Leadership Portfolio Executive Leadership

During the first month of my Master degree journey in Executive Leadership class, we discussed building character and becoming influential to others while being an excellent boss. We had the pleasure of reading two books based on character development and power. The leadership exercise we had for this month dealt with a self-assessment and reflection paper. We took a leadership skill assessment and had to select three traits we felt needed improvement and what three traits in which we felt we were highly effective. The choices we had to select from were: Influence, Priorities, Integrity, Creating Positive Change, Problem Solving, Attitude, People, Vision, Self-discipline, and Staff Development. The categories were all good, and like every human I am not perfect and I can use improvement in every area.

The three selected traits for Need Improvement are: Attitude, Vision, and Staff Development.

The three selected traits for Highly Effective are: Influence, Integrity, and Creating Positive Change.

This self-assessment helped me realize what traits I needed to work on to become a better me, and also become a successful leader. The first trait selected is attitude (I maintain a positive attitude, even in the face of adversity). Throughout the year I paid close attention to my attitude, and took note of events that changed my attitude to a negative emotion. The things that would get me upset I evaluated and learned how to cope without getting a bad attitude. Everyday I wake up with positive thoughts and a positive outlook for the day.

The second trait selected is vision (I have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish, both personally and professionally, and can clearly articulate that vision to others). I selected vision based on my ambiguity with my career outlook. I am passionate about becoming a mogul in the entertainment world. However, it was apart of me that want to become an attorney as well. I decided to pursue both, and what is for me is for me. Future attorney/non-profit owner/ television producer & host: D.

The third trait selected is Staff Development (I know how to create a winning team and to select the people I need to accomplish my objectives). I selected this trait because I didn't know how to select a winning team at first. Now I know a winning team must have the same traits and passion as the leader, and if not more passion. I paid close attention to people’s actions within the classroom and their work behavior. This helped me have a concise idea of creating a winning team. It's all about selecting the right people for the job. If we're doing a project about Social Networks and Sarah is good with Social Networking, she would be a key staff member to developing a winning team.

I learned a lot about myself and I plan on utilizing it for the rest of my life. I am still highly effective with my ability to influence, and will always keep integrity FIRST with the extra trait to create positive change within myself and others.

Leadership Portfolio Project and Team Management

Project and Team Management was the second month course during my journey to my masters. In this class we worked on team building skills, and due diligence. The leadership portfolio objective was to pick a non-profit organization and do an RFP. However, my team (SCAR) couldn’t find a non-profit willing to participate in the time frame so our professor provided us with a fictional company to do the RFP.  Our group did an RFP for WXYZ radio station. WXYZ needed to raise more money with community involvement. We decided to plan a Valentines Day auction with the San Diego Chargers and the San Diego Padres.  The event had to be strategically planned with deliverables to accomplish by a certain date. I provided the management section in which I was responsible for during the team project below. I learned with this project everyone must work together and be on the same page to accomplish activities. Every person on the team contributes to a significant task on the project and is very important. I also learned with correct planning and timing a glorious event can be implemented almost effortless.

In order to help WXYZ raise money SCAR is putting together a fun memorable event. The plan is to have a Celebrity Valentines Date Auction with participating members of the San Diego Padres and the San Diego Chargers both players and cheerleaders. The location will be at the San Diego Padres Stadium February 14^th, 2010 at six p.m prompt. First we’re inviting our guest to the first part of the night open bar with finger foods, music and the auction. The participants one by one will introduce themselves and give a brief bio, and the bids will begin at $50, the highest bidder will win the date.  The winners will be announced at the end of the auction and will meet their dates by the stage. After the auction takes place the winners and the participants will dine at the stadium for the valentine dinner catered by Waters Fine Catering and Coca Cola.

Project- Auction

Start Date: Jan 4^th 2010- Feb 4^th 2010

Time: 30 days

List of Activities: During Week 1(4^th through the 8th) members from Scar will meet with WXYZ to get the approval for the event and the potential participants as well as the location.

