Resources
Kelli Shares on Using New Digital Platforms to Create Buzz and Influence.
Kelli Talks About the Passion that Drives Artists and Musicians
Kelli Shares about her Background and Inspiration
Brian Zisk
San Francisco Music Tech Summit
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-brian-zisk-of-sf-musictech-summit
Dick Wingate
Anthony Stonefield
Pioneer of Downloadable Song Distribution and Mobile Ringtones
Robby Starbuck
Music Video Director and Producer
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/qa-kelli-richards-music-video-director-robby-starbuck
Tom Silverman – Tommy Boy
Founder and CEO of Tommy Boy Entertainment
Listen to the entire podcast here: https://allaccessradio.libsyn.com/kelli-richards-interviews-tommy-boy-tom-silverman
Ned Sherman
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VIP Breakfast for Apple Alumni at the Silicon Valley Capital Club, San Jose, CA
I’m thrilled to invite you to join me for a VIP Breakfast for Apple Alumni at the Silicon Valley Capital Club in San Jose, CA on Thursday, December 8th, from 7-8am. I look forward to hosting an intimate breakfast and discussion exclusively for present and former Apple employees. This 1-hour Power Breakfast is about re-connecting & networking with Apple colleagues. We will explore how to take our businesses and our lives to a whole new level of success in the next year by building on the synergy of Apple alliances. The focus of this breakfast club will be my forthcoming eBook “The Magic & Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View“. VIP Breakfast and a copy of the eBook (valued at $37) are limited to the first 12 people who respond.
RVSP by Friday, December 2nd to reserve your VIP seat at the event. sandy@allaccessgroup.com
Kelli Richards
CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
A Fantastic Freebie from Fanatic.FM
To celebrate Fanatic.FM and their great contribution to DIY brand building for artists, Fanatic.FM is offering a special bonus for Kelli’s tribe. Click here for a free subscription to The Fanatic and enter to win a 1-hour session with the Fanatic.FM social media tune-up experts. Deadline: December 5.
At Fanatic.fm, musicians, brands and fans unite to create music that changes the world. For musicians, Fanatic.fm is an innovative album publishing platform where brands bid to sponsor new musical projects. Bands take control over choosing sponsors. Every time music is played using the Fanatic.fm player, which can be embedded in any site or social media page, the band is paid a set cost per music play by their sponsor. Learn more at www.fanatic.fm.
Kelli Richards
CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
We did it! #1 on Amazon in Music!!!
A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported the Amazon Launch for “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry” – an eBook that raises the bar and demystifies social media marketing, helping musicians, agents and anyone in our industry to THRIVE. Not only did we spend all of last weekend at #1, as I write this, we’re STILL top ten!
Essentially, Taking the Crowd to the Cloud empowers and transforms the marketing mindset for artists. Featuring a few tips on the most commonly used social networks (like Twitter and Facebook); it also holds the keys to eMail marketing, Streaming Radio, YouTube, and Meetup Groups. (It even covers how to port your MySpace contents to Facebook Music.)
Although we’ve put the price raise into Amazon, it’s STILL at $3.99 while they process it, so grab your copy now if you haven’t already.
If you choose to, you may buy the book from my website for full price ($37) and have access to continually refreshed and updated content on this topic as a BONUS addendum.
Kelli Richards
CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
Hypebot Promotes “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud”
I’ll write a separate blog about how my eBook went all the way to #1 on Amazon this weekend, but I wanted to take a moment and offer a special thanks to Bruce Houghton – a powerful voice in the music industry – who writes for HypeBot. He made an exception to his SOP to review the book, and his observations are spot on and very important to me. Because of the holiday weekend, I made the executive choice to leave the eBook at the launch price just until mid-week, giving all of the artists out there a chance to grab it (and use it!). MANY thanks to Bruce and to everyone who supported our effort to offer a hands-on, simple, DIY look at social media for the music industry.
~ Kelli Richards
Kelli Richards’ Social Media For Music eBook Just $3.99 Today Only – Published 11/11/11
I don’t normally due blattant pitches for book’s seminar’s, etc. But after downloading Kelli Richard‘s eBook Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry
Kelli’s guide covers all the usual modern marketing avenues from a musician’s perspective: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, blogging, email marketing and even MySpace. There are also chapters on less utilized recources like Blog Talk Radio, Linkedin, Meetups and live event networking. Along the way, there are examples and short case studies.
Finally, she takes a look at several of the major players in ditect to fan marketing including ReverbNation, Topspin and Nimbit as monetization tools. It’s all there. But don’t just read about it. Use it.
$3.99 today only:Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry
Written by Bruce Houghton, in DIY for Hypebot
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
11/11/11 eBook Launch! Help me hit #1 on Amazon!
Taking the Crowd to the Cloud –
SOCIAL MEDIA for the Music Industry
Kelli Richards’ new eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – SOCIAL MEDIA for the Music Industry,” teaches you to run your content, your revenue, your merch and your fan base ANY WAY YOU WANT TO. It’s easily the best eBook on Social Media for Musicians, ever. Today is the ONLY day you can get the book on Amazon at $3.99. https://amzn.to/eBook-Crowd
This eBook raises the bar and demystifies the social media process. It will help you THRIVE in this tough economy and transform your online presence and your marketing mindset.
It provides an overview of the top 10 online spaces and gives a brief look at how to maximize your social media presence to build and keep your audience – and turn them into your own personal sales force.
- MORE FANS! The ultimate end-game!
- BRAND TRANSFORMATION! (Yes, trust me, you are a brand!)
- MORE MONEY! That’s an easy one, more fans + more content = more sales.
- SIMPLE! Written in easy-to-follow language with easy-to-implement instructions.
- FAST! You’ll learn about 8 no cost Resources to build your brand and your fan base!
- STOP WORRYING! No more worrying about missing the opp for social media success.
- No Cost Online Business Tools and List Building Tools worth 10X’s the cost of the book.
- FR EE DOM! How about turning your work into a business that does not depend on a label, a manager or ANYONE. Do what you WHAT you want, WHEN you want, and WHERE you want… You can set your own hours… You can live anywhere… All you need is an internet connection… The sky is the limit.
Kelli Richards’ new eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – SOCIAL MEDIA for the Music Industry,” teaches you to run your content, your revenue, your merch and your fan base ANY WAY YOU WANT TO. It’s easily the best eBook on Social Media for Musicians, ever.
Today is the ONLY day you can get the book on Amazon at $3.99. https://amzn.to/eBook-Crowd.
A Digital Insider Scoffs at Townshend
As an industry insider – on way more than one level – it’s hard to take Pete Townshend’s comments as anything more than another great artist railing at the system. Look, in the end, we all have to admit that the system is broken. That’s one thing that Townshend got right in that interview. After that? Well, it’s all up for debate. But the fact that the debate was called to the floor again, that’s a good thing.
Let’s look at what he probably got wrong. Apple is not the villain here. In fact, probably the opposite. Apple is responsible for 75% of all LEGAL music downloads. And there’s no way that this makes them a vampire. It makes them a hero, of sorts. By creating a closed system, where one download went to ONE machine, Apple stopped the bleeding of way more than royalties. It addressed a cultural shift that it was OKAY to steal music. “Sharing.” So there’s something else that Townshend got right in that interview. Stealing and sharing are not the same thing – and the mere idea that music should be free is an utter insult to the millions of people who give their lives to create it.
I should disclose here that I was part of Apple way back when and helped launch digital music before it broke wide open, but my 13+ years in digital consultancy have certainly shown me every side of this equation (and argument).
Whether or not music should be free has gone where it belongs. It’s gone to artist-controlled DIY. DIY creation and DIY distribution. The indie artists have unlocked the code. Give away great material to build a tribe, and get that tribe to adore you. They’ll show up with the money, for sure, but only after the love affair has begun.
Here’s the other problem with Pete’s point of view – it assumes that Apple controls the digital distribution industry, and quite simply, it does not. In the world of Spotify and MusicShark and locker systems, Apple is only one giant float in the parade. Let’s clarify, they may even be leading the parade, but after a brief initial claim to the universe, way back when, they’re far from alone. Having said that, it’s obvious that the consumer, overall, loves Apple. Quite simply, in the words of futurist Gerd Leonhard, it’s easy. It’s a plug and go solution. It meets busy consumers where they want to be met, and serving the consumer IS the end game on the business side of music (and anything digital).
The artistic side? Producing great content and hiring mentors to aide and abet that? I wish I could ask Townshend why that is at all iTunes’ responsibility. That is a model that we see fading at every label, sadly (& that’s me wearing my hat as a former A&R exec at one of the majors). From this insider’s viewpoint, however, it will fade, but not die. There is a space for grooming artists, from a label’s point of view – otherwise we end up with the music industry’s version of Yentl for every project. (The same Editor, Producer, Writer and Actress, if you needed me to spell out that comparison.) Without label support, bands have limited objectivity of their work, at best. But we KNOW what percentage of artists get signed. So this new world of digital DIY is an amazing opportunity for artist AND consumer. Which brings us to Townshend’s issue with gatekeepers – one that social media and DIY will summarily trump, given enough time. Spaces like iLIke and Facebook will level the playing field.
Finally, it’s NOT Apple’s job to bridge the gap between labels and DIY. They are, like it or not, a retailer. Why should they be expected to fix what’s broken in music? The business model for direct sales/acquisition of recorded music in the traditional sense is collapsing.
But with all of the GREAT minds in the digital and music space, of course we’ll find a new model. Music does far more than soothe the savage breast, it is the most vital language of unification. Ask the millions of Chinese listening to Gaga or Beiber – or just look at the worldwide recognition of Mozart. Or the global domination of Idol.
Yes, there are definitely parts of the foundation with cracks, or worse, but I have full confidence from my life experience of consulting with the industry leaders and artists, that we’ll find a new and more powerful model to propel us forward. Until then, in the immortal words of Sonny and Cher, the beat goes on.
Kelli Richards
CEO
The All Access Group, LLC
The Future of Content, by Futurist, Gerd Leonhard
Gerd Leonhard is a media futurist, writer, keynote speaker and strategist with 25 years in the tech and entertainment industries in all major markets. Leonhard’s focus is on new technologies in content, media and technological convergence, and he’s just published his newest book on Kindle, “The Future of Content.” https://gerd.fm/focbook
Leonhard’s intent to publish this eBook via Amazon Kindle, exclusively, at this very low price, is to make these ideas and concepts as widely available as possible while still trying to be an example of what digital, paperless distribution can look like, going forward. Definitely a GREAT investment at $2.99.
Gerd Leonhard has been writing about the future of content (i.e. music, film, TV, books, newspapers, games etc.) since 1998. He has published 4 books on this topic, 2 of them on music (The Future of Music, Music 2.0). For the past 10 years, Leonhard has been deeply involved with many clients in various sectors of the content industry, in over 17 countries, and it’s been a great experience, he says. “I have learned a lot, I have listened a lot, I have talked even more (most likely:) and I think I have grown to really understand the issues that face the content industries – and the creators, themselves – in the switch from physical to digital media.”
This Kindle book is a highly curated collection of the most important essays and blog posts Leonhard has written on this topic, and even though some of it was written as far back as 2007. “I believe it still holds water years later. I have tried to only include the pieces that have real teeth. Please note that the original date of each piece is shown here in order to allow for contextual orientation.”
[audio:https://allaccessgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Gerd-Leonhard-Final-Edited.mp3|titles=Gerd Leonhard Final Edited]You can hear my recent one-on-one interview with Gerd here.
For those of you who do not know, I’m part of The Futures Agency, an online industry think-tank founded by Gerd Leonhard. The Futures Agency is based on 5 key principles: 1. Knowledge grows when shared, therefore we share everything 2. Proudly find elsewhere (PFE) 3. Do what you do best and link to the rest (*Jeff Jarvis) 4. Spend less time being important and more time being relevant 5. The leaders of the future are connectors – not just directors.
I’m proud to be part of this stellar group, and encourage everyone to pick up Gerd’s latest eBook and to spread the word and support your own followers and colleagues with this great collection of Gerd’s work.
https://www.amazon.com/The-
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
The Pandora Box of Mobile – The Sky’s the Limit
If you were at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco last week, you probably heard Pandora Founder Tim Westergren share that SEVENTY PERCENT of their usage is through mobile venues. Yes. 70%. And having created a super-successful digital space for themselves, Pandora doesn’t see Spotify, iTunes, or any other competition eating their lunch any time soon.
Tim Westergren shared the following about the portability of the iPhone and its impact on Pandora, “Overnight it transformed our business. We almost doubled our growth rate. It changed Pandora from being desktop computer radio to being like real radio.”
One can’t completely appreciate the enormous (and growing) impact of the mobile industry without really understanding its past. On my BlogTalkRadio series, I recently interviewed my longtime colleague, Anthony Stonefield, a leader in the mobile and digital industries, who literally pioneered downloadable song distribution in the 90’s and popularized ringtones worldwide in 2000 (creating today’s $8 billion ringtone market). Anthony also executive produced the worldwide mobile program for the Live 8 event, and the mobile charity part of Melissa Ethridge’s “I Run for Life” breast cancer campaign, among others. I asked Anthony Stonefield where he thought super distribution will take us in the next few yeas and to talk about SmartPhones and their broad effect on users.
“Smartphones put everything that you had on your PC into your hand… I think what’s happening now is that we’re unlocking the true internet. Until today, we have always thought that we are driving the web, but now, SmartPhones are reaching down into the emerging markets, to the next several billion individuals, and these people are creating revolutions, changing the face of the planet, because they’re getting their first real-time connection to the rest of the world, through SmartPhones. As these phones infiltrate emerging markets, we have a whole new world to embrace… this is changing the nature of the human being and the way we interact.”
“My experience is that entertainment media is always consumed on impulse. So the technical solutions are also part of this equation. 4G will eventually enable a distribution model that can scale, but until then, we face serious limitations of scale… 4G has a way to go before it can provide viable, reliable user experiences, but it does enable a way to discover and present media very rapidly.”
