Business

Some people call me a networker extraordinaire, and that moniker has helped me make great connections. While meeting new people is good for business, it’s important to steward your existing relationships.

Culinary incubator Roux Carré delivers a unique dining experience to New Orleans. Good Work Network opened Roux Carré as an entry to market for women- and minority-owned culinary businesses. True to Central City’s culture and history, the resident chefs represent African, Caribbean, Latin American and New Orleans cuisines.

Perhaps the single best technique for understanding the views and feelings of others regarding messaging is to use focus groups, which are, in essence, group exercises dedicated to teaching empathy. Focus groups, at least those that are conducted by skilled professionals, are effective in helping people acquire empathy because the conversation often snowballs to allow participants to see the perspectives of others.

It’s easy to make conference calls from almost anywhere. But while they’re convenient, conference calls aren’t the best option for building a relationship.

World Elephant Day highlighted the fact that in 1800, there were 26 million elephants in Africa; in 1900, 5 million; today, less than 500,000. Fifty-five elephants are killed for their tusks daily.

Social media is one of the most powerful tools for connecting businesses with consumers. But how do we know exactly how to use it? Using social media for business is easier (and cheaper) than you might think.

According to Sallie Mae, only four in ten parents have started saving for their children’s higher education. However, nine in 10 parents believe their children will go on to receive higher education.

There have been ample alerts announcing increased interest rates over the last year, so we sat down with Judy Pelitere, senior loan officer at Eustis Mortgage for a Q&A.

The 2018 EMERGE Summit took place from July 26-27, providing a space for millennials to meet and see speakers from different industries. Two of my favorite programs were Women in Leadership and Happiness and the Science of Well-Being. 

Fewer cubicles foster more face-to-face interaction between coworkers, right? That’s the thinking behind the trend toward open workspaces, anyway.

Our country seems more divisive than ever. Where are the days when we could respectfully debate, even learn from a different perspective rather than turn contrary views into shouting matches? A business professional’s political conversation and activity should reflect what he or she is comfortable with while remaining steadfast in one’s beliefs.

Executive coach and business advisor Tina Meilleur offers some firsthand insight into what it takes to be an entrepreneur. She is the owner of Design Your Success and has a broad range of professional experience, from working with small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

The New Orleans Chamber’s VP & COO Sandra Lindquist has been designated as a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE), making her the only CCE actively employed at a chamber in Louisiana.

The Bayou Lacombe Cardinals participate in the Xtreme South Football League’s Hurricane Division and have racked up an impressive records of wins. The team is led by head coach Gerrin Narcisse and includes some of the area’s best former high school and college football stars who entered the workforce after school. The team plays all of its home games at Lakeshore High in Mandeville.

It’s difficult to empathize with recipients of your messages if you don’t know much about them. Gaining insights that help you see the world through their eyes is the only way to put them at the center of the receiver experience. Empathy is an interpersonal skill – something to be learned.

Two brothers signed a contract for an imaginary broadcast acquisition more than sixty years ago. Both own broadcasting operations today. The younger brother, Morgan, is based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Wayne Dowdy, the older brother and writer of that contract, became an attorney, served in the U.S. Congress and owns Northshore Media Group.

Financial literacy shouldn’t start in adulthood. As part of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s Youth Savings Program, Fidelity Bank offers financial education to school-age children with content designed to help each student acquire the skills necessary to manage their financial health.

An innovator is someone with a great idea in the healthcare industry in the growth stage who needs something to take it to the next level, either through experience or resources, like funding.

The New Orleans Chamber Ambassador Committee is a group of volunteers who assist with chamber events, membership retention and more. To recognize this group for going above and beyond, we are starting an Ambassador of the Month program on social media. Our very first honoree is Anthony Feret with the New Orleans Convention Center.

Selecting and appointing your agency is not the end of the road to getting your marketing story going – it’s the beginning. Now you need to play your part as a client – and here is how to do it:

Forming audit committees is becoming more common in the nonprofit sector, offering an unbiased outlet to monitor an organization’s finances. Here are three things to consider when building an audit committee:

There are plenty of things people love to hate about meetings: They’re too long and too frequent; certain people dominate the conversation and other people don’t pay attention; and nothing gets done. Take charge of your next meeting by following these steps:

What is the social responsibility of an entrepreneur for public service? Outside of the holiday season, we don’t often consider how entrepreneurs can contribute to social good efforts.

Fidelity Bank President and CEO Chris Ferris announced Fidelity’s partnership with Stratos Wealth Partners of New Orleans to offer wealth management services to the Fidelity Bank’s clients. Locally owned and operated, Stratos will provide financial planning, investment advisory, retirement planning, estate planning and corporate services.

HR Management is essential for running a successful business, but it is often overlooked by small-business owners. No matter the size of your business, proper HR strategies are a must. Here are some tips for small-business managers to help optimize employees’ performance and create a safe and professional work environment:

Many business owners and marketers recognize the importance of social media but don’t realize that their social media practices might be affecting their website’s Google rankings. Here are a few quick tips to boost your SEO while continuing to grow your following:

Many brands seek increased awareness and engagement online. Instead of purchasing likes or relying on bots, find an influencer who’s a good fit for your brand.

Chances are you’ve started working on a project and needed some direction along the way. We’ve all been there. Catch your confusion early and ask for clarification.

Twenty-five keynote speakers, 20+ sessions and more than 600 business leaders in attendance made for a memorable three days at Inc.’s 2018 Grow Your Company Conference.