As we look back on the year–and what a year it was– Connecting Business brought insightful conversations on how businesses have thrived and pivoted when it matters most. Through challenging times, our guests brought their A-games. We sat down with independent retailers, LinkedIn employees and a chief human resources officer to discuss remote work, businesses’ responses to the pandemic, and had open and honest conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion and black entrepreneurship, just to name a few. Here’s a look back at where we’ve been. We can’t wait to see what 2022 holds!

Cybersecurity, identity theft, data backup. If you’re plugged in, these are all terms you should familiarize yourself with as cyber-attacks are on the rise with hackers continually getting more creative. In this episode, cybersecurity experts from all over the US talk about how cyber-attacks got started, what makes you the most vulnerable, and what you should do to protect your home and business from a breach. Find Bonus Content Here

Chromebooks, Smartboards and ClassDojo. Long before the pandemic, technology was becoming a staple and enabling students, teachers and parents to engage in new and exciting ways beyond the classroom. Last year, technology kept students and educators connected with remote learning solutions. Now, as schools are back in session for in-person learning, we sit down with Adam Hooker, business manager of the Laurel County School District in Laurel County, Kentucky to talk about how technology in education has redefined learning.

Cookie dough and stationery. They’re not typically associated with retail success through digital transformation. So how did Kelsey Moreira of Doughp: Legit Cookie Dough and Chandra Greer of Greer Chicago find themselves on top of the retail game - without a storefront - in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic? By already having strong and successful e-commerce businesses. Host Christina Munoz leads the discussion as Greer and Moreira share the keys to building a strong independent retail e-commerce business - focusing on direct communications with customers, listening to their feedback, and evolving your brand to meet their needs.

Join host Christina Munoz as she discusses the importance of Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) with Blake Woolsey, Chief Communications and Development Officer at Heartland Forward, and Michael McCathern, Executive Director at the John Maxwell Team. Supporting DE&I efforts improve the bottom line and create a better work culture for all employees. Leaders who invest in DE&I see positive ROI through a more productive workforce and better employee retention. Inclusivity allows people with different backgrounds to have a voice, creating a culture where everyone feels valued. Businesses benefit from understanding that the cost of not supporting a culture of DE&I is much greater than the cost of doing it.

Join host Christina Munoz for her conversation with Maggie Young, President of Southwest EAP about helping employees manage their mental health and work stresses. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) support employee wellbeing by providing resources and training to raise awareness about managing stress and investing in self-care. With a 10 to 1 return on investment, businesses who offer Employee Assistance Programs to their workers see improvements to business productivity, morale, and company culture.

Join host Christina Munoz as she interviews Dr. Fitz Hill, Executive Director of the Scott Ford Center for Entrepreneurship. Hill discusses the importance of relationship building between African American owned businesses, banks, lending institutions, government, and businesses in the community. Kinetic Business’ Black Business Support Fund help business owners achieve their goals by enabling entrepreneurs to apply for $5,000 business grants.

Host Christina Munoz interviews Renee Sobotka, financial analyst and banker, and now technology business owner. In this episode, Sobotka talks about how the hectic and dynamic pace of a startup also allowed her to leverage communications technologies and learn how to “fail fast” by recovering quickly from mistakes to put her business on solid ground.

Host Christina Munoz interviews Lorenzo Clark, National Vice President of Inside Sales and Account Management at Kinetic by Windstream. In this episode, Clark provides his insight into how Kinetic by Windstream rapidly moved to a remote work environment as the COVID-19 pandemic forced the company to support the communications and IT security needs of hundreds of employees who are working from home.