Launch Key

The most direct route off the corporate merry-go-round is you.

 Leverage your experience to launch digital products at any age. 

Join 1000+ execs and late career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key newsletter as we share modern tools, old school wisdom and free knowledge gleaned from decades of digital innovation.

Founder | Publisher

EnergyXchain

EnergyXchain was awarded a National Science Foundation Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) grant to conduct research and development work using blockchain technology for transaction processes in the natural gas industry. The company has a growing IP portfolio and patented technology processes that may also be utilized for energy transaction management via smart contracts, with equal applicability in sectors such as hydrogen, carbon attribution tracking, natural gas and electricity.

CEO, co-founder

Empowered

Empowered grew from one question: What if benefits enrollments were easy? Everyone struggled with insurance. Brokers needed more time with clients, HR managers drowned in paperwork and employees couldn't enroll in a basic medical plan without hassle. We wanted to provide everyone with a simple, transparent enrollment process. A process that made it easy for someone to pick the best benefits for their family.

In 2000, we launched our first consumer-driven healthcare programs, sprinting ahead of the industry by prioritizing people. Today millions of employees trust this platform for their benefits. Empowered is  wholly owned by Aflac.

Chief Innovation Officer, co-founder

Leader of the effort to redesign, develop and deploy EDA’s flagship data product as an online analytics tool. Product launch led to 20% increased sales and returned 100% of the investment in the first year post development.  

With the insight that EDA brings to the table, businesses can make better decisions by identifying trends, exploiting market opportunities, supporting sales service dealer strategies, being informed about regional hot spots, and emerging markets.

If you sell, finance or service capital equipment, EDA offers you the priceless information and timely market intelligence you need to get ahead. www.edadata.com. EDA is a Randall-Reilly company.

VP of Sales and Marketing

Vialogix

Web development company focused on user-based web solutions for internet, intranet and extranet applications.  Solutions included e-commerce, Web-enabled and database applications that enabled clients to reduce business costs or increase sales. The business cultivated long-term relationships with a broad client list that included Fortune 500 level companies Baker & Taylor, Bank of America, First Citizens Bank, National Gypsum, Novant Health, and Wachovia.

Rob Norris Communications

Built technology consulting practice specializing in digital asset management. Apple expertise used for creating networks, managing infrastructure with corporate clients - First Union National Bank, Interstate/Johnson Lane, Royal Insurance, advertising agencies in the Charlotte area. Created multimedia CD-ROM projects, interactive projects and first web based tools in 1994.

President

Coleman Lew & Associates

Recruited advertising and marketing executives for a retained search firm. Interviewed prospects and researched backgrounds. Wrote recommendations, presented candidates, negotiated salaries and benefits with clients.

Executive Recruiter

30+ years of business experience creating and leading innovative technology businesses. From the 90's internet to AI, I've carved out a living explaining and building solutions to solve business problems. 

Expertise in application development has been leveraged across energy, health care, financial services, ecommerce and data analytics businesses. I've sold to both Fortune 500 companies and SMB. I've bootstrapped and won National Science Foundation grants. There have been my fair share of entrepreneurial mistakes but have also published patents and even won a SXSW award. 

I'm not quite finished with technology and can help you avoid a few headaches with your own digital products. I recommend resources, and tools to add to your career portfolio and spin up your dream in weeks - not years. My network includes experts in literally every business function and I will happily recommend people who will level up your startup. Win/Win/Win.

Join the Launch Key newsletter for free: 
https://launchkey.beehiiv.com/subscribe

Rob Norris

Happy Thanksgiving 🍁 

And especially to entrepreneurs who have a lot to be thankful for. We never succeed all by ourselves. Take time to show gratitude to customers, employees, partners, mentors, backers but most importantly family. 

This weeks Launch Key ⬇️

Founder | Publisher @ Launch Key 🚀 | Add to your career portfolio with a passion project or side hustle. Join like-minded execs, SMB owners and late-career entrepreneurs reading the Launch Key for digital inspiration.

Open article: Thanksgiving for entrepreneurs by launchkey.beehiiv.com

This week’s Launch Key reminder is that there is no perfect career path. But there are plenty of options to make your own career portfolio far more interesting. 

Just 3 subscriber examples from Dean Otto, Tom Hewitt and Christopher Jones. 

Get in there and read about them for yourself ⬇️

Open article: Career portfolios by launchkey.beehiiv.com

We can't all have a bear steal a chainsaw on camera. 

But if we do, it's a chance to build an audience. Husqvarna social media folks effortlessly joined a funny online conversation and created buzz with humor and product giveaways. 

This week's Launch Key with a little more on the Creator Economy and using your wit. ⬇️

Open article: Creator economy of chainsaw bears by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Growing an audience with humor and experience

Did you see Taylor Sheridan's Billion dollar deal? 

In a time when Hollywood types are scared that AI will replace them, Sheridan just won generational wealth because of authentic talent. All because he bet on himself. 

That's the topic of this week's Launch Key 🚀

Outsized results are possible when you bet on yourself. 

