The Human Connection Podcast

Is your business’s growth stalled? Employee churn eating into your profits? Struggling with customer retention? 

You need stronger connections.

Every Tuesday, connect with an expert who’s sharing actionable advice for building stronger relationships with your customers, clients, and stakeholders. Hosted by Karl Pontau, a storytelling super-connector, content system strategist, and survivor of two childhood brain tumors, this podcast’s mission is to fix the underlying cause of workplace and societal dysfunction: the lack of human connection.

Learn more at www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

Podcast Host

Squash and Stretch Productions

My heroic mission involves guiding teams to bring visionary Content Systems and strategies to life. By fostering a creative environment where complex ideas transform into compelling visual stories, I've helped clients achieve remarkable results. What drives me is connecting clients' missions with audiences through visually striking content that sparks action. By nurturing talent and overseeing seamless workflows, I ensure our work not only captivates but also delivers on strategic goals.

▶️Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

▶️Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client. 

▶️Designed flexible content system for La Familia's anti-Fentanyl campaign, enabling rapid pivot when major challenge arose; directed production and content adaptation while production team saved two lives through Narcan administration during new on-site shoot; final campaign successfully deployed regionwide.

Freelance Art Director / Senior Digital Creative Producer

SAE Expression College

As a Brand Story Coach, I've helped entrepreneurs translate their knowledge into actionable ideas for their ideal consumer. Additionally, in the classroom, I've had the joy of shaping future creatives. Through developing curricula and adapting to diverse learning styles, I created supportive environments where innovation thrives and students discover their creative potential.

▶️Advised a local coach on connecting client challenges to his solutions, boosting referrals and sales through improved value communication.

▶️Mentored college students at SAE Expressions in advanced motion graphics, editing, and branding, guiding them through complex software challenges to enhance their technical proficiency and creative output. 

▶️Inspired young minds aged 9-17 at iD Tech Camps, fostering creativity and teamwork while leading students through courses including web design, animation, and robotics.

Storytelling Coach / Teacher / Mentor

GuideSpark

My leadership journey began as a production team member, where I discovered my passion for contributing toward a shared vision. I learned that great leadership creates harmony in both team dynamics and the final product. I also learned that my favorite projects are socially impactful and profitable. Each project laid the foundation for my skills in leading cross-functional teams, managing end-to-end production, and turning creative challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. 

▶️Fostered open communication between animators and VFX coordinators and ensured director feedback was thoughtfully implemented as Animation Coordinator for The Glass Butterfly.

▶️Created intricate 3D facial animations for a confidential project, honing my ability to deliver exceptional work on time and under budget while honoring client trust at FlickerLab.

▶️Collaborated with a remote team to explain organizational change strategies and processes that help companies be more agile at Fire Tribe, Inc. 

▶️Contributed to a local team that created 1,700+ accurate employee benefit animations in 3 months at GuideSpark.

▶️Championed i-GATE's vision for a thriving Tri-Valley startup community that now brings new tech from local labs to the marketplace.

Contract Motion Designer

Health/Med Tech companies and nonprofits have vital - yet difficult - stories to tell. 

So, they struggle to explain their value and attract their best clients.

What makes a story difficult?

Stories that…

😨Cover emotionally triggering subjects... (Cancer, Overdoses, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
😵Focus on complex or abstract ideas... (Battery tech, Air Tank Refill Systems)
😳Reveal deeply personal experiences... (Founder Stories, Mental Health, Loss)

...are all difficult to effectively tell.

But, I am uniquely equipped to solve these challenges because I:

💗 Show empathy and compassion for clients, team members, and audiences via active listening
🧠 Bring a deep understanding of human decision making and behavior to every project
🚀 Employ an entrepreneurial mindset honed from running my small production agency

I was inspired to focus on these skills after overcoming two malignant brain tumors when I was 15, and am forever grateful for my family, friends, and medical team for showing me what can be accomplished when people care for each other, clearly communicate, and work towards a common goal. 

Once you optimize your story, you’ll need to get it in front of your audience.

That takes a Content System.

These:

💡 Starts with a comprehensive Content Strategy
📚 Delivers a custom asset library for your brand
📲 Generates adaptive content for multiple platforms
💰 Results in greater cost savings and ROI over time

For example:

🎉 Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

🥂 Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client.

If you are interested in discussing how I can add value to your team and accelerate your company's growth, please email me at kpontau@gmail.com or send a DM.

Let's talk!

(I’m open to contract or full time employment.)