You can hear the entire interview here.
Getting back to the future, so to speak, Pandora’s founder explained at the Web 2.0 Summit that Pandora transformed from a simple desktop radio to a “real” radio when users started taking their iPhones and plugging them into their cars and living rooms. It’s important to realize that, conceptually, Tim Westergren does not consider Pandora competition to Apple, Spotify or other subscription music services. He considers it a streaming radio service, and does not charge for participation.
With revenue skyrocketing due to ad sales, similar to traditional radio, Pandora has forayed further into radio, actually developing programming and content – and perhaps even newscasts and “sports radio” broadcasts in the future, further solidifying them as the leader in this industry – at least for now. Like any great industry, competitors WILL show up. AOL, who could arguably be called the founder of online radio, relaunched its own product within hours of Westergren’s speech, with half of the audio commercials. (And AOL Radio already carries ESPN Radio and ABC News stations.)
It’s hard to know if AOL will be the biggest contender in the mobile war, but with Smartphones becoming the “transistor radios” of the future, Pandora’s box is definitely filled with opportunity.
A client of mine is about to launch her 2nd eBook. I’d like to change the price on her FIRST eBook on Amazon (and everywhere else it’s up). Could someone tell me how to do that? If you need to see the eBook for some reason, it can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Crowd-Cloud-Industry-ebook/dp/B005H3ZK1Y
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
Celebrity Wrangling.
When it comes to celebrity wrangling, helping a corporate client or event organizer secure the right celebrity to support their event or product campaign is definitely more art than science. The most important part of the process is bringing my 25 years of listening and experience to a discussion about the objectives of the client. Is it a company celebration? Is the event or campaign about supporting their employees (internal) or their brand (customers)? Is it to thank their sales team? Or perhaps an industry conference with VIPs?
From there, we create a wish list of who they’d love to have stand on their stage or showcase their product or company, as well as what “type” of spokesperson or entertainer – for instance, a musician, a comedian, an actor or actress. Then we put together a prioritization and an outreach plan, something I’ve developed strong expertise in doing successfully after many years. We also create a list of gives and gets – is the celebrity or artist being compensated? Is the event so grand that it’s simply a win/win for them to participate? And then the back-and-forth between the client and the celebrity rep begins, and the process of creating a strong win for both sides unfolds.
The biggest impact in terms of having a celebrity or artist aligned with a campaign or event is what I call the “halo effect” – when an audience feels cared for and honored when a celebrity or artist that they trust is behind the company or the product. This generally results in a memorable experience and a long lasting increase in trust and credibility.
In addition, celebrity involvement can result in much greater visibility, acceleration, and traction for a start-up – and much greater exposure if you’re doing something on the web or in social media. It increases the attraction to the product or company like a magnet, based on the following and popularity of the celebrity and their brand. Finally, with the timeless nature of the web, this association with an artist will stand the test of time, being discovered again and again through a simple Google Search.
Not sure how a celebrity or artist might fit into your start-up, product or event? Reach out to me and ask. Kelli@AllAccessGroup.com
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“Kelli’s contributions as co-producer of ‘MusicBiz 2005′ have been essential. Her relationships and management of them, as well as her conceptual abilities have been a cornerstone of the business we have been developing. I can’t imagine that it (the conference) would have happened without her. For starters, she brings a tremendous understanding of the market, a stellar reputation, loyal relationships among the leaders in the field, highly developed written and oral communication skills, untiring work ethic, excellent team building skills, and total reliability….”
~ David Schwartz, Executive Producer – MusicBiz
“Kelli has proven to be an excellent resource for Red Herring Events. She contacted over 50 musicians and celebrities for our Herring on Hollywood event. Kelli is both professional and a pleasure to work with. With her assistance, we were able to book the musician Ice-T to speak on the music panel. We will definitely be using Kelli’s services for future events.”
~ Beth Curran, Event Producer – Red Herring Magazine
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
Billboard.Biz – “Music-Industry Characters You Need To Follow”
Even with the best of intentions, in today’s hyperdriven digital age, it’s easy to use someone else’s article or lyrics and misunderstand how copyright and sourcing needs to be applied. And so, in addition to sharing some great insights around the global issue of copyright, on today’s blog I also want to thank Billboard for sharing their Twitter list of “Music-Industry Characters You Need To Follow” which was used, in large part, in my own social media eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry.”
Because she had made a few significant changes to the list, my copyeditor did not realize she should source the list and link it back to Billboard. I’ll certainly change it in reprints, and will source Billboard.biz in my webinars and teleseminars on the topic, but I also wanted to publicly acknowledge and thank Billboard and Billboard.Biz for being an amazing source of information and support to the music industry.
Copyright is definitely one of the greatest issues that has come to the forefront of the new digital age. Of course, it was always an issue. But when music and literature were hard pressed into vinyl and pages, and the middlemen controlled the product funnel, believe it or not, it was much easier to keep tabs on who owned what. With media passed around at the speed of light via digital distribution, solutions like meta-tagging and “watermarking” become an artist’s lifeline to their work. In our recent one-on-one chat, thought leader Thomas Reemer shares about the application (and implication) of watermarks and how they effect digital distribution.
(For those who don’t know, Thomas Reemer is the CEO of 88tc88.com – an online service that, among other things, translates western titles and artists, enabling access for Western Music to the vast Chinese mobile market, including direct access to China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom – the trifecta of the Chinese tech industry.)
Please click here to listen to my entire interview with Thomas, and if you’d like to be included on the MP3 distribution for my entire interview series (with industry leaders like Ian Rogers, CEO of TopSpin Media; Michael Robertson, CEO of MP3.com and DAR.fm; and groundbreaking musicians, such as David Pack, Musician, Songwriter and Lead Singer for Ambrosia; and Academy Award Winner, Irene Cara) simply sign up for “VIP Access” at the top of my website at AllAccessGroup.com.
Kelli Richards,
CEO of The All Access Group, LLC
PS: To get your own copy of my eBook, “Taking the Crowd to the Cloud – Social Media for the Music Industry,” and be invited to the exclusive webinar to support my readers on this topic, please click on the title.
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People Don’t Come With Instructions. Maybe We Should Learn to Read Them Anyway.
LinkedIn.com, August 2026-I Wish People Came With Instructions One of my clients shared an operating manual about how to work with him most effectively when we first started working together. It was the first time I’ve ever experienced that and it was brilliant. The details were spot on as I’ve reviewed and reflected on the document over time; it’s actually been extremely helpful. Wouldn’t life be easier if more people came with instructions? Not a résumé. Not a LinkedIn profile. Not a Myers-Briggs type, an Enneagram number, or a list of strengths generated during an executive offsite. I mean actual instructions that are unique to them. Here’s what makes me feel valued. Here’s what shuts me down. Here’s how I make decisions. Here’s what I need when I’m overwhelmed. Here’s how I behave when I’m scared. Here’s the best way to challenge me. Here’s what silence means when it comes from me. And here’s the thing I probably won’t tell you unless you ask. Read the complete article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/people-dont-come-instructions-maybe-we-should-learn-read-richards-9tnuc
The AI Conversation We’re Not Having Yet: Leadership in an Era of Perpetual Adaptation
LinkedIn.com, August 2026-I’ve spent my career at the intersection of technology, innovation, and human potential, leading and observing one wave of disruption after another reshape how we work and live. The personal computer changed the nature of office work. The internet transformed communication and commerce on a global scale. Mobile technology untethered us from our desks and gave us freedom to roam. Cloud computing rewrote the economics of software. Each innovation has brought uncertainty, excitement, skepticism, and no shortage of disruption. Yet there was always a rhythm to these transitions. Organizations experimented. Employees learned. New practices emerged. Eventually, what once felt revolutionary became familiar. People developed confidence. Businesses established a new cadence. We settled into a new normal. The technology matured, and so did our relationship with it. Artificial intelligence feels fundamentally different. Read the complete article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-conversation-were-having-yet-leadership-era-kelli-richards-nwh2c
Confessions of a Lifelong Learner
I was just thinking back on how I spent summers when I was growing up. Yes, there were family trips and as I got older I had summer jobs. But one thing that remained consistent from a very young age was my passion for reading books — I was (and still am) a voracious reader. I still read on average two to three books per month. True confession: I’m a lifelong seeker and learner. I don’t think that will ever change. Periodically I get grief from my close friends about not reading fiction, but there’s so much I want to learn in the real world that I lean non-fiction. I have an unending thirst for knowledge and there’s much I have to learn across a broad range of topics. I’ve published several books over the years; I was early to the game — but over time, and more frequently, I find several of my peers have been publishing books as well. I share books I’ve read recently from two of them in this issue. Beyond reading, I find myself drawn to taking courses on an active and ongoing basis — whether within my primary career domain as a strategic trusted advisor, in terms of courses I’ve taken as I’ve moved into joining boards, and most recently in the AI realm. Learning new things keeps your memory and focus sharp, and picking up more knowledge and new skills and insights helps keep you valuable to employers and clients as being at the cutting-edge of yoru profession. You also become a more effective problem solver as you train your brain with diverse topics that help to invoke creative ideas. Curiosity that results in taking on new challenges helps you steer clear of boredom and makes you a more capable and interesting person who can converse on a broad range of topics with anyone, which is invaluable. What’s your take? Are you a lifelong learner like me? What do you do to sharpen the saw for yourself? To your success, Kelli *Featured article(s): Video Is AI’s Last Unstructured Frontier: Why the Next Infrastructure Battle Has Already Begun We’ve spent the past 3 ½ years talking about AI models. I believe the next conversation will be about AI infrastructure. After decades operating at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Hollywood, I’ve learned that the biggest technology shifts aren’t always driven by the most visible applications—they’re often enabled by the foundational layers operating quietly beneath them. Today, I believe video has become AI’s last unstructured frontier. As AI agents become more capable, hyperscalers invest hundreds of billions in data centers, and enterprises demand personalized, trustworthy media experiences at global scale, a new question emerges: How do we make video itself programmable? In my latest article, I explore why programmable video may become one of the most important infrastructure opportunities of the AI era, why data-center economics will increasingly matter, and why the next competitive advantage may not come from generating more video—but from making the world’s existing video infinitely more intelligent. Using ION Video as a case study, I examine why a technology that may have been years ahead of its time could now be arriving at precisely the right moment. Leadership Resonance: A Powerful Leadership Skill That Virtually Nobody Talks About Have you ever walked into a meeting and immediately sensed the energy in the room—before anyone had said a word? That’s not just intuition. It’s a reminder that leadership is about far more than strategy, communication, or authority. Every leader creates an invisible ripple effect through their presence, behaviors, and emotional state. In this article, I introduce a concept I call Leadership Resonance—the idea that the most influential leaders don’t simply direct organizations; they shape how people think, collaborate, innovate, and perform by the example they consistently set with their communications, their presence, and their behavior. Drawing on insights from neuroscience, behavioral psychology, and real-world leadership examples, I explore why the most enduring influence isn’t what leaders say—it’s what others learn simply by watching them and observing coherence. As AI transforms the future of work, our uniquely human capacity to inspire trust, curiosity, resilience, and courage may become the greatest competitive advantage of all. *Media Recommendations: Earth, Wind & Fire (documentary by Questlove) For those of you who grew up with this band, this documentary will shed some light on things about this band that are likely to surprise you. Yes, the music is timeless and the talent is undeniable. Arguably, Maurice White was a visionary innovator and a genius. What he did in creating EWF was unique and he did it on a grand scale. However, I’m betting few readers (and fans) would know that the band racked up over $500k in debt after most of their tours — or that the band members were paid a dismal wage that made it difficult for them to get by. How could this work over time with 10 or more members in the band, with extravagant costumes, staging and lights. Very few bands of that size have ever been able to make it work financially, let alone over decades (sustainably). There’s a lot more to learn beyond the economics; for those who love the band and their music it’s worth a watch. Song Sung Blue This was an interesting film; at its surface, it looks like a film about a Neil Diamond tribute artist. But it’s really a love story about a couple who come together around a shared dream — to create a Neil Diamond “interpretive experience”, and manage to make it work against all odds. It stars Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson, both of whom turn in powerful performances; I found myself falling into the story and liking it more than I thought I would. Though truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that Focus Features has put out that I didn’t enjoy. When We Are Seen: How to Come Into Your
Leadership Resonance: A Powerful Leadership Skill That Virtually Nobody Talks About
LinkedIn.com, July 2026-After spending decades advising founders, CEOs, innovators, artists, and global leaders, I’ve become convinced that one of the most powerful forces in leadership is also one of the most overlooked and the least discussed. Every leader creates an invisible field of impact around them. Some leaders expand the intelligence, confidence, creativity, and courage of everyone they encounter. Others—often with the very best intentions—unknowingly diminish those same qualities. Read the complete article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/leadership-resonance-powerful-skill-virtually-nobody-talks-richards-zbmjc/
Video Is AI’s Last Unstructured Frontier: Why the Next Infrastructure Battle Has Already Begun
LinkedIn.com, July 2026- One lesson I’ve learned throughout my career bridging Silicon Valley and Hollywood is that history rarely rewards the company that arrives first. It rewards the company that arrives when the market is finally ready. And that can take time – sometimes year, sometimes decades. When I helped launch Apple’s early digital music initiatives, many believed the industry wasn’t prepared. They were right—until (some 15 years later) suddenly they weren’t. The convergence of technology, infrastructure, consumer behavior and business models had caught up, and subsequently transformed what once seemed premature into one of the defining platform shifts of a generation. Read the entire article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/video-ais-last-unstructured-frontier-why-next-battle-has-richards-gp3pc/
The Hidden Cost of Compartmentalization: When Your Greatest Strength Becomes Your Greatest Limitation
LinkedIn.com, June 2026-Many of the most successful people I’ve worked with share a common trait: They’re masters of compartmentalization. They can walk out of a difficult conversation with a family member and into a board meeting without missing a beat. They can absorb setbacks, disappointments, and uncertainty while continuing to lead, create, perform, and execute at the highest levels. In many cases, this ability has helped to create their success. But what happens when the skill that got you here starts preventing you from getting where you’re meant to go next? And what happens when it interferes with your relationships? Read the entire article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-cost-compartmentalization-when-your-greatest-becomes-richards-k0qnc/
Is an Apple Smart Ring the Next Big Thing?
