Episode 197: Connecting The Dots with A-Rod Corp’s Kelly Laferriere

In 2005, Steve Jobs shared a personal story during his commencement address at Stanford. The story was about connecting dots. The central idea behind it was that everything happens for a reason but you won’t know the exact reason looking forward…you can only connect the dots looking back. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, karma, whatever it may be, and move forward with confidence that the dots will somehow connect in the future. So, follow your dreams and do what you love and it will all connect in the end. Our guest today, Kelly Laferriere, Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, shares her career journey and how following her heart and trusting her gut has led to her success. And, how it is only now that she is able to look back and connect the dots of each experience she’s lived and appreciate how they all have contributed to where she is today. In her current role at the A-Rod Corp, Kelly focuses on strategic operations, investments, media and entertainment, and marketing. Kelly also serves as the Advisor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, owners of NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. She is a business and brand builder with experience in large companies and startups. Kelly has worked in media, sports, and entertainment for more than two decades, first at ESPN, on the Programming and Acquisitions senior management team, and then at Six Flags, where she led the business and operations of east coast parks. In addition to her current role, Kelly is also President of Slam Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that is an equal partnership of Alex Rodriguez and Himanshu Gulati, the founder and Chairman of Antara Capital. In this episode, Kelly shares the importance of following your personal mission, vision and values, advice on shifting your mindset away from limiting beliefs, and why authenticity is the key to building and maintaining relationships. Visit https://www.iambeyondbarriers.com where you will find show notes and links to all the resources in this episode, including the best way to get in touch with Kelly. Highlights: [03:07] Kelly’s journey [05:51] Shifting your mindset around limiting beliefs [08:11] Following your mission, vision and values [10:03] Articulating your unique value proposition [12:19] Showing your value authentically [14:31] Taking risks & seizing opportunity [16:05] Kelly’s success habits [17:25] Focusing on the right things at the right time [20:00] Building connection and relationships [25:26] Mentors don’t have to look like you [28:54] The importance of self-care Quotes: “Sharing your story not only benefits you but others as well.” – Kelly Laferriere “When making difficult decisions, you need to check across your head, your heart and your gut.” – Kelly Laferriere “It is important to remember that building professional relationships is about creating win-win situations.” - Kelly Laferriere “Identify leaders that empower you, respect and support you, and provide an environment where you have opportunity.” - Kelly Laferriere About Kelly Laferriere: As Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, Kelly Laferriere focuses on strategic operations, investments, media and entertainment, and marketing. In addition, Kelly serves as the Advisor to Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, owners of NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. She is a business and brand builder with experience in large companies and startups. Kelly has worked in media, sports, and entertainment for more than two decades, first at ESPN, on the Programming and Acquisitions senior management team, and then at Six Flags, where she led the business and operations of east coast parks. In addition to serving as Chief Business Officer at A-Rod Corp, Kelly is President of Slam Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that is an equal partnership of Alex Rodriguez and Himanshu Gulati, the founder and Chairman of Antara Capital. ‍ Kelly is a graduate of Georgetown University and a member of the Georgetown Angel Investor Network. Links: Website: https://www.arodcorp.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellylaferriere/ Johnson O’Connor: Aptitude testing: https://www.jocrf.org Via Survey: Character strengths: https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register Book: 15 Commitments to Conscious Leadership: https://amzn.to/3daM5TX