·      Contact Venue

San Diego Padres Stadium

·      Contact Participants(Celebs)(also sponsors)-Padre Players Attending

Tony Gwynn

             Chad Huffman

Adrian Gonzalez

David Eckstein

Oscar Salazar

Edward Mujica

Cesar Ramos

Chris young

San Diego Chargers

             Michael Bennett

David Binn

Kevin Burnett

Nate kaeding

Philip Rivers

Antonio Gates

LaDainian Tomilinson

Shawne Merriman

San Diego Charger Cheerleaders

Andrea

Nicole L.

Carly

Melanie

Belinda

Victoria

Tiffany

Tonya

Ashley

Brittany R

·      Contact Catering company

Food-  Waters Fine Catering

Drinks- Coca Cola & Anhueser  Busch

·      Contact all sponsors-

San Diego Padres and San Diego Padres.  Coca Cola

During week 2 (11^th through the 15^th) members from Scar will have the contracts signed with the location, participants and entertainers. At this point security will be established.

During week 3 (18^th through the 22nd^th) members from Scar will make travel arrangements for the participants for the event. Promotions for the event are ready. All equipment has been ordered. Also client will be updated on status quo of project.

During week 4 (25^th through the 29^th) members from Scar will finalize the travel arrangements and send the information about the event to participants.

During week 5 (25^th through 29^th as well as feb 1-14th) Scar inc will edit proposal correct any misfit and send proposal to client.

Sponsors- San Diego Chargers, San Diego Padres, Coke.

Leadership Portfolio Storytelling and Brand Developing

Business Storytelling and Brand Developing the third course in my studies provided us with resources to begin our brand, and also taught us how to successfully tell our story. The majority of our studies reflected companies and their mission, and what message(s) they have for the business. Our leadership portfolio was similar to that, and we had to compose a video telling a three-minute story about our turning point to Full Sail University. I learned how to summarize the important points of my journey with the intent to inspire another person to follow their dream.

Leadership Portfolio Business Finance

Finance class was a very informative class, and was held during my fourth month on the journey. In this class we learned all about business finance and things we need to know concerning business. We learned how to construct income statements and many other life long skills. The leadership portfolio assignment for this class was to venture out in the community and interview a banker or a stockbroker. In this interview we was advised to ask specific questions concerning day to day banking operations as well as many other financial tools the bank offer. I had the pleasure of interviewing Mrs. Shalonda Warren a banker at Wachovia bank. We were provided a few questions to ask during the interview and were free to add appropriate questions: Below are the questions asked and what I learned from the assignment:

v When did you first start working with the bank and how long?

v What were the requirements for your job? (Special education, licensing).

v What is the most important aspect of your job?

v What are your current interest rate fees for accounts such as checking, savings, and certificate of deposits?

v How does certificate deposits work?

v What are money market funds?

v As a potential lender what are the lending requirements? (Including Eligibility and qualification standards, Down payment, Collateral,

Current interest rates and terms, line of credit terms and conditions).

v What bank services do Wachovia offer? Deposit boxes, credit cards, credit monitoring service, estate planning.

v  Which is a better idea putting money into the bank or a credit union, and why? Why is Wachovia a better banking source?

v With inflation eroding a portion of our savings and investment dollars, be sure to ask the bank executive what savings vehicles, if any, are available that can help you outpace inflation.

Leadership Portfolio Negotiation and Deal Making

Negotiation and Deal Making was one of the most interesting and perhaps interactive classes. In this class we learned life long negotiation skills. We learned how to negotiate using skills and research about the product we’re trying to negotiate. It’s all about painting an appealing picture to the opponent. For my leadership portfolio I conducted a negotiation outside of class through my job sprint concerning a customers decision to upgrade or to make an insurance claim. In which it would be more favorable for the customer and me if he would upgrade. I learned that I am a good negotiator, but do have room for improvement. During my negotiations I tend to get emotional, but have to grasp the concept of separating the people from the problem. I also learned that mutual gain is the best way in a negotiation oppose to a one sided deal. Almost anything could be negotiated if researched. An addition I learned that I negotiate on a daily basis with everything I do in life. I start negotiating the night before the next morning deciding on what time I should wake up. The art of negotiation can take you a long way, after all a lot of times both parties are getting what they want. There are techniques that can be used to getting to the YES! Playing on peoples emotions, words, interests, wants, and needs is difficult. To succeed at being a good negotiator one must know their material, and listen carefully.

