Uniqueka Walcott Communications LLC

The podcast interview has you sweating bullets? Please don't panic. Here is the advice I've given my podcast guests and used myself for over a decade. 1. Remember to breathe; this is usually the first thing we forget to do when we get anxious and tense. Breathing helps relax your mind and muscles so you can bring your best thoughts. 2. Making eye contact can feel tricky. You don't have to stare intensely like you are lovestruck. Remember, the same way you would hold your gaze and briefly look away in face-to-face interactions is appropriate. 3. Repeating the question does two things in an interview. A. It lets you clarify that you understood the request (and helps the audience keep up). B. You borrow a few extra seconds to formulate a thoughtful response 4. You may still need to ask for sample questions. However, if you remember, these are guides for the conversation, and other items may be discussed. Also note that you are not entitled to questions in advance - especially for news interviews to prevent getting overly rehearsed, inauthentic (dishonest) responses to inquiries. 5. I hope you have watched or listened to at least two previous episodes before making broadcast or podcast appearances. This will help you understand the interviewer's style and character. Imagine accidentally appearing on a show that promotes harmful ideas? Or what if the audience doesn't have anything to do with your goals? A little research goes a long way. #personalbranding #communicationstips #interviews #socialselling #broadcasttips

Stepping into your power as an expert isn't the same as arrogance. Audacity must be cheaper than eggs because a lot of people abuse the word expert. Therefore, deciding my voice is essential in the AI space was a challenging choice. I am not an AI expert. I am a marketing and communication strategies expert. Last year I designed and hosted an Ethics in AI panel for Proposal Industry's Experts, spoke at Society of American Military Enginers (SAME) DC post, then the Society of American Military Engineers Small Business Conference about AI. (I also spoke a few other places on other topics). This year, I joined a line-up of all stars at the VisibleThread Optimize24 Conference, and published my thoughts in the Loopio newsletter about barriers to AI adoption... I am involved in a few more events centering AI this year, including returning to the SAME Small Business Conference. We can't leave small businesses behind. We won't leave small businesses behind. The reason I have an a/e/c marketing career is because a small business opened the door for me. Staying in the conversation is a decision I didn't take lightly. I reflected and realized I've been exploring the intersections of technology and marketing since 2017-18 for the A/E/C industries. Then, I gave a presentation to executives and marketers about the use of Augmented and Virtual Reality as a marketing and business development tool. This reflection and exploration of the work true AI experts are offering reminded me that I'm allowed to explore the intersections of technology and marketing without being ridiculous. My curiosity and ability to break down complex information into manageable insights is the reason I keep going. I've made a career out of explaining a wide variety of complex ideas and information to the tune of more than a billion dollars in proposal wins. I even bolster a 50% win rate across multiple years. I have a reputation for winning the Moby Dick bids at each firm I've joined. I've written proposals for bat mitigations, historic preservations, security for marine facilities and boardwalks, bridge replacements, roadway design, disaster recovery, IT services, architectural services, environmental services and more. Even though I'd usually be assigned to just one or two clients or disciplines on paper, my teams learn fast I switch and win because I understand my craft and how to leverage the SMEs knowledge to bridge gaps and build trust with clients. Before 2014, I'd never heard of A/E/C marketing or SF300, but I quit the mortgage industry and took an 8-week contract role as a coordinator. The opportunity to reflect reminded me of my power to blaze new trails and spread meaningful ideas. This time the topic is AI. My gift is communicating. I was five years old, asking adults - do you understand? Now, I spend my life making sure businesses understand each other and collaborate. You have a power, too. How are you using it?

If arming you with useful proposal tips was an Olympic sport, The Shortlist would’ve come away with gold in Paris. 😉 In this month’s edition of the newsletter, you can look forward to: ✅ Medal-worthy AI advice from Uniqueka Walcott, CPSM ✅ A new brain-busting crossword ✅ An invite-only dinner experience in Chicago Dive into it below ⤵

I'll never settle for doing the same year ten times. While I am no longer team "sleep when I die" I am always team "Growth til I die." I wrote a few LinkedIn recommendations this month and it inspired me to circle back and read a few of my own... When is the last time you paused to reflect on your impact and smell your flowers? Sometimes, you have to celebrate how far you have come while striving for your next level. Rushing past the milestones you prayed for is a great way to get disillusioned and overwhelmed with lack of fulfillment. I have worn so many hats over the last 10 years as an a/e/c marketing professional... - Proposal writer and manager - Photographer - Conference planner - HR/recruiting - Speaker - Moderator - AI adoption ambassador - CRM beta tester and educator - Employee engagement leader - Employer branding strategist - Social media content manager - Website content manager (WordPress) - Actor/Voice Over Artist for Projects - Public Outreach Coordinator - Business Development Coach to SMEs - Market Researcher I am sure I forgot something, but let this be a reminder that people shouldn't ever say "just" marketing when they refer to you or your team. This is the list before we ever talk about stats and accomplishments like my 50% win rates or 50% increased following in 6 months or $8,000 in savings via process improvements my first 60 days in the industry. These are great, but I'm most proud of the a/e/c internship program I developed and look forward to hosting again. Setting people up for the kinds of success that can shift generational trajectories is my best work. We take our office etiquette and networking skills for granted when we come from families that can teach us beforehand. I get to bridge gaps when I lead this program.

Because I love interns, I did a new thing this month... I try to tell you guys what I explore each month, and usually, it's less career-related and more real-life. This one is special. I love interns. I had waaaay too many internships in college and I know for a fact most programs suck. Most of us stop there, but I decided it was a disservice to know better and not teach others how to do better. Earlier this month, I shared all of my favorite insights into developing a Stellar Internship program with fellow A/E/C professionals. Here is one of my key insights. Measure and adapt. We may think things are going well but are we tracking and asking the right questions? Listen in and learn more. #ThoughtLeadership #PersonalBranding #Internship