LinkedIn.com, June 2026-Every few years, Apple faces a version of the same question: what’s the next form factor? The iPod gave way to the iPhone. The iPhone gave rise to the Watch. And now, as the wearables category matures and health becomes the company’s most visible long-term bet, a new question is surfacing in product circles and on enthusiast forums alike — could a smart ring be Apple’s next meaningful hardware move? Having spent years inside Apple’s product culture, and many more since then tracking where consumer technology is headed, I find this question more interesting than most “what will Apple do next” speculation. That’s because it isn’t really about a new gadget. It’s about a strategic fork in the road: does Apple expand its health platform by adding a new form factor, by deepening the one it already owns, or by doing both at once? Read the entire article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/apple-smart-ring-next-big-thing-kelli-richards-fot5c/
The Artist, the Symbol, and the Digital Revolution: What Working with Prince Taught Me About Artist Sovereignty
LinkedIn.com, May 2026 Ten years after his passing, I find myself thinking about what made Prince not just a genius, but a true visionary innovator. The Symbol Was Never About Eccentricity To understand Prince’s thinking in the years I worked with him, you have to understand why he became “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince” in the first place. In 1993, Prince changed his name to an unpronounceable symbol — a combination of the male and female signs, merged into something entirely his own. The mainstream press treated it as the act of an eccentric megastar gone too far. But it was nothing of the sort. It was a deliberate, radical act of protest. Read the entire article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/artist-symbol-digital-revolution-what-working-prince-taught-richards-4ioze/
Honoring Greatness in Exceptional Individuals
I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by scores of exceptional individuals throughout my life and work. Whether they’ve been tech innovators, musical geniuses, icons in the creative world, published authors and journalists, or activists, one thing they’ve all shared in common is that they have lived their lives to the absolute limits. And they’ve shared their visions, gifts and talents with us in ways that leave us inspired, moved and forever changed. These individuals have carved their own paths, in many cases blazing trails through uncharted territory, and through their authenticity, drive and passion have created some extraordinary outcomes that will continue to inspire us long after they’re gone. These people have each made an indelible difference, and they’ve inspired us to follow our own individual compasses to make our own unique dent in the universe. Thank you for yours! To your success, Kelli From Beyond the Grave: How Technology is Resurrecting Talent from the Great Beyond Tupac rapped at Coachella in 2012. John Lennon released a Beatles song in 2023. Val Kilmer spoke in Top Gun: Maverick without being able to speak. This isn’t science fiction — it’s what’s happening right now, and the implications for every creative industry are profound. In this article, I share insights into how AI, machine learning, and digital production are literally resurrecting some of the world’s greatest talent — and what the business, legal, and ethical implications are for the creative world. What makes this more than a technology story is the question underneath it: When a voice, a face, and a performance can be reconstructed — what is the irreplaceable thing? Read the Article When Past Glory Becomes Present Pressure: The Quiet Self-Sabotage of High Achievers the darker side of past sucess Ever been in a room where your old accomplishments seem to cast a longer shadow than your current reality? I’ve seen it up close on countless occasions — and have even experienced flashes of it myself at times over the years. There’s a struggle many high achievers don’t talk about: what happens when your identity is still anchored in past success… but your present moment is asking something different of you. When you may have concerns that your best times are in the rear view mirror, and you’re left wondering whether you still have value. It’s subtle. It’s human. And left unexamined, it can quietly lead to acts of unconscious self-sabotage in the very rooms that matter most. I wrote this piece to name it—and to hopefully offer a more powerful way through. Read the Article Spotlight One Million Truths (movement) My friend Mark Eckhardt is a truly amazing individual. We met courtesy of the Unreasonable group we’re both members of. Mark’s work encompasses narrative intelligence and conflict resolution in creative, heart-based ways that support and facilitate high-stakes decision-making through thoughtful, compassionate means. He does this for corporations wearing his various hats. And he also does this through a movement he founded in 2020 called One Million Truths (OMT). OMT documents the experiences of Black Americans who have dealt with social injustice and racism through their stories and personal narratives. Stories are collected and shared to educate, create allies and combat system racism, while at the same time leveraging AI and research to help modern leaders understand the changes in cultural narrative, to mitigate conflict and foster more collaboration. I’m really inspired and moved both by who Mark is as an individual, and by all of the great work he’s doing. Media Recommendations How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results by Esther Wojcicki My friend Esther Wojcicki is a force of nature in her mid-80s. A former journalist and long-time educator in Silicon Valley, she’s inspired countless students who are now at the top of their game as tech execs, actors, and leaders. She’s also the mother of three amazing women (one of whom, Susan, was the CEO of YouTube before her untimely passing; another Anne, who is founder & CEO of 23andMe; and the third, Janet, who is an anthropologist and successful epidemiologist practicing in San Francisco). Esther published a very successful book in 2019, entitled “How to Raise Successful People: Simple Lessons for Radical Results”, which has become a global bestseller translated into over 30 languages. Last week, I attended the premiere of a new documentary about Esther, entitled “The Godmother of Silicon Valley” which chronicles her amazing life’s journey and legacy. It was beautiful to experience Esther’s influential story while she got to see the the film in full for the first time. Janet & Anne were there along with several of her grandkids. View the trailer here and watch for it to show up in the coming months in theaters and on streaming. “Wild Concerto” Collaboration My friend, rock icon Stewart Copeland, and UK naturalist Martyn Stewart have teamed up to transform Martyn’s collection of rare field recordings of the animal kingdom into an orchestral album. This initiative bridges two distinct worlds and the combined creative forces of two unlikely collaborators. It highlights the beauty of creatures around the globe who are currently facing environmental threats and extinction. 60 MInutes recently did a very moving segment on this project and the two men who co-created something truly unique and special. I strongly encourage you to invest about 15 minutes to watch this segment. It’s really quite extraordinary. People Say the Nicest Things… “Kelli Richards is a remarkable powerhouse, a visionary innovator, strategist and force multiplier, celebrated for her depth and unrivaled expertise as a trusted advisor to the gamechangers and innovators of our time; a true alchemist and catalyst who transforms dreams into reality, empowering leaders from various sectors to navigate complexity and unlock extraordinary potential, all while radiating an infectious energy and an intuitive understanding of the art of strategic growth and connection to achieve unparalleled outcomes and results.” — Mario Brondani fellow super-connector This past week, we lost a legendary conductor in Michael Tilson Thomas
From Beyond the Grave: How Technology Is Resurrecting Talent from the Great Beyond
LinkedIn.com, April 25, 2026 In April 2012, 90,000 people at the Coachella music festival watched Tupac Shakur take the stage alongside Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. The crowd went insane. The hashtag #tupachologram trended for three weeks. There was just one problem: Tupac had been dead for sixteen years. What happened that night in the California desert was a signal flare — a glimpse of a future where talent, creativity, and legacy no longer end with death. Over the decade plus since then, the technology has only accelerated. Today, we are firmly in an era where the barrier between the living and the departed is being dissolved by artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital production techniques that would have seemed miraculous (if not impossible) just a generation ago. Read the entire article at From Beyond the Grave: How Technology Is Resurrecting Talent from the Great Beyond
When Past Glory Becomes Present Pressure: The Quiet Self-Sabotage of High Achievers
LinkedIn.com, April 10, 2026 There’s a pattern I’ve observed—both in others and, at moments, in myself—that doesn’t get talked about enough. It’s not failure in the traditional sense. It’s something more subtle. More disorienting. It’s what happens when someone who has been exceptional finds themselves no longer operating from that same level of momentum, relevance, or external validation… but is still being perceived through the lens of their past success. From the outside, they’re still “the one who did X.” On the inside, something has shifted. And that gap—between past identity and present reality—can quietly become one of the most destabilizing forces that a high achiever will ever face. Read the entire article at When Past Glory Becomes Present Pressure: The Quiet Self-Sabotage of High Achievers
Spring Has Sprung — and Apple to the Core
We are certainly living in uncertain times; much of the time we don’t feel we have much control over what’s taking place on the world stage. But closer to home, the seasons are shifting and here in the US, spring has arrived. Having said that the weather has been absolutely nuts — climate change all over the country; crazy cold on the East Coast, with summer temperatures in the West. With spring being here, things just feel lighter and more hopeful. Despite all that’s swirling around us, the one thing we do have control over is our attitude and our mindset. I try to maintain an optimistic stance, and as ever I remain immersed in innovative and creative endeavors with clients and projects that I’m most drawn to and enthused about. Having my mind and heart stimulated actively is something that’s really important to me – and co-creating with like-minded people where there is rapport, aligned vision, and a sense that we’re making a difference and having an impact. Never was that more true than in all my years in the Apple orbit — and with Steve Jobs — before, during, and after my lengthy tenure with the company. I’m beyond grateful for the experiences I had and how they shaped me. This issue has several references to my alma mater. I hope you’re doing what you can to enjoy what you can in your life and your work, and to surround yourself with those who make you happy and light you up the most. To me, that’s pretty much the definition of success. To your success. Kelli Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy Apple turns 50 on April 1st — imagine; it sure doesn’t feel like that amount of time has passed since its inception. As anyone who knows me and my history is aware, I am Apple to the core. With the release of “Apple: The First 50 Years” by David Pogue, I found myself reflecting not just on Apple’s impact on the world but also from my unique vantage point—shaped by my close association with Steve Jobs, and by being a part of the company during a formative era—the real lesson has often been misread. This isn’t a retrospective. It’s a lens into what Apple actually changed—and why that matters even more in the age of AI. The “inner tech” matters as much or more as the innovation. Because the real legacy isn’t just the ‘insanely great’ products. It’s the brand the company cultivated and the philosophy that underpinned everything. And we’re going to need that for what comes next. Read the Article Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A This past month didn’t just reshape Hollywood. It clarified the future of media consolidation. After months of speculation, Paramount — backed by David Ellison and Skydance Media — won the battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, outmaneuvering Netflix. A few weeks ago, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos publicly emphasized that walking away was a valuation decision — not a political one. But this story is ultimately bigger than who won in this specific transaction. It signals a deeper recalibration in how platforms, studios, and technology companies think about ownership, scale, capital discipline, and vertical integration moving forward. Is this simply another mega-deal? Or are we witnessing a structural shift in how power consolidates across tech and entertainment? In this article I share my updated analysis — and what it means for the next wave of M&A. Read the Article The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins We live in a culture obsessed with breakthroughs, big wins, viral moments, and overnight successes. But the real advantage is consistency. Inspired by the book, The Slight Edge, this article explores how small, seemingly insignificant daily actions — repeated over time — quietly compound into extraordinary results in health, in wealth, in relationships and in leadership. The leaders who endure aren’t always the most intense — they’re the most consistent. They’re the ones who take small steps and aligned actions daily. That’s the real edge. Where has consistency quietly outperformed talent, luck or intensity in your life? Read the Article Spotlight Retail Designer – Tim Kobe We recently lost a giant in both the design world and in the extended Apple family in Tim Kobe. Tim was a design powerhouse who co-created the Apple retail stores with Steve Jobs in the early 2000s. He could have stopped right there. But he was also the founder and CEO of Eight Inc. Sometimes referred to as as Apple’s “best kept secret’” , Eight has been one of the world’s most progressive design firms — and they’ve worked with many global brands for decades. The secret to their success may have been that they uniquely looked at design elements through the lens of humanity and human interactions. This was a testament to Tim’s vision. He published a book on his ethos here. I was lucky to have crossed paths with Tim in the early days of his work with Steve, and then again much more recently over the past couple of years. One of my esteemed friends and colleagues, Kenny Lauer (an accomplished Chief Experience Officer), was very close to Tim – they were dear friends. I encourage you to read Kenny’s notes on a sit-down conversation he had with Tim a few years ago here, for more insights on Tim and his storied career. And also Kenny’s very moving homage for even more context after Tim passed last month. His work truly made a dent. Media Recommendations “Apple: The First 50 Years” by David Pogue Released just in time for Apple’s 50th birthday (April 1st), Pogue walks the reader through Apple’s storied history. From its origins, to the many management changes, and of course with a spotlight on its many products through the
Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy
LinkedIn.com, March 2026 -On April 1st, Apple Inc. turns 50. Half a century since two Steves—and a vision that seemed almost implausible at the time—set something in motion that would go on to reshape not just an industry, but culture itself. The timing feels especially poignant with the release of “Apple: The First 50 Years“ by journalist David Pogue, which captures the arc of that journey. I published my own book on Apple 15 years ago – “The Magic and Moxie of Apple: An Insider’s View”. There’s no shortage of retrospectives celebrating the products, the milestones, and the mythology. But anniversaries like this aren’t just about looking back. They’re also about understanding what actually mattered—and what still does. Read the entire article at Apple at 50: What Most People Still Don’t Get About Its Greatest Innovation and Legacy
Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A
LinkedIn.com, March 2026 – Several years ago, I wrote about the inevitability of a streaming platform acquiring a major Hollywood studio. And just a couple of months ago I published an article specifically on the implications of Netflix acquiring Warner Bros/HBO. The thesis was simple: Distribution + Data + IP would eventually collapse into a single operating system. Last week, that thesis was tested — and the outcome is, well, complicated. After months of negotiations, Paramount (via Skydance) secured Warner Bros. Discovery, outbidding Netflix and reshaping the consolidation narrative. Netflix walked away without any further discussion or negotiation. And that decision may matter more than the transaction itself. Read the entire article: Plot Twist – When the Platform Didn’t Buy the Studio: What Paramount’s Win Means for the Future of Media, Tech & M&A
The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins
LinkedIn.com, February 2026-There’s a seductive myth in our culture: That success comes from a breakthrough moment, a viral post that lands, a single brilliant move, a moonshot deal. Or even luck! But in reality? It’s almost always the result of something far less glamorous and far more powerful. In a word — Consistency. In The Slight Edge, author Jeff Olson argues that the small, seemingly insignificant actions we take daily — or neglect daily — are what compound into extraordinary outcomes over time. Not dramatic, not flashy, but decisive and almost predictable in terms of the results that accrue. Read the entire article: The Compound Power of Consistency: Why the Slight Edge Always Wins
New Lenses, New Possibilities
As long-time readers will attest, I’m all about living into “What Ifs” and possibilities. As we embark on this coming year, amid all manner of uncertainties swirling around us (many of which we can’t control), I think it’s more important than ever to look at what we can do and what inspired actions we can take that empower and embolden us. One of the things we have control over is our mind, what we focus on, our attitudes, and where we direct our attention. If I have one piece of guidance for you this year, it would be to try and have a more expansive view on our lives; consider alternatives and possibilities in all areas of our life and our work. If something is stalled or blocked, what creative ideas can you conjure up which would allow you to try another approach or path to get where you say you want to go? As one of my esteemed colleagues is fond of saying, “this is not a go it alone life.” Reach out if you’d like some support. I’m always here for you. Here’s hoping your year ahead is fulfilling for you on multiple levels. To your success. Kelli Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills (not often taught in U.S. schools) Our schools are preparing students for tests—but not for life. As best-selling author Scott Galloway recently underscored in his No Mercy / No Malice newsletter, and as Pew Research Center data confirms, most young adults are entering the world financially underprepared—not because they’re incapable, but because we’ve failed to teach them the basics in high school. Budgeting. Debt. Credit. Investing. Cash flow. These aren’t “nice-to-have” skills—they’re foundational to adulthood. When schools ignore financial literacy, the cost shows up later as anxiety, dependence, and delayed independence. It also appears to limit financial success over time. This article explores what’s broken, why it matters, and what must change if we want the next generation to truly thrive. Read the Article Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays As we wrap up the holiday season and step back into the work world, the most effective strategy may be to take a page from our holiday pace—and embrace slowing down rather than speeding up. Doing so can better support our nervous systems while optimizing our impact in the process. In this article, I discuss the power of “Slow Productivity” and how working with greater focus and intention can actually lead to better results, while minimizing stress and burnout. Read the Article Spotlight Ritual at Manresa I have friends who are gourmands and who travel the globe eating at some of the finest restaurants in the world. While that can certainly be fun, it can also be time-consuming and expensive. Those of us in the SF Bay Area now have the reverse opportunity—to enjoy something extraordinary right in our own backyard. Legendary chef David Kinch of Manresa in Los Gatos has partnered with visionary entrepreneur Luis Caviglia to create something special and unique called Ritual at Manresa, housed in the same location as the famed and beloved restaurant in Los Gatos. Luis curates a rotating lineup of some of the best Michelin-starred chefs from around the world, each of whom completes a monthly residency at Manresa. These are impeccably crafted experiences that reflect the culture and talent each master chef brings to members of Ritual. Ritual at Manresa is a membership model, and it is definitely an investment for those who choose to participate in these unique experiences. That said, it’s far more affordable than global travel and much easier logistically for us locals. I was fortunate to experience one of these wine-and-dinner pairings prior to the holidays, and it was truly a magical evening. Many of the innovators and founders in Silicon Valley (and elsewhere!) that I meet are seeking unique, memorable experiences—and Ritual at Manresa is a shining example of what’s possible. I highly recommend it for individuals and couples, as well as for team-building with founders, innovators, and leaders who want to deliver a truly exceptional experience for their people. Media Recommendations Jacob Collier (his live show in SF & BBC doc) Last year, I was introduced to the multi-hyphenate musical genius that is Jacob Collier. A friend recently brought me with her to see his show at Davies Hall in San Francisco, and I was completely blown away. Jacob is a young savant—a Grammy-winning English singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who creates unique, innovative, genre-defying music that has captivated and lit up audiences around the world. He first came on the scene via YouTube during the pandemic, where he became famous for covering popular songs and recreating them in inventive ways that showcased his extraordinary talent for vocal harmonies and lush arrangements, paired with visuals that became music videos in their own right. He’s truly amazing and one of a kind. The BBC did a short documentary on him, which I highly recommend, entitled Jacob Collier: In the Room Where It Happens. It’s a great overview of this genius. Ripple (Netflix TV series) A friend recommended this eight-episode drama series to me, which was just released on Netflix last month—and I loved it. The story centers on four strangers in NYC whose life experiences become intertwined following critical losses, detours, and high-stakes decisions that alter the trajectory of their lives. As the series progresses, the viewer is drawn into the characters as we experience the ripple effects of small actions with significant impact. The storytelling and acting are first-rate. Eight episodes were not enough and left me hungry for more; I hope the show gets picked up for renewal and additional seasons. It’s a real winner. What Happened To Your Hair (book) Gunnar and Matthew Nelson are identical twins, sons of the late Ricky Nelson, and chart-topping performers in the early ’90s. Beyond their obvious musical talent, one of their biggest claims
Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills (not often taught in US schools)
LinkedIn.com, January 2026 – We talk a lot on LinkedIn about future skills: AI literacy, leadership, strategic thinking, resilience. And yet, when it comes to the basic economic foundation that enables all of that — financial literacy — we are failing our young people. That’s the harsh reality echoed by thought leaders like Scott Galloway and corroborated in hard data from the Pew Research Center. Read the entire article here: Implications of kids graduating without financial literacy skills (not often taught in US schools)
Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays
LinkedIn.com, January 2026 – As the calendar turns, as we return to work, and as inboxes begin to refill, there’s an unspoken pressure to snap back into full speed. Back-to-back meetings. Ambitious Q1 goals. The familiar hum of urgency. But what if the most strategic way to re-enter the year isn’t by accelerating— but by moving more deliberately? This is where the concept of slow productivity becomes not just relevant, but essential. Read the entire article here: Slow Productivity: A Smarter Way to Re-Enter the World After the Holidays
Celebrating What Matters Most
This year has certainly brought its share of ups and downs. But as we wind down another year and enter the holiday season, I hope you’ll take some time to celebrate what matters most in your life. Whether it’s your health, your family and friends, or the adventures you get to enjoy, most of us are pretty fortunate. This is a great time to slow down and reflect on all the love and abundance in your life, and to be grateful for what’s going well. It’s a pretty crazy world these days—so take a moment to hug those who mean the most to you and count your blessings. Let’s make the new year the best yet! Happy Holidays, Kelli When the Platform Buys the studio: Why Netflix-Warner Bros/HBO Changes Everything (and Why it Was Inevitable) Netflix’s acquisition of Warner Bros. & HBO isn’t just another media deal—it’s the inevitable collapse of distribution, data, and IP into a single operating system. More than a decade ago, I predicted that a streamer would eventually acquire a legacy studio—not as a bet, but as a pattern. Distribution always pulls content upstream. This moment forces new questions about power, creativity, governance, and what becomes truly scarce in the next era of entertainment. Read the Article! Why Being “Different” Makes You a Stronger Board Member (and Why the Boardroom’s Future Depends on It) Traditional board qualifications are no longer enough. Some of today’s most valuable board members are the ones who bring unconventional backgrounds, nonlinear paths, and multidimensional perspectives. Here’s why being “different” is no longer a perceived liability – it’s the new strategic advantage for modern progressive boards. Read the Article Embracing Neurodivergence: The Other Side of Genius (Why Visionary Founders, Innovators & Creatives are Wired for Breakthroughs) The traits you once saw as flaws may in fact be the source of your genius. After decades advising visionary founders, innovators, leaders and creatives, I’ve come to see neurodivergence as the hidden engine of innovation. Here’s why it’s time we treat it as a superpower—and not a stigma. Read the Article Spotlight: Wand.ai I’ve just started advising Rotem Alaluf, the Founder & CEO of Wand.ai which is the only platform for management, execution, and creation of AI agents as trusted members of your workforce. We should be excited about an agentic workforce not because it replaces humans—but because it liberates human potential at a moment when complexity, speed, and ambiguity exceed what traditional org structures can handle. Enterprises are moving from a purely human-centric model to a new hybrid, dual-workfoce model where AI agents work with people side-by-side, which results in a foundational change in how organizations operate. With this approach, AI models create productivity efficiencies, saving time and money, and minimizing or eliminating redundancies — freeing up people to focus on creativity, judgment, strategy and relationships. This is a structural competitive advantage that compunds over years. We are indeed living in exciting times rich with both innovative breakthrough technologies and emerging business models. Wand is definitely one to watch. Media Recommendations This is the section where I typically share what books I’ve read, or the latest movies and TV shows I’ve watched that I’m enthused about. However, these past couple of months have been quite full — and I’ve gotten behind on all of this. The TV I’ve been watching has mostly been new seasons of shows I’ve enjoyed that I’ve written about previously (and still enjoy!) like “The Morning Show”, “Somebody Feed Phil”, “Palm Royale”, “Man on the Inside”, and the Beatles Anthology. I’m always on the lookout for new media, so for a change I’m asking that you let me know what you recommend I check out; share some of your favorites with me when you have a moment. As I was wrapping up this NSL to send out to you — a gift dropped this morning; it’s a stop-motion animated video of George Harrison’s “Give Me Love” created by Finn Wolfhard & friends — he’s one of the stars of Stranger Things and at just 22 years old is clearly a multi-hyphenate talent to watch!). The video brings to life George and his famous garden gnomes from his Friar Park home in England. Here’s what George’s son Dhani had to say about it: Actor, director, and musician Finn Wolfhard has directed the first-ever music video for George Harrison’s beloved 1973 single “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth).” The song is a highlight from Living in the Material World, Harrison’s highly praised second solo album of original music following the dissolution of The Beatles in 1970. On making the video, Wolfhard says, “To work with the Harrison family and bring this video to life with a team of incredible young Canadian artists has been a great honor. It’s hard to put into words how grateful I am for this opportunity. George Harrison has and will continue to be a huge inspiration to me, and his work will live on forever. Dhani Harrison says about working with Wolfhard, “Finn is one of the sweetest and most talented people I know of his generation, and he is the perfect person to direct a video for my dad. My dad would have loved this, and I hope his wonderful creative heartfelt ideas help this song to reach another generation. Great job, Finn – we love you!. People Say the Nicest Things… Working with Kelli has been transformative for me. She recognized the need for a senior tech lead almost half a year before it became obvious to us — and we’re now feeling the pain of having acted a little too late. Her ability to see around corners like that has been incredibly valuable. What I especially appreciate about Kelli is her holistic approach. She doesn’t just focus on the professional side — she also helps me reflect on the personal dimensions that inevitably influence leadership decisions. Often, those two are deeply intertwined, and Kelli’s perspective helps
When the Platform Buys the Studio: Why Netflix–Warner Bros./HBO Changes Everything (and Why It Was Inevitable)
LinkedIn.com, December 2025- Last week, Netflix announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros.’ studio and streaming assets (including HBO/Max), a move that—if it clears regulators—would mark a structural shift in entertainment, and the most consequential “streamer buys a legacy studio” moment we’ve seen to date. Read the entire article here: When the Platform Buys the Studio: Why Netflix–Warner Bros./HBO Changes Everything (and Why It Was Inevitable)