Karl Pontau

Law Firm Success Group

We enable attorneys to earn more money, take more time off, and reduce their stress while achieving their professional goals. We apply proven business growth principles in the areas of Business Development, Hiring and Managing Teams, Marketing, Strategy, and Time Management to solo and small law firms. Learn more at www.lawfirmgrowth.com

★ Specialties Include ★
Speaker, Law Firm Growth Strategist, Law Firm Consultant, Business Development Consultant, Practice Management Consultant, Lawyer Coach, Law Firm Marketing Consultant. Law Firm Podcaster

Law Firm Growth Expert | Speaker | Author

The Lawyer Boss Life show (lawyerbosslife.com) is dedicated to helping attorneys unleash their inner business owner by providing inspiration, tips, and business tactics so attorneys can grow their law firms faster and easier.

Co-Host, Lawyer Boss Life

FocalPoint

I lead the Law Firm Services practice group at FocalPoint. We are business coaches, consultants, and trainers who transform the businesses and the careers of our clients. We love our work, our clients, and owning our own businesses. We are passionate about making a difference in our local communities and in the lives of our clients. Our focus is business success: for our clients, and for ourselves.

So how do you define success?

Some define success as making more money, having more time for family, increasing employee loyalty, or having freedom and independence. For most, it is a combination of these and many other objectives. Success is individual.

★ Specialties Include ★
Business Development Consultant, Law Firm Consultant, Practice Management Consultant, Lawyer Coach, Law Firm Marketing Consultant , Law Firm Growth Expert

Ready to seize your Success? Let's talk.

Certified Master Coach and Area Representative

Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel

Creating the firm's business development and marketing strategies that will propel the firm towards its vision of excellence and growth.

Business Development and Marketing Advisor

Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group

Amazing things are happening within the valleys that comprise Danville, Dublin, Livermore, Pleasanton and San Ramon. Innovation Tri-Valley Leadership Group develops from the growing collaboration of leaders from public and private entities, working and investing together to secure an even brighter future for our region. New initiatives from both of our national labs, Lawrence Livermore and Sandia, are generating technological advancements and business opportunities on an unprecedented scale. More and more small companies with big ideas, and large companies that lead their industries, have found new homes in our valleys.

Board Member

Heartflow, Inc

Pioneering leadership of worldwide professional services organization.

•	Strategy: Developed the strategic role of customer care as it relates to technology adoption, utilization, customer training, and customer satisfaction.

•	Voice of Customer, Product Development & Market Research: Led team to identify critical product improvements. Conducted market research to drive product features.

•	CRM Tool Deployment: Led cross-functional implementation of a CRM tool (Salesforce.com), including process maps, integration points, and validation.

Director, Customer Care

Hansen Medical

Visionary leadership of worldwide service organization. Built global service (capital & consumable) and sales operations functions from the ground up. Pro forma P&L responsibility for the service business.

•	Direct Sales: Grew service revenue contribution from 0 to 30% of total annual revenue in three years. Personally sold over $2 million in annual revenue by selling service contracts to customers.

•	Adoption: Collaborated with sales management to drive adoption of the technology using a deliberate, analytical process to assess account potential, identify best practices, and identify/improve underperforming accounts.

•	Strategy: Developed the service business plan, including strategic role, brand, pricing, and a profitability model.

•	Training: Created the training curriculum for field service and distributor service engineers. Curriculum included didactic and lab-based modules, certification exams, and a certification renewal process.

•	CRM / ERP Implementations: Led the Service implementations of Salesforce.com and QAD (ERP), including service calls, RMA, sales orders, warranty and contract, billing, and installed base tracking.

Senior Director, Global Service and Sales Operations

Siemens Medical Solutions, Ultrasound Division

Strategic pro forma P&L responsibility for global customer base of 50,000 systems, including service, upgrades/options, and refurbished systems that generated $100+ million in annual revenue.

•	Achieved 7% revenue growth despite a shrinking installed base.

•	World class Commercialization: Developed and launched “go to market” processes to ensure that critical elements such as supply chain, inside sales training, and technical training were completed on-time with high quality.

•	Inside Sales Support:  Improved inside sales support by delivering focused trainings on critical offerings to ensure the offerings were embraced by sales.

•	Business Development: Developed a service concept and business model for the division’s first software product, including a financial model with sensitivity analysis. Drove serviceability, including the service training curriculum and tool development.

Senior Manager, Care (Promotion)

Have you ever wondered why some law firms seem to scale effortlessly while others struggle to break through?

My passion is helping law firm leaders experience true fulfillment—more income, more time, less stress. With a background in building and leading multi-million dollar businesses, I bring a fresh, business-first perspective to the legal world. My mission: to equip attorneys with the tools and mindset to achieve extraordinary results.

What’s holding your firm back from the next level? I challenge my clients to rethink their approach to growth, talent, and leadership. Through proven systems, motivational coaching, and practical insights, I help law firms transform challenges into opportunities.

From strategic planning to talent acquisition and business development, I empower law firm leaders to take control of their growth journey. My clients build skills, confidence, and autonomy—creating practices that thrive.

If you’re ready to lead your firm to new heights, let’s start the conversation.

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The Battle

Karl Pontau

Alay Yajnik

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