Leadership Portfolio Product and Artist Management

In month sixth I took a class on Product & Artist Management. In this class we discussed the managerial side of the business when it comes to a specific product on the market and of course the art of artist management. We had the option of doing an interview with an establish artist manager for our leadership portfolio. In the interview we were provided with questions to ask and the option to use our own. I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. Julie Wood the artist manager of an upcoming R & B artist Jazzy J. During this interview I learned that the job of an artist manager is never finished, and it’s a lot of work for both the artist and manager. 

Leadership Portfolio Advanced Entertainment Law

Advanced Entertainment Law is a very informative course I studied during my seventh month. In this class we discussed intellectual property as well as laws concerning the entertainment industry and how it works. The activities I enjoyed most were the case studies and the leadership portfolio in which we interviewed an Entertainment Lawyer and made a keynote presentation on what we learned. I had the pleasure of interviewing Heather Haynes Entertainment Lawyer graduate from UCLA. The main message I received from the interview is the reality of working hard and being competitive in this field. Study hard and research more to achieve the best results. 

Leadership Portfolio Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution

In month eight I took an Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution class. In this class I learned about different avenue channels to distribute our literature products, if any. I also learned how to write and research a query letter agent. For my leadership portfolio assignment I had to “write a formal business strategy in which to digitally self-publish, promote, distribute and merchandise their own print media, music, or audiovisual content.   At a minimum, the Strategy must include at least one paragraph on each of the following topics:”

o   Mission Statement

o   Executive Summary (You need only list yourself)

o   Company Description

o   Product

o   Manufacturing Strategy

o   Distribution Strategy

o   Marketing and Promotion Strategy

This assignment taught me how to research credible distribution sites and gain bar code numbers for my product, as well as various ways to market the product. I included a sample of my project disclosing the product along with the manufacturing and distribution strategy.

The Product

            S.M.I.L.E: SELF.MATURITY.INTELLECT.LOVE.EMPOWERMENT is the title of the poetry book. The title is inspired by the company name. The year 2010 has turned out to be another year continued with the United States recession, and unstable living conditions. We are all victims and S.M.I.L.E wants to put something small, but motivational on the market to help ease the stress. That’s when the company produced the poetry book S.M.I.L.E. The intention for the book is to motivate and uplift individuals during their time in need. The book will include outstanding artwork and photography along with elegant poems and motivational speeches. The book will contain fifty pages of content not including the table of content and the dedication page. Each chapter is based off the title with ten poems/speeches per chapter.

Manufacturing and Distribution

            Plenty options are available to satisfy S.M.I.L.E’s requirement for quality manufacturing and reproduction of the poetry book, S.M.I.L.E, will outsource this function to LuLu.com to start.  This company has been selected based on the fact that the Arthur is able to keep copyrights. Lulu also provides Global Distribution. Lulu provides 80% Royalty rates paid to the Arthur. If you receive a paper check the royalties are paid quarterly, and if royalties are paid via PayPal it is paid on a monthly basis. Lulu also provides free ISBN codes and you’re free to bring your own ISBN as well. Proofs are granted to the Arthur. Discounts are provided to the Arthurs who are purchasing their own material. The materials purchased are expensed at the manufacturing & shipping cost only. If an Arthur wants to distribute on another website and/or with other publishers they can because all copyrights are owned by the Arthur. This is the first book the company is producing so the free templates provided by lulu also helped a great deal. It was important to S.M.I.L.E to be able to create it’s own artwork and lulu can appreciate that as well. Lastly, but almost most important S.M.I.L.E will also distribute it’s product with lulu.com via website only. In addition with distributing there we will also use the company website. A relationship with this company will allow S.M.I.L.E to generate a profit of  $7.99 per unit sold. S.M.I.L.E came up with an estimate of $9.99 for the cost of the book based on the going rate for other like books, and the company wanted to start here.  Lulu gets 20% and the company gets 80% leaving us with $7.99. If the demands for the book rise to over a $100 copies a month, the price shall rise to $14.99, which will generate profit to $11.99 per unit, sold. The ultimate goal is to at least sale 1200 copies per year to start.