Why Being “Different” Makes You a Stronger Board Member (And Why the Boardroom’s Future Depends on It)
LinkedIn.com, November 2025- The Boardroom Was Built for a World That No Longer Exists For decades, board recruitment operated like a checklist: Prior P&L experience Strong finance background Fortune-500 pedigree Linear corporate career Deep domain specialization A narrow set of industry-standard credentials That model made sense in a slower, more predictable era—one where strategic planning spanned years, not quarters, and disruption came in the form of a new competitor, not an entire new paradigm of technology or consumer behavior. Read the entire article here: Why Being “Different” Makes You a Stronger Board Member (And Why the Boardroom’s Future Depends on It)
Embracing Neurodivergence: The Other Side of Genius (Why Visionary Founders, Innovators & Creatives Are Wired for Breakthroughs)
LinkedIn.com, November 2025- For starters, what does “neurodivergence” mean? Neurodivergence describes people whose brains process, learn, and/or behave differently from what is considered the societal norm or “neurotypical”. This includes a range of neurological conditions and differences, such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and Tourette syndrome, and is considered a natural variation in human brain function. The term is used to describe these differences without labeling them as inherently flawed. It refers to differences in how an individual’s brain works, affecting areas like social interaction, communication, learning, and attention. Read the entire article here: Embracing Neurodivergence: The Other Side of Genius (Why Visionary Founders, Innovators & Creatives Are Wired for Breakthroughs)
Do Something Now that Your Future Self Will Thank You For
Today’s world is more chaotic than ever, and it’s moving at what feels like an ever-increasing speed with lots of moving parts. We don’t have control over much of that — but we do have more control than we think when it comes to our attitude, our habits, and the choices we make today that can affect our lives in the future. The actions we take in the present moment can support us in creating a more empowered future for ourselves — by recognizing that today’s decisions and efforts can have a long-term impact on our well-being in many areas of our lives. This includes small habits like maintaining our homes, cars, and devices so they serve us well for longer; making healthy lifestyle choices like eating better, committing to daily movement and exercise, and getting sufficient sleep; improving our financial stability by managing spending and setting aside funds regularly for savings and investments; and bigger, more meaningful things like investing in our most important relationships with friends and loved ones — including having difficult conversations when warranted to strengthen and deepen those bonds, even when those moments are challenging. Plan for a better future by considering your “ideal day” and what you can do starting now to bring that vision closer to reality. Take some of the baby steps outlined above — with consistency — and others I’m sure you’ll come up with that resonate with you. Don’t aim for perfection, but do start now — and embrace the journey with its ups, downs, and sidesteps. What matters most is consistent, mindful effort in the areas that are most meaningful for you today and for the long term. Believe me, your future self will appreciate all of it! Note: This is a double issue, so it’s a bit longer than usual — thanks for indulging me. I have a lot I want to share with you! Be Well, Kelli Breaking through the Cobwebs of Calcification When one Too Many Disappointments Knocks You Out of Orbit When you get knocked down and suffer a stretch of disappointing experiences or letdowns over time, your soul and life force can begin to harden or calcify. In this article, I discuss how to navigate through these times to regain your vitality and your compass. Read the Article! Seeing Entire Universes Within a Single Idea Collapsing Time to Accelerate Outcomes Most people treat ideas as small sparks that might turn into something – someday, down the road. But visionary leaders know that every powerful idea already contains an entire universe within it—an ecosystem of possibilities waiting to be activated. The shift comes when you can see the whole field of potential in a single idea—and act from that place. Do that, and you collapse time. What might take years can unfold in months or weeks, sometimes even faster. The next time inspiration strikes, don’t ask “what could this become?” Instead, ask: what universe is already here now, waiting for me to step into it? Read the Article! Cocooning for the Next Level Why Visionary Leaders Must Pull Back to Reinvent and Rise During Periods of Transformation The most visionary leaders know that real transformation doesn’t happen in the spotlight — it happens in the quiet. Here’s why pulling back, cocooning, and reimagining your identity is the secret rhythm of reinvention that precedes every major breakthrough, and propels you to greater success. Read the Article! Spotlight: Athena Alliance I’ve long dabbled with the notion of sitting on paid boards (private and/or public). Recently not one but several trusted colleagues who are on boards urged me to join Athena Alliance. It’s a prestigious community that supports leaders to build impact across the portfolio of their career — whether in the C-Suite, in the boardroom, as investors, advisors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and more. They host curated live gatherings, virtual webinars, and provide rich educational opportunities for participants to become board ready, to elevate their careers, and to leave their mark in the way that suits them the best. The caliber of the women I’ve met in this network so far has been really premium & prestigious; & the learnings are impactful. I’m betting that my board participation will most likely come through referrals within my network, but even early days, the insights and connections I’m getting from being a member of Athena will no doubt deliver wonderful opportunities as well. In Memoriam Each year the big awards shows like the Oscars and Grammys pay tribute to colleagues in the industry that we’ve lost that year. We lose great individuals in threes it seems. Just this past month, we lost three amazing individuals who i’ve always had great admiration for. Each of them was fiercely authentic and operated by their own rules. They all played full out throughout their lives and left lasting cultural legacies. I’d like to share some brief personal observations about each of these icons. Robert Redford I have loved Robert Redford’s work for over 50 years; I think my first exposure to him was in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid at the theater. His magnetism and charisma was evident even to a young me, and the camaraderie he shared with Paul Newman was electric. I loved how he chose thoughtful roles that allowed him to showcase and portray a rich array of facets of his personality and character — both as an actor and as a director. Then of course taking a stand for independent films by founding the Sundance Film Festival demonstrated his versatility and conviction towards making a difference. Both of us narrowly escaped being passengers on United Airlines Flight 93 on 9-11; I always wanted to have that conversation with him about what the circumstances were for each of us — if we’d had the chance to meet, but alas I never got that opportunity. Jane Goodall Jane Goodall was perhaps best known for her ground-breaking research on chimpanzees in Tanzania early in her career showcasing their complex
Cocooning for the Next Level: Why Visionary Leaders Must Pull Back to Reinvent and Rise During Periods of Transformation
LinkedIn.com, October 2025- The Paradox of the Visionary Visionary leaders are often seen as unstoppable — always innovating, building, expanding. But what few understand is that sustained expansion requires intentional contraction. Read the entire article here: Cocooning for the Next Level: Why Visionary Leaders Must Pull Back to Reinvent and Rise During Periods of Transformation
Seeing Entire Universes Within a Single Idea (and collapsing time to accelerate outcomes)
LinkedIn.com, September 2025- Most people treat ideas as seeds that may or may not sprout, waiting to see if they’ll grow. But visionaries know something different: every truly potent idea already contains an entire universe within it. It is a fully formed ecosystem of possibilities, waiting for us to perceive it in its wholeness and bring it into reality. Read the entire article here: Seeing Entire Universes Within a Single Idea (and collapsing time to accelerate outcomes)
Breaking Through the Cobwebs of Calcification (when one too many disappointments knocks you out of orbit)
LinkedIn.com, August 2025 – When you get knocked down and suffer a stretch of disappointing experiences or letdowns over time, your soul and life force can begin to harden or caldify. In this article, I discuss how to navigate through these times to regain your vitality and your compass. Read the entire article here: Breaking Through the Cobwebs of Calcification (when one too many disappointments knocks you out of orbit)
Honoring Your Zone of Genius
We all have strengths, superpowers, and things we excel at that come easily to us — but we can’t always see these things ourselves. If you know yours, you’re a step ahead in life. If you don’t, ask those closest to you (your inner circle) to share what they see in you in that context. Once you gain clarity — and it truly sinks in — I believe it’s your duty to honor yourself by embracing the things you do really well, that feel natural and effortless, that you enjoy, and that create a meaningful impact on those around you. I do my best to live this way — and you know what? Life gets a lot easier and more fun when you do! Sometimes it takes a while to get there, but the impact you make and the enjoyment you get from it are well worth the effort it takes to dial this in. What are your zones of genius? Do you know? I’m curious to hear — if you’d like to share them with me. And if you don’t know, maybe I can help… Reach out here! Articles: Shifting Communication Dynamics From “What Do You Do” to “Who Are You”? I’m on a mission to eradicate the “What do you do?” question and replace it with ones that foster more human, soul-level connections from the start — beyond business norms. Maybe it’s time for a change. I share more in this article. Practicing Self-Care in Busy, Uncertain Times Tapping into Your Own Renewable Energy In today’s world of nonstop demands and competing priorities, “self-care” is often reduced to bubble baths and brief escapes. But in reality, self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s an overlooked leadership strategy and a daily survival imperative. Here are five grounded approaches to help you tap into your inner energy reservoir when everything around you feels depleted. The Analog Renaissance; Why Tangible Experiences Matter in a Digital Age Despite the pervasiveness of digital technology, some analog experiences continue to endure—retaining their meaning, significance, and purpose for a variety of reasons I explore in this article. Why VCs and PE Firms Need Trusted Advisors in Their Corner An overlooked force multiplier for founders & portfolio company success. Seasoned, trusted support can make a critical difference for founders. That’s why VCs and PE firms benefit from experienced, objective advisors like myself—partners who can help portfolio company leaders navigate challenges and avoid costly missteps. With fresh perspective, I uncover overlooked opportunities and proactively address issues before they escalate. Spotlight Innovit (Italian Innovation and Culture Hub in San Francisco) There’s a fantastic organization in San Francisco called Innovit, which brings talented innovators and founders based in Italy to the heart of Silicon Valley. In doing so, they’ve created a powerful ecosystem and cultural bridge. Each month, they spotlight founders from different industry sectors. In July, my colleague Jalaj Hora—who was curating the Fashion and Beauty cohort—invited me to participate as both a mentor and a Shark Tank-style judge for the visiting founders. I was truly impressed by the caliber of the entrepreneurs and the professionalism, vision, and impact of the Innovit team. I look forward to getting more involved with them. Media Recommendation Devo — a new documentary just released on Netflix — is an absolute must-watch for fans of the band. I first met them when they were taking off on the heels of “Whip It,” during a signing at my local Tower Records. Later, I had the chance to interact with Mark Mothersbaugh while running music at Apple, and he remains one of the most talented and authentic artists I’ve ever encountered. The documentary explores their influences, rise to fame, and the cultural impact they had on a generation. It reveals who they truly were: part visionary artists (in the broadest sense — true performance artists across media and formats), part societal catalysts who encouraged critical thinking and challenged norms, and part uniquely talented musicians who happened to ignite the zeitgeist of the early ’80s. They were never content with the status quo — quite the opposite — and they arrived at exactly the right time and place. People Say the Nicest Things… “I engaged Kelli during a pivotal time during my career, and I cannot imagine having navigated so many storms without her unwavering support and guidance. She helped me refind my conviction and “use my power” as I moved from a large corporate role to a CEO role. During each of our sessions she would offer great ideas to stay ahead of the curve and in control of my story and messaging. She pushed me further and higher than anyone I’ve ever worked with before. For anyone at a crossroads or in need of a career boost, Kelli is unparalleled. I value her real world perspective and because she comes from direct experience her advice is relevant, actionable and effective. I wouldn’t be where I am now without Kelli’s support!” Shauna McIntyre fmr CEO, Sense Photonics (Board Director, ex-Google, +)
Why VCs and PE Firms Need Trusted Advisors in Their Corner An overlooked force multiplier for founders & portfolio company success
LinkedIn.com, August 2025 – Trusted advisors offer a variety of benefits to startup founders and leaders, enabling them to navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship and increase their chances of success. Here’s how.
The Analog Renaissance; Why Tangible Experiences Matter in a Digital Age
LinkedIn.com, July 2025 – Analog living—whether in the form of vinyl records, handwritten notes, or film photography—isn’t just a nostalgic nod to the past. It’s a conscious rebalancing, a reminder that not everything valuable can be downloaded, scrolled through, or stored in the cloud. These analog practices offer something our digital tools often can’t: depth, texture, slowness, and intention.
Shifting Communication Dynamics From “What Do You Do” to “Who Are You”
LinkedIn.com, June 2025 – We’re overdue to shift from role-based introductions to more meaningful, soul-based connections. Here’s how.
Practicing Self-Care in Busy, Uncertain Times Tapping into Your Own Renewable Energy
LinkedIn.com, June 2025 – Here are five grounded strategies to tap into that inner energy reservoir when everything around you feels depleted.
Why It’s Important to Reinvent Yourself & Your Brand Periodically (& launch of my new site)
LinkedIn.com, May 2025 – Repositioning yourself and your brand periodically is essential because growth requires evolution—and without it, relevance, resonance, and results fade. Here’s why it matters.
Post-Vacation Exhaustion is Real: How to Re-integrate with Grace, Not Grit
LinkedIn.com, May 2025 – Reintegration was a bigger challenge than I imagined it would be. Here’s how I got back on track.
