kids with Intentionality40:43 - Lessons from Parenting and Personal Growth48:01 - Influences from Family and Personal Development55:04 - Mentorship and Professional Growth56:53 - Building Relationships and Early Success58:46 - Starting Over: Lessons from the Past01:00 - Navigating the AI Landscape01:02 - The Future of Agencies and Innovation01:05 - Intent and Excellence in Business01:10 - The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs01:13 - Reflections on Selling a BusinessYou can find Erik on all the usual channels folks - LinkedIn, IG, the family of Hawke companies. He's one to watch.Peace. -t… 

This weeks episode of Tea with Rich features Brian Walker, whom shares his extensive career in the commerce tech space, discussing current ventures, including his podcast 'Cocktails and Commerce'. Our dialog delves into the evolution of the commerce industry, the MACH Alliance, and the future trends in commerce and technology, including order orchestration (possibly) about to take center stage, and the continued rise of (actual) composable. We also chatted up the importance of a proper strategy and strong leadership in navigating the current wave of “what’s next in commerce”. Toward the back-half of this episode we discuss the importance of integrating customer experience, the role of AI, and the challenges of building effective partnerships. We or course, also, get into a dialogue that touches on personal experiences, including balancing career and family life, and providing a holistic view of the commerce industry, maybe, today.Chapters, ish...00:00 - Introduction and Shooting the Sh!t06:29 - Brian's Career Journey and Current Venture16:30 - Reflections on the Commerce Industry27:56 - Insights from Brian's Experiences37:58 - The Impact of COVID on Digital Investments45:28 - The Rise of Shopify and Market Dynamics49:34 - Future Trends in Commerce Technology59:26 - Debating Composability and Headless Commerce01:01 - The Shiny New Toy Syndrome01:04 - Navigating Composability in Commerce01:07 - The Evolution of Commerce Technology01:13 - The Integrated Commerce Experience01:15 - Balancing Career, Fatherhood and Emotional Growth01:25 - Lessons from our Grandparents01:28 - Advice for Tech Leaders on Partnerships01:40 - Building Successful PartnershipsPeace. -t...

In this weeks episode of Tea with Rich, we chat it up with Emily Heintz, founder of Sechey, a pioneer in the non-alcoholic movement.We discuss the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, our personal journeys with alcohol, and the importance of wellness.Moving on from there, we explore the challenges and successes of running a business in this emerging market, I learn some new words, and their significance, like adaptogens, and the impact on personal relationships with alcohol on health and socialization. This conversation highlights the importance of community, self-care, and the lessons learned in entrepreneurship.Chapters00:00 - Introductions02:05 - Secheys Growth and the Non-Alcoholic Movement04:26 - Understanding Functional Beverages06:41 - Rich's Relationship with Alcohol in his 20's09:54 - The Last Time Rich Drank16:28 - Teas Relationship with Alcohol24:07 - Looking for that Drinking Feel Without Drinking26:56 - Emily's Journey and the Birth of Sechey28:57 - The Impact of COVID on Alcohol Consumption31:56 - Challenges in the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market35:10 - The Future of Non-Alcoholic Beverages40:24 - The Evolution of Retail and E-Commerce41:30 - Emily Talks on How all Roads Lead to This Moment45:53 - Wellness and Health Trends in Beverage Choices49:54 - The Importance of Sleep and Its Connection to Alcohol55:50 - Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey01:00 - Emotional Rollercoaster of Business01:03 - Emily Asks "What got you through the early days of grinding?"01:15 - Reflections on Growth and Future AspirationsPeace. -t...

This weeks episode hits on part two of our dialog with Erik Dodier, where he continues to reflect on his first 90 days of retirement, and we get into some deep topics related to the intermingling of our personal and professional journeys. This weeks conversations touch upon topics like: The need for adaptability in business and personal lifeThe significance of focusing on what you love to build a fulfilling lifeReflecting on their journey of building a legacy through their workThe importance of recognizing patterns in business and life to make informed decisionsRich shares his experience of feeling overwhelmed during his transition from leadershipThe value of mentorship and supporting younger leaders.The need to design your life around your passions and interestsWe, of course, continue to shoot the sh!t a bit too, per usual.Peace. -t...

