The Human Connection Podcast

Is your business’s growth stalled? Employee churn eating into your profits? Struggling with customer retention? 

You need stronger connections.

Every Tuesday, connect with an expert who’s sharing actionable advice for building stronger relationships with your customers, clients, and stakeholders. Hosted by Karl Pontau, a storytelling super-connector, content system strategist, and survivor of two childhood brain tumors, this podcast’s mission is to fix the underlying cause of workplace and societal dysfunction: the lack of human connection.

Learn more at www.thehumanconnectionpodcast.com

Podcast Host

Squash and Stretch Productions

My heroic mission involves guiding teams to bring visionary Content Systems and strategies to life. By fostering a creative environment where complex ideas transform into compelling visual stories, I've helped clients achieve remarkable results. What drives me is connecting clients' missions with audiences through visually striking content that sparks action. By nurturing talent and overseeing seamless workflows, I ensure our work not only captivates but also delivers on strategic goals.

▶️Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

▶️Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client. 

▶️Designed flexible content system for La Familia's anti-Fentanyl campaign, enabling rapid pivot when major challenge arose; directed production and content adaptation while production team saved two lives through Narcan administration during new on-site shoot; final campaign successfully deployed regionwide.

Freelance Art Director / Senior Digital Creative Producer

SAE Expression College

As a Brand Story Coach, I've helped entrepreneurs translate their knowledge into actionable ideas for their ideal consumer. Additionally, in the classroom, I've had the joy of shaping future creatives. Through developing curricula and adapting to diverse learning styles, I created supportive environments where innovation thrives and students discover their creative potential.

▶️Advised a local coach on connecting client challenges to his solutions, boosting referrals and sales through improved value communication.

▶️Mentored college students at SAE Expressions in advanced motion graphics, editing, and branding, guiding them through complex software challenges to enhance their technical proficiency and creative output. 

▶️Inspired young minds aged 9-17 at iD Tech Camps, fostering creativity and teamwork while leading students through courses including web design, animation, and robotics.

Storytelling Coach / Teacher / Mentor

GuideSpark

My leadership journey began as a production team member, where I discovered my passion for contributing toward a shared vision. I learned that great leadership creates harmony in both team dynamics and the final product. I also learned that my favorite projects are socially impactful and profitable. Each project laid the foundation for my skills in leading cross-functional teams, managing end-to-end production, and turning creative challenges into opportunities for growth and connection. 

▶️Fostered open communication between animators and VFX coordinators and ensured director feedback was thoughtfully implemented as Animation Coordinator for The Glass Butterfly.

▶️Created intricate 3D facial animations for a confidential project, honing my ability to deliver exceptional work on time and under budget while honoring client trust at FlickerLab.

▶️Collaborated with a remote team to explain organizational change strategies and processes that help companies be more agile at Fire Tribe, Inc. 

▶️Contributed to a local team that created 1,700+ accurate employee benefit animations in 3 months at GuideSpark.

▶️Championed i-GATE's vision for a thriving Tri-Valley startup community that now brings new tech from local labs to the marketplace.

Contract Motion Designer

Health/Med Tech companies and nonprofits have vital - yet difficult - stories to tell. 

So, they struggle to explain their value and attract their best clients.

What makes a story difficult?

Stories that…

😨Cover emotionally triggering subjects... (Cancer, Overdoses, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome)
😵Focus on complex or abstract ideas... (Battery tech, Air Tank Refill Systems)
😳Reveal deeply personal experiences... (Founder Stories, Mental Health, Loss)

...are all difficult to effectively tell.

But, I am uniquely equipped to solve these challenges because I:

💗 Show empathy and compassion for clients, team members, and audiences via active listening
🧠 Bring a deep understanding of human decision making and behavior to every project
🚀 Employ an entrepreneurial mindset honed from running my small production agency

I was inspired to focus on these skills after overcoming two malignant brain tumors when I was 15, and am forever grateful for my family, friends, and medical team for showing me what can be accomplished when people care for each other, clearly communicate, and work towards a common goal. 

Once you optimize your story, you’ll need to get it in front of your audience.

That takes a Content System.