Leadership Portfolio Digital Marketing

Digital Marketing is the class I took in month nine, and in this class we learned various different SEO’s and ways to use social media to promote a business or product. The leadership portfolio assignment for this class tied into my overall business plan S.M.I.L.E (Self Maturity Intellect Love & Empowerment), a nonprofit organization specializing in mentor services for the female youth in Inglewood, California. We had to use the online community to market for the business. I learned how to effectively utilize the Internet to build awareness for my business. I had to select social network channels, a campaign budget, and a campaign duration time frame. See below post:

Selected Channels

a) The channels selected to build awareness to the organization are email sign-ups, Social Media, and Affiliate Marketing. I decided to use email subscriptions because it’s proven to be more affective for subscription conversions. Having more people sign up for email will give the organization a better chance at getting a donation because the individual will be better acquainted with us. Social Media is big in society, and a lot of people are using social media to get information from actual company pages or word of mouth. Thats the perfect way for the organization to build a fan base. Personally my social media friend base exceeds 2,000 people. Affiliate marketing is the third channel selected. Affiliate marketing is a good channel because it works on a “pay per performance” basis. If the affiliate marketer doesn’t get us any conversions we don’t owe any money to the affiliate marketer. i think this channel is the best money wise, because it's strictly commission. The funds are not available to use SEO, Paid Search, Or Advertisements. Those are all good channels to use, but with the already fan base on social media and the high email subscription conversion rates, we decided to not use these channels.  Facebook.com and  Twitter.com is the platform to build an audience, traffic and referrals.  Along with establishing these social media pages, the organization will also include interactive u-stream sessions with the community on various life topics.

Campaign Budget

 a)    Online marketing has proven to be cheaper when it comes to a campaign. The budget for all of the marketing is $3,000.

b)   I have three channels to spend within the budget so I decided to equally use $1,000 for each channel.

c)    We will manage the channels within the company daily every hour on the hour. It will be managed by the channel manager for the company.

Campaign Duration

 a) The anticipation for the campaign will be the summer of 2011 during the months of June, July, and August.

Leadership Portfolio Mobile Marketing and Commerce

Month ten was quite fascinating and one of the most captivating classes. In today’s society mobile technology is soaring with all types of neat things one can do with a mobile device. I learned in this class that technology is growing fast, and soon the world will rely on its ability to do everything. We studied different transformations of older technology evolving into new technology omitting old devices. We studied the idea of purchasing with the cell phone, and the concerns following. This month leadership portfolio I had to survey 5 or more individuals on their use on mobile device usage and commerce. I conducted a real time survey via surveymonkey.com and did a keynote presentation presenting the answers given. I had various types of different age groups respond to the survey in which I learned made a difference in the answers.  The older age group was a little less technology motivated and stuck to the basics. When it comes to the younger generation, the more technology the better. This also derives from the fact that technology is fairly new and continues to change. This causes the older generation to hold back, and the younger generation tends to follow the trend.

Leadership Portfolio Business Plan Development

Business Plan Development focused on my business plan project and writing the actual twenty-five pages. This class served as a brief overview of what we learned previously to help write our papers. The leadership portfolio paper reflected just that. The assignment was to do a 1,000-word research paper on two business experts giving advice on business plans. I learned during this research that the plan shouldn’t be too long and should appeal to the investor. The investor is interested in numbers and how helping me can be a good investment for their dollars. I also learned pitfalls concerning a preparation of a business. Making a business plan is simple, but must have value in which I learned how to add value to my business with numbers.