On this episode Erik Dodier updates us on life 90-days into his retirement from PixelMEDIA/RafterOne, and we explore Erik's transition from a structured work life to a more flexible yet structured personal schedule, where he continues to focus on health, wellness, personal growth and what's next. The trio discusses hobbies, family time, and travel adventures, while also reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that come with retirement.  Erik emphasizes the importance of staying engaged and finding new ways to contribute to the community, including potential teaching opportunities and personal projects. Peace. -t

In this episode we welcome Harvey to the pulpit, where we discuss the evolution of the e-commerce landscape, particularly focusing on some deep Demandware history and stories, and the emergence of (and move to support) Shopify in the Enterprise space. With a combined 60+ years of eCommerce experience between the three of us, there's no shortage of stories. We reflect on our experiences in the industry, the impact of the post-COVID slowdown on agencies, and the importance of customer-centricity and trust in leadership. Harvey shares insights from his journey transitioning from brand-side roles to agency leadership, emphasizing the need for empathy and understanding in the agency-client relationship. The conversation also touches on cultural shifts within organizations and the future of partnerships in the e-commerce space. In this conversation, we delve into various themes surrounding networking, business relationships, and personal growth. We reflect on our experiences in B2B and D2C commerce, the impact of loss on their lives, and the importance of community. The discussion also touches on career journeys, unexpected paths, and future aspirations, culminating in a rich dialogue about lessons learned and the significance of relationships in both personal and professional contexts. We'll skip the Chapter listing here as we whipsawed through dozens of topics and reflections on our paths. About Harvey: Find him on on LinkedIn folks. His history is to rich to summarize, and too amazing for me to simplify into a few choice sentences. He's a true OG in the total-commerce landscape. Peace. -t

In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome Dylan Runne to share his journey from starting a Business Analyst (ish) at Sapient and Accenture to founding Fenom Digital and eventually selling it to WPP. He discusses the challenges and successes he faced in the commerce industry, his transition into venture capital with Bambu Ventures, and his current role as CEO of Billfold. Dylan also opens up about his personal passions, including powerboat racing and cooking, and emphasizes the importance of health and wellness in maintaining a successful career. In this engaging conversation, the speakers delve into the profound impact of leadership presence on team dynamics, the importance of networking and relationship building in business (even at those late late events), and the critical role of mentorship in personal growth. They share personal anecdotes about their experiences in leadership roles, the lessons learned from mistakes, and the significance of being aware and empathetic in professional settings. The discussion emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with capable individuals and the necessity of being real and authentic in interactions, especially in the age of social media. Chapters 00:00 - Introductions02:35 -  The Decision to Start an Agency08:45 - Landing That First Major Client09:49 - The Birth of Fenom Digital11:56 - Sometimes You Have to Live On-site 13:06 - When Global Agencies Doubled Down on Commerce17:39 - New Beginnings in Venture Capital and Investing21:02 - Being The New Guy In a New Venture25:17 - Innovations in Customer Engagement with BambuMeta30:50 - Staying in Shape with Personal Passions36:56 - Knowing When to Slow Down and Reset45:20 - Late Nights as Strategic Networking for High Performers 49:57 - Controlled Chaos at 200MPH52:19 - Advice for New Entrepreneurs: Surround Yourself with Talent54:36 - Advice for that Next Big Talent Looking for a Break59:58 - Get Someone to Believe in You and Start Saying Yes01:06 - Rich on the Reason He Started Teaching and Mentoring01:11 - Paying it Forward and Always Being There for Others01:13 - Closing Comments and Some Shooting the Sh!t About Dylan Runne: Dylan is the Founder and former CEO of Fenom Digital, an agency focused on creating and managing enterprise class Commerce sites on the Demandware platform, also formerly known as Salesforce Commerce Cloud.  Fenom Digital was purchased by WPP in 2023, where Dylan eventually took over all North American Commerce operations for their VML group. Dylan also founded Fenom Ventures, a privately held investment group, and is currently a general partner at BambuVentures, an investor and board member at BambuMeta, and the acting CEO at Billfold, a POS company based in Brooklyn, NY. Prior to this he was just a regular dude with a dream to be an entrepreneur, with stints at MediaHive and Accenture as a Solution Strategist, and a BA at Sapient Razorfish. Ish. You can find him on LinkedIn of course. For the full CV. Peace. -t ...

