Gail Thomas

There are many reasons to tell a story. A story is a step beyond hello.
In the work world, it adds context to a product launch and color to an otherwise dry business presentation. In your personal life, a funny story will take the awkwardness right out of a first date. When meeting someone new at a friend’s party, a common question is: “oh, how do you know each other?” That’s your clue! Tell a story.
If you’re asked to give a speech at a wedding or a memorial service, your unique story about ...

This piece is part of a two-part series featuring Upsolve. To read part one, click here.
For mission-based organizations, success is often defined by a lofty vision statement. But, in the “real world,” translating an ambitious mission into daily activities can feel so intimidating that it often goes no further than large words written on the wall or a website. Still, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a few first steps. OKRs are those steps.
Google’s use of OKRs is the most famous exam...

Exceptional customer service is something you never forget, something that I learned while growing up in a small town in Japan. Embedded in Japanese culture is the concept of “Okyaku-sama Ichiban” (“customer first”). Two of my fondest lessons in outstanding customer service are rooted in my childhood...

When peer-to-peer messaging platform Hustle first started recruiting LaToia Jones, she wasn’t interested. She was happy in her current job, and she had reservations about the tech industry, which “wasn’t known for its diversity.” Hustle kept reaching out. A year later, when Jones agreed to visit the Hustle offices in San Francisco, she was both surprised and impressed. “It was diverse in a way that I never really seen in a corporate environment,” she observed, “opinions were open… there were ...

“With more than 16,000 current job openings in Texas related to computer science, high school students needed some exposure to these high-demand, high-wage careers before college.”

When facing a problem as urgent as the lack of high quality engineering learning in K-12 education, there isn’t time to wait for lengthy scientific studies.

“Part of the journey of this work is being willing to do the work… someone must be willing to take steps, to make some decisions. “ - Courtney Harge, Associate Director, Inbound Marketing, Fractured Atlas

In a world too often blind to systemic racism, Fractured Atlas walks the walk –– setting an early example of how to create an equitable workplace. As a national arts service organization for artists, it is not surprising that Fractured Atlas is wi...

As a first-time startup founder and CEO, Alex Frommeyer (Fro) is accustomed to change. But in mid-2019, executives noticed a growing problem that made no sense: tension between different departments at Beam Dental. Fro was scratching his head, “I kept asking myself ‘why can’t people get along? Why are these teams basically at war with each other?” In late summer, there were daily emotional interruptions from team leaders, complaining that they no longer knew what their priorities were and how...

NYC Health wanted posters for a health campaign to encourage better dental care habits for children.

“At the beginning of measuring something that we have never measured before, it can feel scary. The numbers can feel daunting,” says Rose Kuo, an OKR Coach and Technical Project Manager at TED. When introducing OKRs to teams seeing them for the first time, Rose has gotten used to this reaction.
Fear of failure is only human, especially when asking employees to evaluate their performance against the “ideal state” that an OKR represents. Next, add a number — per Marissa Mayer — and watch the an...

Another choice for NYC Health campaign encouraging better dental care for children.

This piece is part of a two-part series featuring Beam Dental. To read part one, click here.
“How many times did you brush your teeth today?” Just as tracking systems like Fitbit inspire people to exercise more by “counting steps,” Beam Dental rewards customers who take especially good care of their teeth. Using a Bluetooth-enabled sonic toothbrush, the Ohio-based insurance provider leverages technology to tackle America’s systemic problem of poor dental hygiene, an issue that also happens to...

For mission-based organizations, success is often defined by a lofty vision statement. But, in the “real world,” translating an ambitious mission into daily activities can feel so intimidating that it often goes no further than large words written on the wall or a website. Still, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a few first steps. OKRs are those steps.

Google’s use of OKRs is the most f...

Turning the Mirror Around: 100Kin10 Reflects on Trends in STEM Education in this B2B newsletter and executive post.

Putting image and words to the outside envelope for a direct mail campaign which encouraged customers to retain their phone/internet/TV service with Optimum.