These:

💡 Starts with a comprehensive Content Strategy
📚 Delivers a custom asset library for your brand
📲 Generates adaptive content for multiple platforms
💰 Results in greater cost savings and ROI over time

For example:

🎉 Led Enovix’s team to clearly and concisely explain the value of their innovative battery tech - taking them from a 45 minute explanation to a 2 minute video – supporting their $1.13B SPAC event and their $250 million contract with the US Army. Optimized creative strategy and message to grab and hold viewer’s attention. Navigated around two major holidays and an unexpected scope change to deliver on time and under budget.

🥂 Recruited and managed the team, budget, and timeline for a collaborative animation project that convinced the San Jose City Council to require life-saving firefighting tech in high-rises, catalyzed adoption in 18 other cities, and contributed to a $100M IP sale for my client.

If you are interested in discussing how I can add value to your team and accelerate your company's growth, please email me at kpontau@gmail.com or send a DM.

Let's talk!

(I’m open to contract or full time employment.)

Karl Pontau

Finconoso

I am a partner at Finconoso, a strategic CFO, tax, accounting, and business advisory firm serving clients across the US and overseas. As a “beyond compliance” firm, we actively seek out opportunities for our clients’ growth and utilize data for decision-making. 
Our work ranges from financial dashboards, unique tax situations, investor/lender relations, financial projections, business valuations, and other accounting and business advisory services. If interested, I’m happy to provide additional materials on our company and services.
We enjoy working in a high-performance environment while keeping each other motivated through humor and encouragement.

Chief Financial Officer

Endorphin Global

Supporting large enterprises with innovative solutions to build value creation while reducing risk and sustaining growth. In an increasingly complex business environment, companies must address compliance while still managing risks. Rather than focusing only on regulatory requirements, our team proactively works with client leadership to identify massive but realistic goals and associated performance drivers.

CFO Partner

Revenue Accelerators

Enabling global firms to enter, scale, and dominate in the US and beyond. We improve SaaS & tech startups' product fit with US markets & targets, align to compelling pains, help gain access, prove your business value impact, and help founders, sales teams, and partners close deals.

Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce

Treasurer / Board Member

Founder Institute

Working with early stage startups to structure financial operations, develop GTM pricing strategies, and address business valuations.

Mentor and Investor

I worked at PwC for 10+ years in a variety of management consulting, financial services, and auditing roles. I supported large to mid-sized organizations with numerous strategic initiatives, ranging from enterprise risk management (ERM), audit readiness, internal controls testing, financial management, system implementation, change management/training, and other highly technical support. I was also responsible for internal activities, such as business development, proposals and white papers, coaching and mentoring staff, and attending conferences and PwC community activities.

Senior Associate

M.C. Dean, Inc.

I supported this engineering, construction, and design/build firm as a project/cost accountant. I was responsible for recording and maintaining profits and costs for a portfolio of projects. I collected data to determine business activity, analyzed budget to actual costs, prepared reports, and discussed results with project managers. I was also responsible for invoicing, purchase orders, and payables for each project.

Project/Cost Accountant

Perot Systems

Budgets/Contracts Assistant

US Department of State

Program Assistant

Smithsonian Institution

Intern - Financial Operations

I like making mistakes, money, and more mistakes :) 
I am a startup/business consultant, wannabe humorist, and perpetually wearing a suit. 
I primarily use LinkedIn to meet interesting people, share ideas on the future of work/economy/technology, and continue in any engaging conversations offline.
I’m also addicted to the “haha” reaction here on LinkedIn. 😆 

I am involved in all phases of a company's growth. Whether you're struggling to find a product-market fit, finding ways to engage your customers, seeking funding, or preparing for an acquisition, we can definitely help!

As a CFO advisor, we also help with complicated finance stacks, FP&A, M&A, KPI dashboards, complex tax issues, and a bunch of other "boring" stuff :)

For educational (and sometimes irrelevant) insights on business, tax, accounting, and finance, please look for “theCFOguy” across all the socials. 

Feel free to connect with me or drop me a message anytime at
✉ email: mayur@finconoso.com
Or
https://linktr.ee/mayur.vyas

Website: finconoso.io

taplio

The Battle

Karl Pontau

Mayur Vyas, CPA

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?