Welcome to Episode 1, where we try for the 5th time to create our first podcast, and we're literally just shooting the breeze, getting through a few incidentals on our backgrounds, and answering questions from each other, and our LinkedIn friends. We're getting real, and sharing stories from the trenches. Today we answer questions around how we met, disasters from our past, our experiences going through M&A, and a bit of perspective on our leadership styles and experiences, and our perspective on the work-life balance riddle. Rich Lyons is an ecommerce legend, and former agency owner, whom exited his agency after guiding his teams through a successful acquisition. Thomas Obrey, is also a former agency owner, and active practitioner in the ecommerce space, whom also exited his agency after it's acquisition in 2022. Together. We're quite the odd couple. That's something. -t

In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome Erik Dodier, my business partner of 3 decades, who is two days from his retirement after 30 years at the helm of PixelMEDIA (aka RafterOne).  This episode is a doozy, as I surprise Rich with our guest, and we get into a number of way way back stories about Erik and I as collaborators, business partners, and learning to trust and work with each other. We start, ish, with a discussion on Erik's upcoming transition from an ultra-structured work-life to the unknowns of retirement, and he shares some his early thoughts on how he may spend his first few weeks and months, and the emotional challenges of stepping away from a long career. The group of us reflect on our personal experiences with retirement, and the anxiety that can accompany significant life changes. We then, sort of, let Rich take over the Podcast, and ask questions of Erik and I around our personal and working relationship together over three decades, how we got through the hard times, and our thoughts on culture. Erik Dodier and Rich Lyons reflect on how they met, their journey together in the business world, and the importance of building relationships. We then dive into the dynamics of our partnership, Erik and I, and the magic that was Pixel. We share insights on overcoming challenges, the evolution of company culture, and personal growth, including the significance of tattoos as a form of self-expression. The discussion continues with an emphasis on the value of trust, communication, and the realities of entrepreneurship, providing listeners with a candid look at our experiences and lessons learned over the years. Chapters 00:00 - Introductions and Shooting the Sh!t 01:38 - Erik on “Stepping Away" and Transition Plans 04:21 - Potential Hobbies Post-Retirement 09:55 - Eriks Health Gadgets and Wellness Routines 11:09 - After 30 years of work - How do you Make the Transition Out 20:35 - Erik's Discusses his Background and Decision to Step Away from Pixel/RafterOne 31:37 - Navigating Life After Retirement 34:52 - Erik Recalls the First Time He Met Rich Lyons 36:25 - Erik Talks About the Art of Transitioning Clients Between the Two of Us 38:00 - Erik on the First Time TJ/Thomas Swore in Front of Clients 40:27 - The Hidden Magic of Being 50-50 Partners from the Start 43:08 - The Dynamics of Friendship and Business 47:30 - (Q) How Did You Guys Get Through the Hard Times? 54:52 - Perspectives on the Evolution of Company Culture 01:00 - Erik's Talks About His Desire for a Tattoo. Maybe. 01:02 - We Are Constantly Evolving and Maturing. Embrace it. 01:06 - Erik Summarizes His 30 Years in the Entrepreneurial Arc. 01:09 - Closing comments. Peace. -t ...