Get in there ⬇️ 

https://lnkd.in/eMZntXVB

Open article: Bet on yourself by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Not all products are digital. 

Your late-career side hustle might not always come out of your work knowledge. Christopher Jones created a non-digital Bloody Mary mix while working on his weekend sailing hobby. 

This week's Launch Key 🚀  has the latest. 

Get in there ⬇️

Open article: Not all products are digital by launchkey.beehiiv.com

Turn your passion project into a late-career side hustle

Universal Music Group

Built the global data and analytics function for the $12 billion music and entertainment company operating in 60+ countries. Drives strategy for data, analytics, and insights to improve business planning and performance across the organization. Leads a global team that leverages advanced AI models and cutting-edge data science practices to optimize marketing activities, strengthen business planning and forecasting, inform product roadmap, help UMG’s music labels identify new talent, and enable artists to deepen engagement with and improve overall experience of billions of fans globally.

Naras leads UMG’s global data and analytics team, driving a new direct-to-customer (DTC) and e-commerce business. The group leverages advanced AI models and cutting-edge data science practices to help UMG artists build and deepen their fan relationships and help music labels identify opportunities in the rapidly evolving cultural and technological landscape.

Chief Global Data & Analytics Officer

Novo Nordisk

The Fit for the Future Advisory Board is intended to challenge and accelerate Novo Nordisk's innovation by sharing diverse perspectives, building translatable successes, and identifying new combinations of existing knowledge.

Fit for the Future Advisory Board

World 50

Member

Ascend

Ascend is the largest global network advancing Pan-Asian professionals in the workplace

Quaero

Conceptualized, founded, and led the provider of a customer data and analytics platform (CDP), built for large enterprises with complex data environments and significant teams of data scientists and analysts building machine learning and AI models and delivering Data-as-a-Product. 

Positioned Quaero as an attractive acquisition candidate and completed sale to CSG International in 2021.

CSG Systems International, Inc.

Led the post-acquisition integration and served as General Manager of the US operation, provided oversight for operations and a team of 160

Senior Vice President and General Manager, Quaero

Quaero Corporation

Founded and led the marketing and technology services company that helped leading brands across the US improve the effectiveness of their comprehensive marketing efforts and marketing technology investments. 

Sold the business to CSG Systems in December 2008; served as Chairman of the Board.

Founder & CEO

Wells Fargo

Created and built the Knowledge Based Marketing Group at First Union Corporation, which acquired Wachovia and was then sold to Wells Fargo.   Served in a high-visibility position, notably as the Bank’s first data & analytics executive. Built and grew the first of its kind function into a nationally recognized effort which served as a gold standard for other institutions.

Senior Vice President, Knowledge Based Marketing

McKinsey & Company

Recruited as an expert in data analytics to develop the firm’s capabilities and offerings in this space. Provided strategic advice to leadership teams of Fortune 500 companies in the packages goods, automotive, marketing and utilities industries.  Led multiple data-oriented engagements with clients across the U.S. and created the foundation for the Firm’s Data & Analytics practice area which grew to a multibillion-dollar revenue stream within several years.

Engagement Manager

NielsenIQ

The BASES Group which is now part of NielsenIQ.  

Innovated new products and services to inform market entry and expansion for new brands of leading CPG firms such as Procter & Gamble, Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola and non-CPG businesses such as Hewlett Packard. Introduced a new product sales forecasting tool for non-packaged goods.

Vice President Of New Product Development

A recognized expert in leveraging data and AI to power businesses, I’m most energized when building and scaling organizations, unlocking revenue opportunities, and increasing shareholder value as a C-suite executive and board director/advisor. 

I currently serve as Chief Global Data & Analytics Officer at Universal Music, a $12 billion music and entertainment business, where I drive the organization’s data and analytics  strategy and lead a 75-person team comprised of data scientists, researchers, engineers, analysts, and data governance experts in supporting a fast growth DTC eCommerce business, optimizing marketing activities, informing product roadmaps, helping UMG’s music labels identify new talent, and enabling artists to deepen engagement with billions of fans globally

Over the course of my career, I built and sold two data-based businesses, innovated new solutions and offerings in the data space, helped build a data/digital practice area at McKinsey & Company, and influenced the transformation and growth of iconic brands and businesses such as The Coca-Cola Company, Intercontinental Hotels Group, PayPal, PepsiCo, Marriott International, Procter and Gamble. I’ve also lectured at leading colleges across the US and authored a book on high-performance marketing. 

Board service has included advisory positions with publicly traded companies, privately owned businesses, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions where I’ve been able to make strategic contributions based on exposure to multiple industries along with my strong future orientation. I continue to engage with organizations such as World50 and Ascend which enable me to serve as faculty and mentor the next generation of leaders. 

Coaching and advising executives and spending time with family round out a very full life.

taplio

The Battle

Rob Norris

Naras Eechambadi

Followers

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Performance ScoreRob Norris's LinkedIn Performance

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taplio

The Battle

Rob Norris

Naras Eechambadi

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);}Rob Norris's LinkedIn Performance

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Performance ScoreRob Norris's LinkedIn Performance