🔔 Follow my journey in the Middle East 📹

Not a consultant. Not an agency. Your temporary co-founder for innovation and growth.

I help ambitious business owners, creators, and startups grow through creativity and strategic use of cutting-edge technology (including AI). As founder of Baviyo, I lead a small but powerful team of creative thinkers and tech experts dedicated to solving your biggest growth challenges.

Many businesses fail with tech because they lack clarity on the real problems they're solving. Trendy tools and software alone won’t create meaningful results. At Baviyo, we:

👉 Start with creativity: Fresh, bold ideas to rethink your challenges.
👉  Deploy tech strategically: Selecting technology (AI included) that truly amplifies your growth.
👉  Deliver clear results: No flashy tools without real purpose.

When you work with us, expect:

✅ Deep problem or opportunity discovery.
✅ Genuine partnership and hustle.
✅ Innovative and creative solutions tailored for lasting impact.

Ready to elevate your business? Message me. Let's make your vision a reality.

Manuel Kistner

Today we’re celebrating 54 years of unity, ambition, and all the moments that make the UAE the incredible place many of us call home.

From big dreams to bold ideas, this country keeps inspiring us every single day. Thank you to the UAE for being the ultimate proof that vision builds reality. Proud to be part of the story.

Happy Eid Al Etihad everybody 🇦🇪❤️

And speaking of big dreams and bold ideas... I've been quiet over the last couple of months. But for good reason. I’ve been heads-down building and working on a few of my own ideas and dreams. I’ll soon share more. Stay tuned. 👀

Re-Inventing... ███████▒▒▒ 70% complete...

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University of Arizona

• Designed and developed curriculum for Food Retailing course
• Delivering Leadership, Management, and Ethics courses.  
• Engaged students through innovative teaching methods and real-world applications.  
• Excited to share 20+ years of food innovation and retail experience with the students at the University of Arizona and the Tucson Community!

Adjunct Professor

Brilliant Workplaces

We help brand founders and their marketing, sales, and operations departments shine brighter than the competition.  Using proven systems for generating sales and retaining talent, I help companies scale their business by sharing the secrets that power the best experiences in retail, CPG healthcare, and hospitality industries. 

Brilliant Workplaces has helped companies with a few employees to those with $9B in sales. 

Projects include: 

- Integrated Marketing 
- Brand Strategy and Positioning
- Content Strategy
- Demand Gen/Lead generation
- Systems for Marketing Effectiveness

- Customer Experience development
- Operations/Process Improvement
- Voice of the Customer
- Customer Success planning and implementation

- Culture development
- Employee experience development
- Leadership Development and Coaching

We can work together in a few ways: 

- Project-based consulting 
- Fractional CMO or CXO services
- Retainer Services

Whether you want to grow sales, create a loyal customer following, or create a customer-centric culture, we can help you achieve those goals.  Learn more on how to become a Brilliant Workplace: www.brilliantworkplaces.com

Founder & CEO

Bassett Healthcare Network

Lead patient experience vision and strategy for the healthcare network, partnering with nursing, physicians and administrative staff on understanding needs and designing interventions for improvement.

Network Director, Patient Experience

Develop strategic plans for all customer experience initiatives and service excellence, voice of customer analytics and service excellence culture, working with care delivery leadership on program development, process improvement and documentation.

Sr. Director, Service Excellence and Patient Experience

Red Shed Brewery

Led marketing strategy, product innovation, sales/market development, customer experience and operational strategy for brewhouse, retail and wholesale business.  Focused on local NY product to support agriculture in the region.

Chief of Marketing, Strategy and Culture

Giant Eagle

Led strategy for customer experience, voice of customer analytics, service and operational standards for retail, pharmacy and convenience channels.  Developed innovative solutions to ensure customer loyalty and retention through team member engagement, leadership and store operations.

Director, Customer Service Strategy

Sr. Manager, Customer Service Development

Manager, Customer Service Development

Perform advanced analytics for market planning, customer segmentation, loyalty strategy, customer acquisition, retention and competitive defense.  Innovate to create targeted experiences and communications to grow sales.

Manager, CRM/Targeted Marketing

Developed creative marketing initiatives to advance sales for perishable and non-perishable store departments, conducted analysis on customer behavior, aligned with merchandising on new product development, product launches, marketing and messaging.

Assistant Marketing Manager, Line of Business

Marketing Assistant, Line of Business Marketing

UCLA

Created and led branding, marketing, communications and events for student and employer recruitment. Organized career fairs, graduate school recruitment events, and UCLA career week.

Marketing, Media and Publications Manager

Marketing Assistant

What makes a Brilliant Workplace?

After years of studying the systems of world-class retail and service organizations, I’ve identified a common thread: 

7 critical success factors for building high-performing marketing and experience teams. 

Plus:

Leadership skills to influence change and drive results.

Working corporately, I was the go-to person for solving marketing and experience challenges. I helped others implement systems that delivered results, whether growing sales, improving customer loyalty, or creating workplaces where employees thrived. 

These skills earned me executive roles, allowed me to build departments from zero, and allowed me to make a measurable impact in industries ranging from healthcare to running a family brewery.