In this episode we welcome Mallory Rosen, a long-time friend we met through our Strategic Alliance and Partnership collaborations. After a good deal of opening banter, our conversation explores themes of partnerships, self-advocacy, and the balance between work and family life. Mallory discusses her experiences with chronic illness, the importance of mental health, and how her career in partnerships has shaped her perspective on business and relationships. This episode emphasizes the value of good partnerships and the need for open communication in both personal and professional settings. We each provide a perspectives on the critical role of partnerships in business, emphasizing the importance of communication, enablement, and building trust. During the Q&A dialogs, Rich and I share personal stories and reflections on our careers, highlighting life lessons and mantras that guide us. The discussion also touches on the challenges of navigating the always pesky work-life balance, especially for working parents, and concludes with book recommendations that have influenced our perspectives. Chapters 00:00 - Opening Chit-chat and personal anecdotes 01:57 - Babies. Time shifts. Travel packing. And Crosswords. 07:54 - Mallory Shares Her Story 13:05 - Transitioning to Partnerships and Consulting 17:57 - The Importance of Relationships and Trust 20:58 - Finding Downtime and Recharging as a Working Mom 26:48 - Supporting Each Other and Building Strong Partnerships, at Work and at Home 29:11 - Mallory on "I'm only allowed to be messy in my closet." 33:11 - Sidebar - The Great Underwear and Socks Debate 34:14 - Cleanliness Habits and Relationship Compatibility 38:25 - The Importance of Partnerships and Alliances 42:31 - The Three Legs of a Great Partnership Program 46:58 - The Critical Role of Partner Enablement Q&A Time. Mallory Gets to Probe Rich and Tea 52:47 - What is a Job You Did That is Not on Your Resume 01:02 - What are Some of Your Personal Mantra's 01:14 - Pivoting from Career-focused to a Mom with a Job 01:19 - Making Your Relationship as Parents, Priority #1 01:23 - Final question. What's One Book you Should Read? 01:26 - Closing Comments A bit about Mallory.. Mallory Rosen, Director of Strategic Alliances, Hero Digital Mallory is focused on the company's Salesforce Alliance and GTM Strategy. With a diverse background on the Client, ISV Partner, GSI and Growth Consulting Partner sides of business, Mallory brings a diverse lense to her thinking, collaboration, and overall partnership management approach. Mallory prides herself on being a trusting, loyal and appassional collector of good people, with a track record of success in strategic partnerships. Her number one job is being a mom, a wife and a friend. You can find her on LinkedIn obvs... Peace. -t ...

In this episode we welcome back Rob Garf, and get into questions from Rob that we each send time pondering. Like, how we view our purpose in life, and how we stay motivated to succeed. We start with the usual - shooting the shit, including Rich’s Iceland trip, Tea getting bored on sabbatical, and Rob discussing his dream to live on the Cape. I open up about having never visited the Cape, despite spending may entire life an hour away.  We then shift the more serious topic of our purpose and how to stay motivated after achieving ‘success’.  Thomas expresses his desire to be one less worry in peoples day, while Rich talks about the importance of maximizing potential and serving others.  We also discuss the idea of living well and making a positive impact on others. Tea reflects on his current state of zen and contemplates next steps in terms of where to apply his energy to make a difference. Rob Garf reflects on the importance of work-life balance and being present in all aspects of life, and we spin up a dialog on the myth of what balance really is. Rob shares a story about meeting the founder of Life is Good for a mentoring moment, and learning about prioritizing family, friends, work, and charity. Rich and Thomas answer a question from Rob on pivotal moments in our careers - where we discuss key turning points with Demandware, and growing through the experience. Chapters 00:00 - Catching Up and Rich’s Iceland Excursion 05:29 - Signs That I Might be Getting Bored 06:25 - Check-in with Rob Garf, and his Dream To Live on the Cape 07:28 - Rob's Discusses "No Airplane August" 08:55 - Rob Educates Tea on What “The Cape" 12:16 - The Boys Pressuring me to go do Dreamforce 16:16 - Storytime. The Nudist Chased by a Homeless Guy with a Blowtorch in San Francisco 17:32 - Q&A Time - Rob Asks How We View and Define Our Purpose, and Plans for the Future 20:54 - Rich on Purpose, Staying Motivate, Serving Others and Paying It Forward 28:00 - Sidebar - The “I don't know how much time I have left” topic 29:39 - Living Long vs. Living Well 30:48 - Tea Rambles on How He Views His Purpose and Staying Motivated 37:20 - Contemplating Next Steps, and Focusing on Helping Non-profits 43:08 - Using LinkedIn for good, and why we publish there. 44:28 - Rob on Contemplating His Own Values, and Serving Others 47:11 -  Mentorship and Work-Life Balance 52:20 - Q&A - Rob Asks About Key Inflection Points to Success That Stand Out 55:27 - Tea Tells a Series of Early DWRE Days Inflection Point Stories 01:02 - Rich Tells a Few Amazing Inflection Point Stories 01:08 - Rich on early PAB's and a proper Partner and Customer Success Program 01:11 - Closing out and a bit (more) of shooting the shit Peace. -t ---