Getting your voice (and presence) out in the world with events
It’s all too easy to do business via Zoom; many of us have become accustomed to that being the primary way we work — certainly since Covid. But it’s equally important to show up, get our voices heard, and to press the flesh at live networking events as well. It’s a great way to demonstrate thought leadership, to reconnect with our communities and our colleagues, and to meet prospective new clients as well. Most of the conferences and events I participate in tend to be lumped into the Fall and Spring, and the Spring events have largely wound down by this point as we enter Summer and people are heading out on their vacation getaways. I participated in two great events this month — and am already looking forward to the ones in the Fall. Women’s Bustin’ Barriers Business Summit (led by Debra Morrison) A dozen inspirational highly accomplished women came together in fireside chats online over two days with the dynamic Debra Morrison, to share stories of how they overcame obstacles, built bridges, and persevered in achieving their dreams and professional ambitions. I was chosen by Debra to participate as one of them, and we had a lively chat sharing insights and wisdom to empower women over 50 to realize their own goals. Opal AI & Tech Investing Forum Over the course of two days, a premiere gathering of visionaries, investors, innovators and inudstry leaders came together in San Francisco to explore the future of innovation (particularly AI) and investment across multiple industry sectors including space exploration, med tech, automotive, blockchain, and many others. We discussed market trends & strategies, geopolitical influences and strategies, and networked with leading minds in private equity, venture and technology. Opal Group is a leading global event group that produces first rate events on a variety of topics aimed primarily at investing for family offices — educating them on a range of topics and introducing them to experts that they can foster meaningful relationships with (in tandem with one another). I always enjoy participating in these events, and am honored to have become part of this exceptional community. …let’s see what Summer has in store (!). I’d love to hear about any fun vacation plans you may have. Be Well, Kelli How Visionary Leaders Can Better Navigate Challenging Situations There’s no question that we’re living in turbulent times of constant change and upheaval requiring resilience and flexibility at every turn. For visionary leaders with a growth mindset, tackling hard things involves approaching challenges as gateways to new possibilities, options, and innovations. In this article, I share some tips and approaches tailored specifically for leaders who thrive on expansive thinking (including some powerful questions to ponder). Read the Article Choose Yourself First: The Shift That Changes Everything (you are not an option – why it’s time to make yourself a priority) There’s a quiet ache that many leaders, visionaries, and givers carry—often hidden behind accomplishments, outward confidence, and even stoicism. It’s the experience of feeling like an option in other people’s lives, while showing up as a constant in theirs. You won’t always be someone’s first call, first thought, or first choice. And while that might sting, it’s also the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed.Because here’s the truth: You are not here to be someone’s option. You are here to be your own priority. Read the Article Spotlight What I Do – Who I Am (Minevich post) I have struggled with the question “What Do You Do” for many years – and have even been on a mission to eradicate it (!); but it’s so firmly ingrained in our society. I honestly don’t care about how someone pays their bills, I want to know what their passion is, where the joy is in their life – and what lights them up. Yes, even from the moment I meet them. Recently, a long-time colleague, Mark Minevich (a thought leader in AI) shared his thoughts on this question — and his words resonated so loudly within me. It’s exactly what I’ve wanted to express myself forever, and he does it here so eloquently. It’s not what you do — it’s who you ARE. Brian Wilson’s passing We’ve just lost another musical genius in Brian Wilson — whose legacy is indelible, and whose talents and impact have been compared with Beethoven. The leader (and lead songwriter) behind The Beach Boys has left a rich and unique canon of songs that are timeless and light up all who hear them — for the past 60 years and will continue to far into the future as well. Brian and Paul McCartney were born just two days apart and they respected one another enormously. It’s arguable that without Pet Sounds (which inspired Paul no end) there would not have been a Sergeant Pepper’s. Paul has forever said that “God Only Knows” is “the greatest song ever written” — and that’s high praise indeed. They only played together once – in 2002 – at an Adopt-A-Minefield fundraiser that I co-produced. The two of them played a couple of songs together for the first and only time before or since; “God Only Knows” and “Let It Be” – with their respecive bands backing them. Jay Leno was the host. It was truly a magical eventing and only the 500 or so people in the room got to experience that spine-tingling experience. It was definitely a career highlgiht for me. Media Recommendations Somebody Feed Phil Netflix I’ve written about this TV show before — it’s one of my favorite series on Netflix – and I’ve been waiting eagerly for Season 8 to drop which is just did this month. I’m a big fan of Phil Rosenthal’s, and have been forever. He’s best known for his work behind the camera as the creator of the beloved series “Everybody Loves Raymond”. But he came out in front of the camera several years ago as the host of this delightful series which takes him to wonderful
Shaking Things Up – Globetrotting, New Site, and More! – A Note from Kelli
My international travels have been quite sporadic since the pandemic shut down, and I’ve been looking to ramp back up in that department over the past year or so. An opportunity presented itself last month to join five friends on a trip to Portugal and Spain, for some R&R, sightseeing in both places – and to walk for a 5-6 day portion of the Camino de Santiago (a bucket list thing for most people I know). The Camino portion was structured through Backroads Travel – and we had a fantastic time, they knocked it out of the park; I’d highly recommend working with them for any group travel adventure you may have in mind. Our time in Porto, Portugal and Madrid, Spain was our own and unstructured; we still did and saw a lot – soaked up the culture, enjoyed great food and wine, and walked a LOT. My only regret was our time there was more limited than I’d have liked. Still it was so refreshing to get out of the nest, out of my comfort zone, and soak up some global culture and adventure; it was soul-nurturing, eye-opening, and very much needed!* In the spirit of shaking things up, I also just re-launched my website since my return from that trip; it’s a brand refresh of sorts and I’m really pleased with it. If you have a site yourself, I think it’s important to fine-tune your images and messaging every few years to ensure you stay modern, fresh, current, relevant, and aligned with what matters most for your clients. The theme for my brand refresh is ‘globetrotting visionary sage’. Please drop by for a visit and dive into it when you can; take your time — I’d love to hear what you think. *(I’d also love to hear whether you have some fun travel adventures planned this year so please share if so!). Be Well, Kelli Post-Vacation Exhaustion is Real: How to Re-integrate with Grace, Not Grit Have you ever come back from your vacation in need of a vacation to recalibrate back into your normal routine? In this article I share some observations and tips to try out from my own recent experience. Read the Article Why It’s Important to Reinvent Yourself & Your Brand Periodically (& launch of my new site) A message that I share with many of my clients is the need to reinvent ourselves periodically; that includes our self-identity, and also how we position ourselves (our “brand”) in the world. Repositioning yourself and your brand periodically is essential because growth requires evolution—and without it, relevance, resonance, and results fade. Here’s why it matters. Read the Article Spotlight Val: The Val Kilmer Documentary We’re losing more of our cultural heroes these days it seems. In April we said goodbye to Val Kilmer, an actor who I had enormous respect for during his career heyday, and as well during the past decade or so that he suffered valiantly with physical decline personally. I highly recommend watching “Val,” his personal documentary and an autobiography of sorts that he released back in 2021. It’s a terrific overview of his life. I never had the pleasure of meeting Val, but he sure had a fantastic run — I’m so pleased that he was able to participate with good friend Tom Cruise in the “Top Gun: Maverick” (sequel) that came out in 2022, courtesy of AI algorithms and a text-to-speech approach enabled by a company called Sonantic, which was subsequently acquired by Spotify. Tech saved the day, and enabled a most powerful reunion between the two actors that was emotional, impactful, and was a memorable highlight of the film. Watch the Trailer Media Recommendations Adolescence Netflix A crime drama focused on a young teen accused of murdering one of his classmates, the series focuses on the events leading up to the murder. It also dives deep into the teen himself, the impact both to him and to his family, the psychological implications, as well as broader societal implications and the process of how the situation gets handled. It’s gripping, well-done – and has become one of Netflix’s most highly-rated series. Watch the Trailer Pee Wee on Himself HBO I was a big Pee Wee fan when he was on top of the world in the 80s; he had a unique sense of humor, flair, creativity, and self-expression that I resonated with greatly. I also admired what Paul Reubens achieved in creating this character that society embraced so fully for a time. However in the process, Paul allowed Pee Wee to all but subsume his persona and identity which he reflects on in this well-done documentary of an otherwise reasonably private man. The interviews were completed within a week of his passing back in July 2023; he’d been suffering from cancer for several years prior — which the filmmakers had no knowledge of. (Many years ago, Paul sent me the gift of DVDs of his Playhouse series, as well as his Christmas Special, which I will always be grateful for; I covet them even more since his passing even though I can now stream them). Watch the Trailer Good Energy: The Surprising Connection Between Metabolism and Limitless Health by Casey Means, MD Regular readers of this newsletter know of my passion for optimal wellness, and my own struggles/battles with hormonal and metabolism-related issues for decades. Most of our chronic health conditions can be attributed to our metabolic function and challenges with our immune system as a result. This groundbreaking book pivots on how these issues are a direct result of how well the cells in our body create and use energy. It may be nerdy for some, but the linkages the author connects provide fresh insights and welcome information that helps explain what’s going on — and shares practical tips for how we can better manage the situation. Check out the book John & Paul: A Love Story in Songs by Ian Leslie
Choose Yourself First: The Shift That Changes Everything
LinkedIn.com, April 2025 – You are not an option – why it’s time to make yourself a priority.
How Visionary Leaders Can Better Navigate Challenging Situations
LinkedIn.com, April 2025 – Here are some tips and approaches tailored specifically for leaders who thrive on expansive thinking.
Spring is Here! A Time for Renewal and Reinvention
Spring is upon us. I don’t know about you, but I had a particularly tough time dealing with the recent time change that took place this month (if you’re in the US you can relate). It took me a full week! This policy around ‘daylight savings time’ was initially put in place around WW1 to conserve energy and reduce the need for artificial lighting. But that was over 100 years ago (!). I think this policy should be abolished, and am hoping the powers that be will align on that in due course. What’s your stance on it? I’d be curious to hear. Time change aside, Spring is a time for renewal and reinvention if ever there was a great time for that. In my case I’m upleveling my brand and will be launching a new and improved web site, as well as putting out a new eBook in short order; stay tuned for updates on both of those activities. Coming soon! Is it time for you to consider something similar? What’s calling to you to take action on in this time? Again, reach out and share what you’re pondering; I’d really love to know! Be Well, Kelli From Isolation to Connection: Overcoming the Fear of Past Failures to Cultivate Well-Being for Founders, Innovators, and Leaders The journey to success is often isolating, and for many, past failures compound this loneliness, creating anxiety, stress, and a lingering fear of repeating mistakes. But what if failure isn’t something to be feared but embraced as part of the process? What if connection, rather than isolation, is the key to sustained success and well-being? Read the article to learn more. Read the Article Revitalize Your Mind: How to Overcome Apathy & Rediscover Your Inner Brilliance As a leader, you are expected to be a source of energy, vision, and inspiration – consistently, always on. Yet, even the most driven leaders encounter moments of apathy—times when the spark dims, the passion wanes, and the weight of responsibilities feels heavier than usual. Here’s how you can break free from apathy and rediscover the energy, creativity, and vitality that spark you up and make you an extraordinary leader. Read the Article Media Recommendations Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy I admit it, I LOVE the Bridget Jones films starring Renee Zellweger; the franchise is over 20 years old, and this is the four (and allegedly final) installment in the series. In this film, we find Bridget a widow raising her two children on her own, and getting back into the dating scene as well as getting her old job back as a TV producer. If you love this series, you’ll appreciate that many of the original characters have returned for continuity. Interestingly this film franchise has a much bigger following overseas so while it’s been enjoying a theatrical run elsewhere it was only released in the US streaming to Peacock subscribers. That said I enjoyed it so much I watched it a couple of times — good fun and highly recommended! Watch the Trailer With Love, Meghan Netflix This is Meghan Sussex (nee Markle) demonstrating her passion for and expertise as a fabulous host. In this initial series of 8 30-min episodes, Meghan invites friends and notable influencer guests to a lovely country home – near the one she shares with Harry and her children in Montecito near Santa Barbara – where she shares cooking, gardening and hosting tips. I realize the series has taken some hits with critics, but I really enjoyed it — her personality and talents shine through, and it’s a lifestyle I envy (wish I had the opportunity to do more of myself!). It reminds me of a series I loved in the late 90s with a similar approach called “Next Door with Katie Brown” (look it up if you’re curious to compare them). I particularly liked the episode with the legendary Alice Waters who basically invented the Farm-to-Table movement, and clearly Meghan is a huge fan of hers as well. Apparently, Ted Sarandos at Netflix is a big fan and there is talk that the series will be renewed for a second season. Watch the Trailer Buy Back Your Time: Get Unstuck, Reclaim Your Freedom, and Build Your Empire by Dan Martell Turns out the real definition of wealth isn’t how much money you have, but how much freedom and control you have over your time! Dan is a successful serial entrepreneur and founder with several exits, and is also a renowned SaaS coach. In this book he shares insights and tips for how fellow entrepreneurs can scale their business and manage their time. He shares a broad range of practical, easy to implement tips across a broad range of situations — with a systems thinking mindset. I particularly enjoyed a couple of the last chapters in the book on dreaming big (as in having a 10X vision), and what he refers to as a “Buyback Life” with approaches like pre-planning your year ahead of time so the important things are addressed. Buy the Book People Say the Nicest Things… Working with Kelli was a transformative experience that elevated my leadership in ways I hadn’t fully tapped into before. She has a keen ability to provide insight that challenges you to think bigger and operate at your highest level. Through our work together, I gained a deeper awareness of how I could fully leverage my strengths, step into opportunities with greater intention, and lead with even more confidence. Her candid, thoughtful guidance helped me refine my approach, embrace my authenticity, and expand my perspective on what’s possible. Kelli creates an environment where open and meaningful conversations flourish, allowing for real growth and impactful shifts in mindset. She genuinely believes in the people she works with and is committed to helping them maximize their potential. Her support didn’t just reinforce the leader I already was—it helped me unlock new levels of effectiveness, clarity, and influence. I’m grateful for the experience and the lasting impact it’s
Revitalize Your Mind: How to Overcome Apathy & Rediscover Your Inner Brilliance
LinkedIn.com, March 2025 – As a leader, you’re expected to be a source of energy, vision, and inspiration. Yet, even the most driven leaders encounter moments of apathy when the weight of responsibilities feels heavier than usual. Here’s how to rediscover the energy, creativity, and vitality that spark you up and make you an extraordinary leader.