I started my business, Brilliant Workplaces—to help companies like yours achieve the same transformative results.

I’ve worked with organizations ranging from a few employees to 37,000 team members. And regardless of the size, the mission is the same - to create a brand that customers love and a culture where employees can do their best work.

Here’s how I can help you:

Build a brand customers love—one that drives measurable sales growth.

Integrate customer-centric practices into your sales and operations to exceed expectations.

Increase revenue by uncovering new opportunities with your current customers.

Develop systems to attract, recruit, and retain top talent.

You should reach out if:
- Your CPG business has plans to scale.
- Your retail business is facing challenges with sales, customer retention, or turnover. 
- You need a fresh perspective on marketing and experience systems

How We Can Work Together:
-Project-Based Consulting: Tackle specific challenges with a focused, results-driven approach.
-Fractional CMO or CXO: Get executive-level leadership without a full-time hire.
-Retainer Services: Ongoing support to maintain and scale your success.

---

Be Brilliant
I share weekly insights for CEOs, Marketing, and Experience leaders who want to increase productivity, communication, and culture while standing out in their field. My newsletter is packed with actionable tips to help you shine brighter. Don’t settle for ordinary—be brilliant.

Subscribe here: https://subscribe.brilliantworkplaces.com/

Let’s move your brand from good to brilliant.
Learn more at: https://www.brilliantworkplaces.com/

Suzanne Olson

Rightfully so, if you can’t keep the right products on the shelf, you're done.

But here’s what too many retailers miss:

Customer service is just as strategic.
It’s not a “nice-to-have.”
It’s foundational.

I’ve walked into stores where the team knew my name, remembered what I bought last time, and made thoughtful suggestions.

I went back again. And again. And again.

That’s not luck. That’s strategy.

In a world where price and product are easier than ever to replicate, the experience becomes the differentiator.

Train your people like they’re your frontline marketers.
Give them autonomy, empathy, and pride.
Turn every transaction into a moment of connection.

Inventory gets them in the door.
Service keeps them coming back. 

Agree? Disagree? I’d love to hear your take.

Thanksgiving in grocery retail isn’t just busy. It’s personal.

Customers are in a rush.
Everyone needs something.
And sometimes, that one item is everything.

A few years back, I was working the floor the day before Thanksgiving.
And I stopped to help a woman looking for pecans.

I walked her to the aisle where they were, and saw a big empty hole.
We were out. Not a pecan to be found.

She was devastated, but then she shared why they mattered:

Her grandmother had just passed.
She was trying to make her signature pecan recipe—for her mother.
It was more than a dessert. It was a memory.

I checked the back.
Nothing.
I called receiving. Still nothing.

Then I started calling other stores
I called the closest store of ours and then the competitors.
And finally found a bag.

She was overwhelmed with joy.
Such a small thing meant a big moment.

That’s the part of retail people don’t always see:

It’s not just about product.
It’s about people and their stories.
And during the holidays, every small act matters more.

To everyone in grocery this week—
You're not just stocking shelves.

You're helping people hold onto something they love.
Remember that every life has a story.

Have you worked in retail during the holidays?  Tell me your stories ⬇️

Most people underestimate the value of what they know.

Especially in leadership.

You’ve spent:

10+ years solving problems
Countless hours mentoring others
A lifetime of learning how to think under pressure

But to you, it feels normal. Just “part of the job.”

What I've realized: What’s obvious to you is BRILLIANT to someone else.

Your experience isn’t common.
It’s the blueprint someone else needs.

Leaders often forget this.
They stay quiet.
They assume others already know.

But leadership isn’t just about doing.
It’s about sharing.

When you pass on your hard-earned wisdom,
you create more leaders.

And that’s the real multiplier.

Start talking.
Start teaching.

Someone’s waiting for your knowledge.

#bebrilliant

I just reviewed 45 pitch decks, and here's what I learned....

As someone who has done probably close to 100 pitch decks, I know a good DECK.

To me, a great pitch deck has:

-a solid plan

PLUS is:

-visually interesting
-tells a story
-excites

It should incite action
"It gets the people going!!"

But here's what I found:

70% were boring and uninspiring
either the idea or the presentation of the idea.

20% the concept was interesting
but the delivery wasn't there, or the details of execution or ask were missing.

10% were right on
beautifully presented, guided the reader down a path, details were thorough.

It confirmed for me that sometimes the best ideas without the right presentation are lost.

It's not always WHAT you say
it's HOW you say it.

If you want someone to invest in your idea, 
Invest in the time to communicate with a *brilliant* pitch

That's how your company can
#bebrilliant.

What is your secret to a great pitch deck?  Drop a comment below ⬇️

I was targeted for an ad that said "Are you getting 1:1'ed to death?"  

I always enjoyed connecting at 1:1 meetings and found them productive.  However, they were time-consuming and a big part of the week.  

Now, I'm looking at alternative tools to connect with others that don't require actual 1:1 time.  

How much time your week dedicated to 1:1s?  Do you find this time useful?

How many 1:1 meetings do you have a week?

taplio

The Battle

Manuel Kistner

Suzanne Olson

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taplio

The Battle

Manuel Kistner

Suzanne Olson

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Manuel Kistner's LinkedIn Performance

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