In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome guest Rob Garf, a retail and digital insights legend. This is part one of a two part dialog, and is 100% focus on Rob, his history in commerce, and his current role at Salesforce.  Rob is currently the VP & GM of Retail and Consumer Goods at Salesforce. We begin with the usual shooting the shit, and then move into the more serious topics where Rob shares his background in retail and digital, starting from collaborating with his dad, his early digital days at LIDS (1999, ish) and as an analyst at AMR Research and IBM. Rob also talks about his journey at Demandware (2011) and the challenges they faced before becoming a successful company. The conversation drifts between personal and professional quite a bit, and wraps-up with a discussion about the first we met and plans to record a Part 2 of with Rob.  The conversation between Rich Lyons, Rob Garf, and Thomas covers various topics, including their experiences with different platforms and services, the importance of building trust and relationships in business, the balance between work and personal life, and the significance of community and authenticity.  We also touch on the creation of the Garfie and the phenomenon it has become, and the impact of finding your purpose in life. The conversation is filled with personal anecdotes, insights, and a sense of camaraderie. We end with a promise to shoot a Part 2, soon, and give Rob a chance to ask questions of Rich and Tea. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Welcoming the Guest 09:02 - Rich gets food poisoning at Taylor Swift in Paris 09:50 - Rob Garf Introduces Himself 10:23 - Rob's Background in Retail and Technology 18:02 - How Rob and Tea Met 19:59 - Rob swears for the first time, I'm pretty sure... 20:34 - How Rich and Rob Met 24:01 - Rob on his current role at Salesforce - GM for Retail and Consumer Goods 25:43 - Rob on Industry Insights and Building Trust and Relationships 27:56 - Rob talks about a proud parenting and travel moment 33:36 - Rob explains the Garfie, and finding his persona online 40:06 - Closing chatter and PSA - there will be another Garfie episode Peace. -t ---