From Isolation to Connection: Overcoming the Fear of Past Failures to Cultivate Well-Being for Founders, Innovators, and Leaders
LinkedIn.com, March 2025 – I explore how leaders can move beyond fear, redefine failure, and cultivate deep, meaningful relationships that support both their personal well-being and their professional impact. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/from-isolation-connection-overcoming-fear-past-leaders-kelli-richards-tjuxc
The Power of True Friendships is Timeless
As a ’super-connector,’ I know a lot of people and have made a lot of friends over time through various jobs and communities I’ve been a part of — like many of us have. For years (even decades) I was pretty good at keeping in touch with most of them. However as time has passed (I’d say over the past ten years in particular), I’ve drifted away from many people who I really care about. It’s not something that I’m proud of, and I’ve made a vow to close the gap and re-sync with more of my people. I’ve realized that when someone crosses my mind, it’s important to reach out and let them know I’m thinking of them. Inevitably it means so much to them, and though time may have passed, the depth of the relationships we’ve forged remains and we pick up as if there have been no gaps. I’ve found this to hold true both for friendships and for business relationships. I was sitting in my favorite coffee shop not long ago, and when I looked up I saw one of my favorite Apple Alum – Peter Hoddie – who was one of the original engineers that developed QuickTime technology. We had an unexpected catch-up on the spot which was really delightful. I hadn’t seen him in years but as referenced above, it was as if no time had passed. More recently, I flew to San Diego for a celebration of life of a dear friend who passed unexpectedly last fall. One of my close friends from my year of doing graduate coaching training with Alan Cohen, Montie Sommers, lives in San Diego so I took the opportunity to see if she was available for brunch. We had a fantastic visit that lasted a couple of hours and really lit me up. So I guess the moral of this story is, do your best to stay in touch with your friends and colleagues; we all need people in our lives who know us, our history, who care about us – and who we care about in return. Life is short, and it’s important to retain those ties and not to let time and other distractions carry us too far apart for too long. Consider reaching out to folks who are meaningful to you when you think of them and not putting that off; that’s a great way to stay actively engaged. I’m curious if you have ways you like to keep your friends and community close to keep those ties intact; let me know! Be well, Kelli The Benefits of Having a Garden Sanctuary for Visionary Innovators and Leaders Having a garden sanctuary in your environment is more than just a luxury; it’s a soul-nourishing necessity in our fast-paced, digitally driven world. In this article, I share why creating and maintaining such a space is really essential for your well-being, creativity and alignment as a visionary innovator and leader. Read the Article Spotlight We Can Do It Women Podcast I was recently interviewed by host Debra Morrison for this podcast. The community is focused on empowering women over 50, and it pivots around the notion that it’s never too late for women to reinvent themselves and to create impact. Our discussion centered on my journey and insights around innovation and reinvention throughout your life and career. Watch the Podcast Spotlight ARK Big Ideas Report 2025 I recently watched Cathie Woods of ARK Invest do a talk on trends in innovation that are important for investors to pay attention to. Cathie is a top stock picker and founder of the $60B ARK Invest which over the years has made phenomenal returns on her investments in cutting-edge technologies. She and her team have just come out with their “Big Ideas 2025” report which is a deep-dive guide to breakthrough technologies poised to boost productivity dramatically, to revolutionize industries, and to create long-term investment opportunities. It’s a must-read report that centers on transformative change. Download the Report Media Recommendations Lonely Planet – (Netflix) One Friday night recently, I was home alone and didn’t have a clear idea of what I wanted to watch when I came across a Netflix film entitled “Lonely Planet” starting Laura Dern – I always enjoy her films. I enjoy romcoms, especially after a long work week, and as a lightweight film this looked like it would fit the bill for the evening. The film centers on a restless, somewhat reclusive novelist who attends a writer’s retreat in Morocco designed to gather together a host of prestigious authors. She runs into a younger man while at the retreat (Liam Hemsworth) — and what starts off quite casually turns into a love affair. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and would definitely recommend it if this type of movie is what you’re after. Watch the Trailer Longevity Guidebook: How to Slow, Stop, and Reverse Aging — and NOT Die from Something Stupid Peter Diamandis is an entrepreneur, futurist and a doctor. He’s perhaps best known for being the co-founder and executive chairman of Singularity University, and the founder and chairman of the XPRIZE Foundation. I’m a big fan of his insights. In this, his latest book, he shares insights on cutting edge technologies, therapies and trends that can allow us to live healthier, longer lives. It’s a book designed to inspire you to optimize and maintain your best health to take best advantage of the transformative breakthroughs taking place rapidly in the science and medical fields. He maintains that over 70% of your potential longevity is based on your lifestyle, not your genetics, and is therefore within your control. He goes into great detail about his own health regimen and protocol, sharing his diet and exercise routines, including the 75+ pills he takes daily. Buy the Book Delivery Sensitivities for Wildfire Victims Who Lost their Homes Companies delivering packages or mail to homeowners impacted by the loss of their homes due to fire or other disasters need to
Delivery Sensitivities for Wildfire Victims Who Lost their Homes
LinkedIn.com, February 2025- Last week, the actress Mandy Moore pointed out that Amazon left a package for her in-laws on the curb of their former home that was destroyed by the recent wildfires in LA, which would have been quite obvious to the driver. Read the entire article here: Delivery Sensitivities for Wildfire Victims Who Lost their Homes
The Benefits of Having a Garden Sanctuary for Visionary Innovators and Leaders
LinkedIn, Februrary 2025 – Having a garden sanctuary in your environment is more than just a luxury—it’s a soul-nourishing necessity in our fast-paced, digitally driven world. Here’s why. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-having-garden-sanctuary-visionary-innovators-kelli-richards-wioac
The Skill of Resilience is Underrated
Just a couple of weeks ago, several regions of Southern California were hit hard by raging wildfires that came on very suddenly, as a result of 100 mph Santa Ana winds, and two of them in particular – the Palisades fire and the Eaton fire – wiped out whole towns swiftly and completely. The damage spanned over 50,000 acres, and thousands of homes and memories were lost in an instant – displacing many thousands of people and animals. Many of my friends and colleagues were among those who lost everything and it’s soul-crushing. It’s hard to imagine the devastation and the impact on those affected, but while it will take time and a lot of support, these people will get on with their lives. We’ve had these types of fires in Northern California over the past several years with similar experiences (and the Lahaina fire in Maui!) so we’ve witnessed this before. Situations like this are where humanity is tested; one thing I know for sure is that we are nothing if not resilient. On a smaller scale more personally, two of the closest people to me in my inner circle are getting ready to move to other states — and this will be a real test of my own resilience. I know we’ll remain tight, but I won’t be able to see them as often and this will most certainly be a challenge for me. I also had a scary incident during the Holidays, where a trusted vendor who has been managing my website hosting and back-end maintenance for the past several years suddenly just disappeared without a trace. My site, which is a cornerstone of my business, was down for a week as a result (thank goodness restored by the heroic efforts of my business coach who had the chops) — and it was unnerving not to be able to reach the vendor who vanished. I still have no idea what happened to her, but I’ve since found a terrific resource to replace her, and all is well for the moment. That episode required resilience for me to get through a nail-biting experience. The only thing we can count on in life is change — and sometimes there are hidden gifts we can’t see until we’re on the other side. In the case of my IT support, my new team is already adding so much more value. What are some examples in your life where resilience allowed you to prevail in challenging circumstances? I’d love to hear about them. Be well, Kelli Empathy in Action – Supporting Wildfire Victims In the wake of the recent devastating and catastrophic Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles (similar to those we’ve suffered through in Northern California and in Lahaina, Maui), our hearts go out to the many individuals and families who have lost their homes, belongings, their lifestyles and their sense of security. Disasters like these leave a profound impact, not only on the victims but also on the broader community. Here are some ways we can lend a hand. Remember, help is needed long after it’s no longer front page news! If you’re seeing this on THURS Jan 30th, today is also the day of the FireAid Benefit Concert to support LA fire victims featuring many of the biggest artists in the business — all lending their time and talent to the cause. Read the Article The LA Fires A Note from Rob Tercek I’ve been in touch with several of my friends and colleagues in LA in the wake of the recent fires. My friend Stewart Copeland (best known perhaps as the drummer of The Police) tells me his family home and studio were spared; the fire was held back to within 700 yards of their property! And here’s a really meaningful post shared on Facebook by another long-time colleague in media and tech, Rob Tercek (photo on the left), who resides in the hills above Hollywood. Here’s what he had to share: “Today I dealt with some tasks I’ve been avoiding. Sweeping up the dust that has settled on every surface, and writing a big check for property taxes. Death and taxes. Sweeping the floor after a wildfire offers a silent moment of meditation about impermanence, fragility and human vanity. There is dust everywhere. The dust comes from ashes that fell like snow from the sky last week But these big fluffy white snowflakes are different from mountain snow, because they instantly turn to black tarry ash when they land on a flat surface. The decks and patios are filthy with grime. My grand piano usually gleams with a deep black sheen. Today it’s coated with a dull grey patina. The couches and floors, too. I am sweeping up the last remains of 10,000 houses that were incinerated a few miles away. The Santa Ana winds ensure that every house still standing in Los Angeles County will get a random distribution of the missing ones. Two weeks ago, the dust that now covers the floor and bookshelves in my house was somebody’s home and all the stuff in it: family photos and scrapbooks, childhood mementos stuffed in a box in the garage and long forgotten, now lost forever. Someone’s favorite chair, a cherished painting, a family’s beds and sheets and towels and several closets filled with clothing. Their ugly wallpaper, maybe, and their curtains and rugs. Their shoes, piled up by the back door. The contents of their kitchen cabinets, pantries and linen closets. The couch where the family watched TV. The TV, too. All gone, burned to ash. Some dude’s carefully-restored vintage Porsche that he washed and polished every Sunday. Reduced to a black skeleton and dust. The pool toys, chairs and wooden decks that surrounded a now-empty swimming pool, a black hole in a vacant yard next to a scorched chimney to mark the spot where the living room once stood. Books, paper records, and electronics, all incinerated. Some kid’s game console, Dad’s old desktop computer,
Empathy in Action – Supporting Wildfire Victims
LinkedIn.com, January 2025- In the wake of the recent devastating and catastrophic Palisades and Eaton wildfires in Los Angeles (similar to those we’ve suffered through in Northern California and in Lahaina, Maui – and the flooding of Asheville, NC), our hearts go out to the many individuals and families who have lost their homes, belongings, their lifestyles and their sense of security. Disasters like these leave a profound impact, not only on the victims but also on the broader community. Read the entire article here-Empathy in Action – Supporting Wildfire Victims
When a Key Vendor Abandons Your Business
LinkedIn.com, January 2025 – How to build a backup plan for the key parts of your enterprise. Here’s a step-by-step checklist for you to follow. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-key-vendor-abandons-your-business-kelli-richards-tdyrc
The Lack of Critical Thinking Skills in Today’s Society (and the impact that results)
LinkedIn.com, Dec. 2024 – The decline in critical thinking skills in today’s society is a multifaceted issue with profound implications for our future. Here’s what we can do about it. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/lack-critical-thinking-skills-todays-society-impact-results-richards-wlfdc/?trackingId=1wd4vBPZSbmPSphFlbgcBA%3D%3D
How to Perform Better Due Diligence (for investors and advisors alike)
LinkedIn.com, Nov. 2024 – Performing effective due diligence before investing in – or advising – startups requires a thorough evaluation process to understand potential risks, assess the viability of both the business model and the founders, and gauge the potential for growth, scale and impact in the marketplace. Here’s my checklist for success. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-perform-better-due-diligence-investors-advisors-alike-richards-ih9oc
The Curse of the Visionary (In Work and in Life)
LinkedIn.com, Oct. 2024 – Visionaries often see possibilities that others may not recognize, but this ability comes with several inherent challenges that can often feel like a curse. Here’s my approach to working with it. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/curse-visionary-work-life-kelli-richards-mauyc/?trackingId=T5XEc%2F3XT42qcWwaSvoqOA%3D%3D
Celebrities as Brands and Entrepreneurs (several have become billionaires outside their core focus)
LinkedIn.com, Sept. 2024 – The rise of celebrities becoming billionaires as entrepreneurs is a trend that has grown significantly in recent years – and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s what’s happening. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/celebrities-brands-entrepreneurs-several-have-become-outside-kelli-2bwoc LinkedIn.com, Sept. 2024 – The rise of celebrities becoming billionaires as entrepreneurs is a trend that has grown significantly in recent years – and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s what’s happening. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/celebrities-brands-entrepreneurs-several-have-become-outside-kelli-2bwoc
Why Energy Matters in Your Work & Your Wealth
LinkedIn.com, August 2024 – Energy is a fundamental aspect that impacts both work and wealth in several ways. Here’s how to maximize it. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-energy-matters-your-work-wealth-kelli-richards-dudjc
Become More of Your Real, True Self by Telling a Different Story
LinkedIn.com, July 2024 – Rewriting your story can be a transformative process that empowers you to live more authentically and fully aligned. Here are some thoughts on how. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/become-more-your-real-true-self-telling-different-story-richards-kqonc
Innovation on Overdrive: Impacts and Insights on the Accelerated Pace
LinkedIn.com, June 2024 – The speed of innovation today is significantly faster compared to where we were 100 years ago. In this article, I share relevant insights and implications. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/innovation-overdrive-impacts-insights-accelerated-pace-kelli-richards-otxjc
The Vulnerability Hangover (why embracing this type of hangover can be a game changer)
LinkedIn.com, May 2024 – Embracing vulnerability can be a transformative experience, allowing you to form deeper connections, foster personal growth, and build resilience. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/vulnerability-hangover-why-embracing-type-can-game-changer-richards-4ywsc
The Evolution of Generative AI for Music
LinkedIn.com, April 2024 – Generative AI for music might seem like it’s ‘the latest thing,’ but it’s not. What’s happening is that machine learning and computing power have finally caught up with the vision. Now there are many powerful options. Learn what they are in this article. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/evolution-generative-ai-music-kelli-richards-9wfic
Being Unreasonable Might Just Be the Most Reasonable Strategy for Innovation
LinkedIn.com, April 2024 – I’ve just returned from a gathering with Unreasonable – a hand-selected global community of entrepreneurs, successful mentors and investors who solve pressing challenges across a range of social impact categories. Here’s how it went. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/being-unreasonable-might-just-most-reasonable-kelli-richards-qmlic
What’s Important to Know about Sora AI for Creatives & Innovators
LinkedIn.com, March 2024 – How the creative community can harness the benefits of AI while minimizing its risks. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-important-know-sora-ai-creatives-innovators-kelli-richards-fywbc
The Many Gifts of Sensitive Individuals
LinkedIn.com, February 2024 – Some of the brightest, most creative and innovative individuals in the world are often highly sensitive, empathic individuals who experience the world differently. Read on to learn more about the benefits of their unique gifts. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/many-gifts-sensitive-individuals-kelli-richards-xomwc
Will Concert Films See a Steady Resurgence?
LinkedIn.com, January 2024 – This would require a concerted effort from filmmakers, musicians, distributors, and marketers, all working together to create a product that resonates with audiences while leveraging the latest technological advancements. Here’s how it could happen. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/concert-films-see-steady-resurgence-kelli-richards-6y84c
WHO KNEW The Smartest People In The Room – David G. Wilson and Kelli Richards
Join me along with David Wilson for an episode chocked full of amazing stories and wisdom. I promise you will leave smarter and more inspired than when you arrived. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/5N2izMh8LXE?si=xdck8FEuJeVS79DE
Give Yourself the Gift of Downtime during the Holidays
LinkedIn.com, December 2023 – Giving ourselves the gift of downtime during the holidays is a wonderful idea – and it’s definitely do-able. Here are some practical ideas to try. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/give-yourself-gift-down-time-during-holidays-kelli-richards-5eilc
Why People Sometimes Waver When Investing in Themselves (and some ways to navigate through these blind spots)
LinkedIn.com, November 2023 – I share 10 insights that can help you break through the barriers that may be holding you back. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-people-sometimes-waver-when-investing-themselves-some-richards-jsscf/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Demystifying the Creative Process
LinkedIn.com, October 2023 – Demystifying creativity involves breaking it down into its components, gaining an understanding of the underlying principles, and revealing the steps and strategies that many creative individuals often use. Here’s how. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/demystifying-creative-process-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Why It’s Important to Flow with Annual Business Cycles
LinkedIn.com, September 2023 – How to pay attention to the flow of annual business cycles and to align your efforts with them. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-its-important-flow-annual-business-cycles-kelli-richards/
The Costly Consequences of Making Assumptions
LinkedIn.com, August 2023 – Mistaken assumptions can lead to damaged relationships. Here’s how to bypass them through clearer communication.
