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

Dr. Frumi Rachel Barr

BarrBusinessSchool

An online program for entrepreneurial leaders & their teams, who are playing to win!  Everything You We Are Passionate About Changing an Important Statistic! 90% of Businesses Fail! WE raise the bar for entrepreneurs by teaching what is not taught in traditional schools. Courses are: Entrepreneurship & Leadership, People & Culture, Strategy, Execution, Cash & Data Management, and Time & Energy Management. All courses are supported by book summaries to enhance learning.

CEO and Dean

Scale Up Advisors LLC

As a CEO + Leadership Team coach, I coach the whole team together, as well as the CEO. I lead quarterly and annual planning sessions, and coach the whole team with a proven system to ensure the plan is solid and aligned. I ensure your team implements the progressive regimen required, quarter over quarter, so the company grows safely, with ease, speed and confidence. You know that no team goes to the Olympics without a coach for the whole team. So why would YOU and YOUR team go the Business Olympics without a CEO + Leadership coach? Aren't you playing to win?

If you are an entrepreneur with more than one business, I would teach you how to scale while helping you and your team create a scale up plan.
 
Money and a plan don’t guarantee execution!
Execution depends on communication, creating and sticking to priorities and someone who holds the team accountable and keeps the momentum going. That someone can be a team member trained to scale up or an external person (like me) who is often the “adult supervision”.


Specialties Include: 
•	Scaling Up, Growth 
•	People Problems
•	Communication
•	Strategy
•	Execution 
•	Leadership Development 
•	Culture 
•	Leadership skills 
•	Executive presence
•	Business planning

Founder & Chief Strategist

Cyber Security Global Alliance

CSGA-GCA is based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, and will service all of Waterloo Region, the Province of Ontario, and Canada nationwide, as well as the World in Cybersecurity, Defense, education, certification, and much more.

Our Cyber Accelerator will now add to the growth and development of start-ups, small to medium businesses, cyber education, cyber certification, and more.

Chief Strategy Officer

Baker University

Teaching a course in the Entrepreneurship Program. Assessing Startup Viability and Funding Options: Guiding students to complete a strategy framework to assess the liability of a startup, create a process to identify the human and capital resources and workforce needed to launch a startup.  This will inform students to evaluate the specific type of investment the project needs and programs available.

Adjunct Professor

Scollar, Inc.

Strategic Advisor, Co-Founder at Scollar, Inc

Chief Scaling Officer

Big Five for Life Enterprises

We build ridiculously successful businesses based on knowing the purpose for existing and living the Big Five philosophy created by John P. Strelecky best selling international author of The Why Cafe and The Big Five for Life series of books. By demand from readers we have a fabulous culture building assessment - PEC  or Peer Evaluation Component. Visit www.Big FiveForLifeEnterprises.com to find out more. 
Scaling 4 Growth is a Big Five for Life Enterprise..

Assured Strategies - Business Strategy Coaching Firm, Gazelles Certified

At Assured Strategies our purpose is to guide leaders through change in pursuit of freedom. We challenge your thinking. We stay with you.

If you have ever experienced "growing broke" as I experienced, you will understand the power of having our team in your service.

Partner

eVirtual Roundtables

eVirtual Roundtables is a fast growing global company conducting online face-to-face peer group meetings with international participants. Equipping today's Executives, Entrepreneurs, Experts and Emerging Leaders for tomorrow's challenges.  eVirtual Roundtables trains executives and business leaders  on how to conduct effective world-class online face to face meetings.

CEO & Founder of eVirtual Roundtables

The Frumi Group

As a CEO coach, mentor, advisor and confidante I relaize that sooner or later, every CEO finds it's lonely at the top.  They wish they had a mentor, coach & confidante. Someone who has walked in their shoes. Many times, they don't have a trusted confidant to discuss sensitive issues which leaves them feeling frustrated and isolated.  

As a CEO coach, mentor, advisor and confidante to we specialize in working with leaders and their teams to maximize performance, profitability and sustainability.We inspire leaders to shape their futures, take decisive action and maintain the momentum.

Inspired by Simon Sinek, we have a passion for "Continuing with Why". In our focused Why Immersion retreat we focus on the Clarity of WHY your business exists, it's "soul" or cause, the Discipline of HOW you do what you do and the consistency of WHAT you do.In two and a half days with our team your company could emerge with a startegic plan that supports your "why" and a 12 week action plan to get it well under way.

CEO Coach, Mentor, Advisor, Confidante & Team Builder

The Why Institute

As a CEO coach, mentor, advisor and confidante, and inspired by Simon Sinek's "Why" movement, I am passionate about inspiring leaders to shape their future, take decisive action and build momentum. We believe in Starting with Why or  "Continuing with Why" for exisiting businesses.

Chief Why Advisor

I recently guided a fast growing company with a wicked smart team that was running by the seat of their pants. They had a business plan but no execution plan and resisted holding each other accountable. Call me when a team needs a scaling expert or an adult in the room to whip them into shape.

With over 20 years of experience leading my own companies and teams, I understand the challenges that come with being the CEO of a fast growing company. I have a proven track record of driving growth and strategic decision-making, and I am now at my best offering my expertise as a scale up advisor to CEOs and their teams. My goal is to provide the tools for fast and sustainable growth. Let's work together to achieve your business objectives and drive success to create your dream company and not your worst nightmare.

I have a "portfolio" career!  If you look at my experience, you’ll see a spectrum of industries and sectors. The common thread that weaves through them all is my WHY which is to create a safe place for people to discuss what matters most. That’s the secret sauce that builds cohesive teams:
•	Teams that trust each other
•	Teams that can fight well
•	Team members who hold each other’s feet to the fire
•	Teams that get things done to create results!

Your company’s success depends upon… 
•	Identifying opportunities
•	Building a resilient and collaborative culture
•	Making timely and appropriate decisions
•	Detecting looming threats on the horizon
•	Staying focused in the face of difficult situations 
•	Reinforcing mindset to play to win 
•	Understanding yourself and your effect on others

As you navigate each of these challenges,  I use actionable assessments like The Five Cohesive Behaviors of a Team which incorporates DiSC. The result: your team builds and /or reinforces trust allowing constructive conflict, making commitments they will keep, and holding each other accountable 

Contact me here on LinkedIn, or email me at DrFrumi@ScaleUpAdvisor.biz

taplio

The Battle

Karl Pontau

Dr. Frumi Rachel Barr

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