In this episode of Tea with Rich, we are joined by Frank De Maria, the Vice President of Digital Engineering and Platforms at Miller Knoll. Frank is a brand-side legend, and one of the most experienced, kind, and bright leaders in the technology and e-commerce field.  We of course being by - you know it - shooting the shit and catching up before Frank shares his story and background in the industry, where he started as a developer and eventually moved into a number of senior leadership roles. Frank touches on the importance of having in-house expertise and control over his technology stack, as well as the challenges of standardizing design systems across multiple brands.  We then get into a dialog on the role of a leader (e.g. blocker and tackle for your team), the most productive hours of our days, and the constant challenge of balancing work and family, with an emphasis on the the importance of loyalty, hard work, and building strong relationships.  We get into a some gnarly questions (see Chapters below), including franks perspective on maturing the tech stack, how we deal with failure and what’s next for me (Tea) - which is a challenge to answer so I basically ramble on the reality of my head space right now, how we handle failure, and what we do to reset/recharge - and how we manage the short, mid and long resets. We end with Franks final question for us - our perspective on the state of the Digital Agency/SI (and ISV) industry and the what opportunities might lie ahead for them. Chapters 00:00 - Welcome and Shooting the Sh!t 07:00 - The time Tea tried to steal Frank from Rich’s 08:00 - Frank De Maria Introduction 09:16 - Rich and Franks first meeting - 25 brands launched in a year 11:41 - Frank on how his journey started with late 90’s web production work 16:29 - Frank tells the story of meeting Tea (aka TJ, Thomas, etc.) 20:03 - That one time Tea talked Rich out of a Vegas Tattoo 23:37 - Frank talks about his team at Miller-Knoll, and Experience Design Collaboration 30:09 - A day in the life of Frank 32:17 - Open dialog - our thoughts on the most productive hours of the day 33:31 -(Q) Tea asks Franks advice for the next generation of leaders in our space? 35:00 - Imposter syndrome, just wanting to do a good job, having an impact and helping others 40:38 - (Q) Teas asks Franks perspective on tech stack maturation (e.g. moving toward composable) 47:40 - Commercial break, ish - Rich and Tea talk about their Herman Miller chairs 51:05 - Rich and Frank talk the importance of strong relationships 54:14 - The sacrifices we have made to be successful - and the urban myth of balance 57:02 - (Q) Frank asks Rich about ‘the late 90's bankruptcy story’ 01:06 - (Q) Frank asks Tea - what's next for you? Everyone wants to know. 01:10 - Everyones superpower should be networking (and the power of making introductions) 01:14 - (Q) Frank asks us how we reset and recharge, and how we handle failure at this stage of our careers? 01:15 - Tea goes first and answers the reset and failure-handling questions  01:21 - How Rich resets, and deals with failure 01:30 - The BEST way to disarm a leader when you need help... 01:32 - (Q) Frank asks us what we think about the current state of the Agency industry About Frank Frank is the Vice President of Digital Engineering and Platforms at MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN, https://www.millerknoll.com/) supporting its collective of dynamic brands. In this role, Frank oversees the technologies responsible for driving the global digital and retail business, including systems such as ERP, WMS, POS, OMS, CRM, and various web, commerce, content, marketing, and integration technologies supporting both B2B and B2C businesses. Prior to joining MillerKnoll, Frank spent over sixteen years in progressively more senior technical roles at consumer goods giants Newell Brands (NASDAQ:NWL) and Jarden Corporation (NYSE:JAH) transitioning from hands-on engineering roles and into leadership roles. Peace. -t ---

In this not-so-short Rich and I catch up on our recent activities, including my evolving golf game. Rich decides to inject a PSA slash commercial break on skincare, where we comically get into our routines, including beard and hair. Us talking about skincare is probably worth the listen, as I butcher a few words and make up some news ones. We then get into a dialog around our recent trips, like Rich in Paris, Ireland and Malta, and my recent trip to Stagecoach and The Robb Report Culinary Masters event in Cali, where our team won the cooking completion under the tutelage of Chef Jamal James Kent, a Michelin starred legend, whom sadly passed away unexpectedly the day before Fathers Day. This. Like most of our shorts. Is Rich and I just shooting the shit and catching up with each other, talking past guests, and a bit on our industry, a few of my recent LinkedIn posts, and our love of the SFCC platform. We end the freestyle session with me admitting I joined a proper Country Club. Like. Super proper.  We then get into our favorite part of these gatherings. Random questions for each other. If you only listen to a small part of the show, head down to the 29th minute - where Rich and I get real with each other. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Catching Up 01:02 - Commercial Break. Sunscreen. PCP's and Skincare freestyle. 03:15 - More Skincare chatter. BBL. Moxy. And Cryofacials.  08:05 - Forehead real estate. And Beard care. 11:50 - We will not be talking about my doctors appt. 13:50 - Taylor Swift and Jelly Roll // aka vacation updates. 16:13 - Tea talks about his trip to the Robb Report Culinary Masters Event 21:50 - Music Festivals and Appreciating Performances 24:28 - The Impact (good and bad) of recent Social Media Posts 29:02 - (Q) What's one thing you wish people would stop doing? 34:36 - (Q) What's one of your worst fears? 41:30 - The burden and gift of accountability - to our Customers and our Staff  45:06 - The Power and Responsibility of Entrepreneurship Peace. -t ...