The Benefits of Reading for Pleasure
LinkedIn.com, July 2023 – Reading for pleasure is not just a leisure activity; it’s a powerful tool for personal development. In this article, I list key reasons why reading for pleasure is so significant. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/benefits-reading-pleasure-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
In Flow – Take The Path of Least Resistance
LinkedIn.com, July 2023 – You are never alone in this journey unless you choose to be.
Media Companies Have Consistently Resisted Tech (to their peril)
LinkedIn.com, May 2023 – Those who have embraced tech have been able to enjoy richer consumer engagement and new revenue streams. And for those who don’t… Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/media-companies-have-consistently-resisted-tech-peril-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Insights on the Explosion of AI (with a little help from some of my friends!)
LinkedIn.com, April 2023 – Tapping key visionaries to provide you with a crash course on AI for those who are eager to learn more about where it’s heading next. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/insights-explosion-ai-little-help-from-some-my-friends-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Serious Fun – How Millions of Kids Were Introduced to Classical Music via Cartoons
LinkedIn.com, April 2023 – There’s a real marriage of the timeless appeal of Classical music and animation that continues on which is fantastic because of how it exposes the genre to kids and remains forever cross-generational. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/serious-fun-how-millions-kids-were-introduced-music-via-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Steve Jobs (& other voices) Reanimated via AI
LinkedIn.com, March 2023 – Recently, there have been attempts to reanimate Steve – at least his voice – using AI-assisted technologies. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/steve-jobs-other-voices-reanimated-via-ai-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
The New Venture Capital
On this show, I join Mona DeFrawi to talk about the new wealth creation and startup funding paradigm that is disrupting the venture capital industry. With $80T of US retail investor assets and years of dedicated SEC efforts and regulations to support capital formation and retail private market access – the Future Has Arrived!
The Many Benefits of Seeing New Possibilities
LinkedIn.com, Feb. 2023 – Having access to fresh ideas and possibilities can help to broaden your horizons, expand your thinking, and enhance your ability to adapt to change and stay relevant in a constantly evolving world. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/many-benefits-seeing-new-possibilities-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
January Can Be a Challenging Month for Many
LinkedIn.com, Jan. 2023 – Let’s aim for a sense of wholeness in all areas of our life where the primary goals are contentment and a sense of feeling fulfilled. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/january-can-challenging-month-many-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
Some of My Favorite Holiday Traditions
LinkedIn.com, Dec. 2022 – During this festive season, it’s a good time to celebrate and reflect upon the many gifts in our lives like great friends and colleagues. Read the entire article here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/some-my-favorite-holiday-traditions-kelli-richards/?trackingId=9YkjlzqGQZqiK7gMHEUO3Q%3D%3D
The Waiting is the Hardest Part
LinkedIn.com, Nov. 2022 – What’s stopping you or holding you back from what you most want to manifest for yourself?
Why Apple Music as Sponsor of Super Bowl Halftime Show Makes Sense
Medium.com, Oct. 2022 – The sponsorship makes sense for Apple Music as it competes against Spotify for the most listeners. But it gets even more interesting as we dive deeper into the details Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/why-apple-music-as-sponsor-of-super-bowl-halftime-show-makes-sense-bcce3ca5e8b0
Honoring the Passing of Queen Elizabeth II: What’s Next?
Medium.com, Sept. 2022 – Time will tell how things evolve, but one thing’s for sure; a grand lady who left a major dent in the universe has passed, and a new era has begun. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/honoring-the-passing-of-queen-elizabeth-ii-whats-next-1c7b502c7ac6
Apple Continues to Evolve as a Lifestyle Company
Medium.com, Sept. 2022 – Apple announced several new product enhancements at its annual Fall event this past week. Here’s what I saw. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/apple-continues-to-evolve-as-a-lifestyle-company-453cef99dc95
Choose to Prioritize What Really Matters
Medium.com, August 2022 – We can choose to prioritize what matters most, and to surround ourselves with kindred spirits and loved ones; and that can make all the difference in a life well lived. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/choose-to-prioritize-what-really-matters-fe908d855522
Celebrate the Everyday Gifts
Medium.com, July 2022 – Among life’s challenges there are everyday gifts. We just have to remember to see them. Here are a few examples. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/celebrate-the-everyday-gifts-ef358adf504e
Breakdown Dead Ahead: The Decline of Customer Service
Medium.com, June 2022 – 63 percent of consumers said companies need to get better at listening to their feedback. I agree, and present my own real life examples. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/breakdown-dead-ahead-the-decline-of-customer-service-c842df028862
RIP iPod
Medium.com, May 2022 – Honoring the little device with a big legacy – Apple announced it was officially ending the life cycle of one of its most iconic products — the beloved iPod. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/rip-ipod-d997ec4e26ca
What’s Happened to Rock Music?
Medium.com, April 2022 – Most rock and metal bands make most of their revenues by performing live, but what happened to album sales? Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/whats-happened-to-rock-music-5f729269eb31
Cultivating Curiosity and Wonder
Medium.com, March 2022 – 9 Ways to Embrace Curiosity and Tap into Your Creativity Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/cultivating-curiosity-and-wonder-15caf048560a
Riding the Wave: Navigating Web3 and Music
Medium.com, Feb. 2022 – Web3 is emerging as one of the most dynamic of all the waves we’ve experienced thus far related to multimedia platforms and new forms of content creation, engagement and monetization. Here’s how. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/riding-the-wave-navigating-web3-and-music-980a6486a05f
Cultivating Presence Matters for Leaders
A key challenge that I’ve observed in business is that many execs are struggling with the need to be present, especially at a time when many valuable employees are choosing to leave their jobs. Companies are left struggling to find great talent. As a result, it’s more important than ever to view employees as individuals, to be sensitive to their unique needs, to pay attention and to listen to them carefully, to validate them, and to honor what’s most important to them — in order to attract and retain your best people. As a leader, presence is one of the greatest skills you can master in two directions. First, it allows you to be there fully for those around you as they seek guidance and observe how you show up. And secondly, it allows you to be be yourself more fully and authentically in the moment. When you convey presence, people respond as they feel seen, heard and valued. And at the same time, you operate at peak performance levels tapping your gifts and talents in real time. Your relationships with others improve by default. Being fully present allows for richer, more meaningful connections that foster trust, credibility and loyalty because others sense you have their back and genuinely care about doing right by them. You’re fully engaged, switched on, and aren’t focused on conflicting agendas. It turns out your presence is just about the greatest gift you can give to those around you – including your employees, co-workers, shareholders, friends, family and others. During my many years at Apple, I had some great bosses. For example, I recall how meaningful it was when I announced my engagement that my supervisor at the time made a big deal out of pausing the meeting to acknowledge the news. His reaction was more that of a caring uncle vs a manager at work, and he subsequently arranged a party to celebrate this important milestone in my life. I don’t see that in the workplace much these days (or even back then); it meant a great deal to me, and it engendered even greater loyalty to him as a leader (and to the company!) than I already felt. On a personal note, I was at a family gathering awhile back; an important one — my aunt’s 80th — and I don’t get to spend a lot of time with my immediate or my extended family, so I was really looking forward to it. I’m so used to operating with my To Do list and unfinished tasks to take care of in my head. My mom had to remind me to focus on being present and in the moment. In fact, we went into a book store near the event, and she bought me a book entitled “1001 Ways to Live in the Moment.” Of course I embraced it immediately; how perfect. It was an act of grace that the book showed up at that moment and re-framed the importance of being present. As my mentor Alan Cohen is fond of saying, “you can change the world by the power of your being.” So as we power into this year, consider what you can do as a leader to be more present to your own employees and teams. What can you do to make each individual feel genuinely valued, validated and appreciated? Your presence will pay off in terms of allegiance, increased productivity, greater teamwork and increased retention. And it will go a long ways towards fostering long-term trusted relationships that may extend well beyond your current workplace and throughout your entire career.
Pay Attention When Opportunity Knocks — Embracing Serendipity
Medium.com, Jan. 2022 – How to be better prepared when opportunity knocks.
Reinvention and Transformation are Key Trends this Year
In addition to the challenges, there have also been a number of unanticipated gifts during the pandemic. The “Great Resignation,” is an example in which employees are voluntarily choosing to leave their jobs in the pursuit of a more flexible (and meaningful) lifestyle. This phenomenon was fostered as we were all tethered to our homes throughout the pandemic, and many of us realized that we had more time with our families and loved ones – and reduced stress and loss of time as a result of fewer meetings, office politics, and soul-crushing commutes. We started to realize what really mattered to each of us – and it wasn’t necessarily more material goods, but instead doing things that best used our talents and passions, and that created meaning, legacy and impact in our lives. Many of us realized that through technology we had the means of being able to work from home remotely and do just as good a job as we could have done in the office – if not better without a commute and fewer distractions. And as importantly, the reasons why many choose to leave companies is because of bad managers that don’t honor, empower and validate them as unique individuals. As a trusted advisor, this is the work I do with my clients who are often at a “what’s next” crossroads. My goal is to empower them, help them see possibilities they may not see for themselves, and transform the quality and the meaning of their lives so that they do more of what lights them up and fulfills them now — not waiting for someday — vs what others think they should do, and living with constraints imposed on them like shackles. We weren’t meant to live life that way; that’s simply a recipe for despair. Imagine instead a life of following your intuition, knowing exactly what you are meant to do in this life, and having the ability to pursue the path that’s calling to you. Imagine having a sense of direction, living life to the fullest, and playing full out on your own terms with a sense of agency and sovereignty. When people are following their passion, living their gifts and talents, and pursuing what they are called to do, they are happier, more fulfilled and operating at peak capacity, and they create a ripple effect that uplifts others in their circle by extension. So the transformation at hand is a reflection of the insights many of us came to during this period of isolation and remote work, fueled by the pandemic, which has caused us to re-assess all of these things and more. Here are a few tips to consider as you contemplate transforming aspects of your work and life: Do you enjoy what you do for work? – If not, what can you to do take steps to shift into something that’s a better fit? Do you have a clear vision for what you want your life to look like – your relationships, your work, your lifestyle, and how much you really need to have the life you envision that would bring you the most pleasure? Can you afford to make a change that would bring you greater meaning and fulfillment? If not, what steps can you take to adjust your lifestyle – from paring back on unnecessary expenses to re-locating to a more affordable location? Do you have a support network that works for you – or are you tolerating relationships that no longer serve you (professionally and/or personally)? If so, it may be time to take stock, re-assess and make changes that will ultimately create more happiness, peace of mind, and bring you greater fulfillment. Last but not least, what is it that gives your life meaning and fulfillment? How many of the things that do are in your life right now today, and what can you do to manifest more of the things you envision? Starting creating and living your legacy today. Reinventing and transforming your life can be challenging, yet at the same time the rewards are well worth whatever transitions you go through to craft a life that empowers and lights you up on all fronts. That’s something worth paying attention to this year!
The Importance of Continuously Reinventing and Innovating with Kelli Richards
In this episode, Annemarie Cross speaks with Kelli Richards to explain why you need to innovate and reinvent within your personal life and business. She highlights how visionaries pave the way for industry trends and how we should navigate them. Kelli also delves into finding success as a woman in male-dominated industries. Then, she speaks about how working with a trusted advisor can help you accelerate your vision.
The Benefits of Living Your Life on Purpose
Medium.com, Nov. 2021 – Many people equate success with the amount of wealth they have created, the status they’ve achieved, or the material trappings that demonstrate to the world that they’ve “made it”. But is that really how success should be measured?
The Lost Art of Following Up
Medium.com, Oct. 2021 – There’s an old saying in business that goes “the fortune is in the follow up”. Whether you’re talking about business or even in personal and social situations, the dynamic holds true.
10 Years After: Honoring the Legacy of Steve Jobs
Medium.com, Oct. 2021 – Steve’s legacy and impact spans multiple industries and categories. Here are my thoughts 10 years after his passing.
Reflections on the Importance of Sleep & Rest
Medium.com, Sept. 2021 – According to the CDC, 1 in 3 of us don’t get enough sleep on a regular basis. But we can change that! And in this post I explain how. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/reflections-on-the-importance-of-sleep-rest-dd93f74070a0
Podcasting as an Arrow in Your Quiver
Medium.com, Aug. 2021 – Podcasting is the new blogging — everybody’s doing it, especially thought leaders. If you do it well, you could see a real impact for you and your business. Here are some tips to get your show headed in the right direction. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/podcasting-as-an-arrow-in-your-quiver-2bb7213850ac
Bridging the Gap — Human & AI Voice Synthesis in Speech and Music
Medium.com, Aug. 2021 – A brief history of voice synthesis and how it migrated from a military technology to one that has infiltrated music and that many artists have embraced to enhance their performances. Plus, a heartwarming Val Kilmer story. Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/bridging-the-gap-human-ai-voice-synthesis-in-speech-and-music-8b30f78a496a
The Power of Intention in Manifestation
Medium.com, July 2021 – When you ask for what you want, be prepared to receive it. Do you realize you have the power to create a reality for your life that lights you up and fulfills you at a deep level? Read the entire article here: https://medium.com/@kelli-richards/the-power-of-intention-in-manifestation-1172aeb8daf6
Kelli on Finding your North Star with Finbar O’Hanlon
One of my creative tech genius friends is Finbar O’Hanlon who is a composer, musician, polymath, inventor and entrepreneur based in Australia. He also holds over a dozen patents for inventions in science and technology relating to video and audio. He recently invited me to be a guest on his YouTube podcast he calls “Raiders of the Lost Art”; my episode is entitled “A Conversation with The Starmaker: Kelli Richards.” It’s a wonderful conversation that I think you will enjoy.
Kelli Interviews Miles Copeland!
I sat down with Miles Copeland, former manager of The Police and founder of I.R.S. Records that produced R.E.M., The Bangles, Berlin, Dead Kennedys, The Go-Go’s, and others, for this terrific interview filled with lots of insights about the music business. This is one conversation you’ll want to watch!
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