On this episode we talk with long-time friend Adam Grohs. A man with as much if not more experience in the  eCommerce and Agency lead space than Rich and I. Adam is also the cofounder of agnoStack, which provides seamless, commerce-platform agnostic, customer support for orders across all channels. Today. We get deep, quick, on a number of topics related to commerce and tech, and of course the the occasional question for Rich and I, and some drift topics that creep in - like how Rich manages his email - and Adam and I don’t.  With Adam having 20+ years in the Agency space, specifically leading and managing Commerce engagements, we jump into the deep end to discuss his take on some of the confusion surrounding headless and composable commerce, and the potential for a new platform in the market. Including a dialog around the commoditization of commerce and the need for agencies to provide valuable services on top of the “new basics” and foundational tools. We hit the platforms, mentioning Magento, Shop, BigCommerce, Salesforce, etc. - and Adams appreciation for how Commerce Tools has approached things. We also touch on some of the true newcomers, like Vue, and some of the more modern architectural approaches and needs for the emerging brand, while also waxing poetic on the challenge for the Enterprise to pick-up new school ideas and tools before their moment passes. We then dig a bit deeper, and discuss the importance of creating differentiated experiences and focusing on post-purchase customer support and loyalty (a relatively new and uncharted area IMO), and go as far as highlighting the need for modernizing organizational structures and strategies to adapt to the changing landscape.  After a LOT of that talk Adam gets to probe Rich and I a bit, and we share our personal experiences and some regrets as young leaders, highlighting the importance of accountability, empathy, and wanting everyone to succeed in our businesses. This leads to a dialog about our friendship and the camaraderie within the industry.  Bottom line, we go deep on tech and the challenges and misconceptions, while also making some predictions of our own on how the Agency of the future can flourish in this new world of service opportunities. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Background 02:18 - Fathers Day and College Orientation Updates 06:02 - Tea’s Birthday in Miami Adam 07:38 - Adam Grohs Introduces Himself 14:51 - How Adam and Rich Met 17:11 - Adam on (re)Becoming a Developer and Entrepreneur. 19:14 - Adam on being Commerce vs. Digital focused. 20:36 - Exploring Buzzword Bingo and Commerce Industry Confusion 23:50 - Adam on the Shift to Serverless and Microservices Architectures 28:02 - The Need for New Platforms in the Commerce Space 31:50 - The Real Shift in Customer Touchpoints 33:24 - Has Commerce Been Commoditized? 41:07 - Has Tech Become Overly Romanced? 43:18 - What is the New Battleground? 45:00 - Post-Purchase Experiences and Loyalty 49:04 - The Ability to Drop in Anywhere Along the Experience Chain 53:05 - Adam on Being Humbled by Modern Tech and New Experiences 53:34  - The Need to Modernize Organizational Structures 55:03 - Macro trends and Generational Preferences on an Experience or Brand 58:45 - The Opportunities Within the Commoditization of Technology Adam Gets to Ask Some Questions 01:02 - (Q) What Are Your Essential Day-to-Day Tools That You Wish Existed When You Were Starting Out?  01:06 - Drift Topic - We give Rich Anxiety as we Talk Email Management and our 50K+ Unread Inboxes  01:12 - (Q) What Are Some of Your Regrets and Lessons Learned Looking Back, That You Would of Done Differently With What You Know Now?  01:20 - Adam Expresses Appreciation for how Rich and Tea Operated  1:25 - The Power of Friendship, The Idea of Working Together, and Closing Comments Peace. -t

In this half-episode, Rich and I get real with each other, slow things down a bit, and just shoot the shit. We cover topics like my evolving golf game (in the cold), some of our favorite wins as agency leads, and our favorite movies (we have zero in common). Rich talks about a recent speaking engagement on best practices for selling and the importance of knowing your customer. I reflect on the importance of celebrating milestones in business and we both share a 'favorite project' win.  We drift off into the challenges of working with RFP's, poor expectations, and outside creative collabs. I ask Rich about his favorite movies (one of his picks is Warrior). We wrap up with a chat on the importance of living well, staying functionally healthy as we age and our goals to live to 100. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction and Golfing in Cold Weather 06:30 - If you could relive one biz moment - what would it be, and why? 13:30 - Moments, looking back. I wish we celebrated more often 15:28 ish - Rarely shared facts about responding to RFP’s, and deciding who not to work with 19:36 - Favorite movies 27:32 - Aspiring to Live to 100 31:53 - Reading to my kids - shutdown 32:51 - The Importance of Exercise and being Health focused Peace. -t