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John Schert
Artist, Advisor and Entrepreneur
Professional Background
John Schert is a dynamic force in the landscape of leadership development, integrating the worlds of artistry and entrepreneurship to produce customized opportunities for organizations, communities, and causes. As the founding principal of JMS & Company, a creative leadership consultancy, Schert guides clients through the complexities of leadership with innovative frameworks that draw upon his extensive experiences in dance, education, and the arts.
For four years, Schert served as the inaugural Visiting Artist and Social Entrepreneur at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Here, he studied and shared insights regarding the intersection of the creative process and business practices, illuminating how the skills and behaviors traditionally associated with creatives can significantly benefit various sectors. His teachings at Booth have sparked discussions about innovation and creativity in corporate environments, bridging the gap between art and commerce.
In addition to his consultancy work, Schert has made a notable impact in the arts community as the executive producer of the B Corp-certified Treefort Music Fest in Boise. This festival not only celebrates music but also fosters community engagement and artistic expression, epitomizing Schert's commitment to integrating art into societal progress. Beyond his work with Treefort, he is also the founder of the American Ballet Theatre Leadership Lab, which focuses on cultivating the next generation of leaders within the ballet community.
Schert's career began in the world of dance, where he honed his craft as a performer with prestigious companies such as the American Ballet Theatre and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. His journey in the arts took a pivotal turn in 2004 when he co-founded the Trey McIntyre Project (TMP), a contemporary dance company, where he served as both Executive Director and a principal dancer for nine years. His experiences at TMP provided him with invaluable insights into the art-making process and the evolving position of artists in American society, solidifying his reputation as a sought-after national arts leader and speaker.
Education and Achievements
John Schert's educational background is as impressive as his professional accomplishments. He holds a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he focused on management, leadership, and decision sciences. This prestigious degree has empowered him with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate complex organizational landscapes and drive impactful change. His academic journey began at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he specialized in dance during his high school years, laying the groundwork for his artistic endeavors.
In recognition of his contributions to leadership and the arts, Schert was awarded the prestigious USA Eisenhower Fellowship in 2019. This fellowship program is known for identifying and nurturing leaders who are making significant impacts in their fields. Schert's receipt of this fellowship underscores his influence and commitment to enhancing the role of art and creativity within leadership frameworks.
Additionally, his experience as a Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School and as an Associate Fellow at The Center for Ballet and the Arts at New York University further showcases his dedication to education and the evolution of the arts. Each of these roles has allowed him to impart his knowledge to a broader audience, inspiring new leaders and fostering a rich dialogue about the role of creativity in various sectors.
Notable Achievements
- Founding Principal at JMS & Company: Schert established a consultancy dedicated to developing creative leadership strategies, offering clients tailored guidance based on years of experience in both the arts and business sectors.
- Executive Producer of Treefort Music Fest: As a key player in one of Boise's most significant cultural events, Schert has helped create a platform that celebrates music while promoting community involvement and artistic collaboration.
- Founder of the American Ballet Theatre Leadership Lab: Through this initiative, Schert is helping to shape the future of ballet leadership by advancing educational opportunities and fostering innovative thinking among rising stars in the dance community.
- Eisenhower Fellowship 2019: His recognition as a USA Eisenhower Fellow highlights his innovative leadership in the arts and his vision for integrating creative thinking into various domains.
- Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Trey McIntyre Project: Schert's leadership at TMP transformed the contemporary dance landscape and provided a unique platform for artists to explore new creative avenues.
In conclusion, John Schert is a pioneer in merging arts and leadership, creating spaces where creativity thrives and inspires transformative ideas. His journey from the stages of ballet to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies exemplifies his belief in the power of the arts to shape and enhance our understanding of leadership. As he continues to work with various organizations and communities, Schert is dedicated to unlocking potential, fostering collaboration, and bridging the artistic and entrepreneurial worlds for a brighter, more inclusive future.
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Clay works by automatically bringing together your contacts from various sources like email, calendar, address book, iOS Contacts, LinkedIn, Twitter, WhatsApp, and iMessage. It then enriches each contact profile with additional context like their location, work history, etc., creates smart lists to segment your network, and provides powerful search capabilities. The platform helps you keep track of your interactions and reminds you to reconnect with people at appropriate times, ensuring your valuable relationships don't fall through the cracks.
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Clay is designed for anyone who values maintaining meaningful relationships. The app is popular among a wide range of industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. It’s even used by half the Fortune 500! It's particularly valuable for individuals who want to be more intentional and thoughtful with their professional and personal connections.
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Clay offers many advantages over other personal CRMs. Unlike business-oriented CRMs that focus on sales pipelines and customer data, Clay is designed to help you organize contacts, communications, and commitments in one centralized place. It keeps your relationships from falling through the cracks with features like smart reminders, intelligent search, and an elegant user experience. Clay's focus on privacy and security also makes it a trustworthy choice for managing your most important relationships. Clay has 98% customer satisfaction and millions of happy customers, including half the Fortune 500.
Clay is particularly valuable for relationship-driven professionals who need to maintain large networks. The app is popular among many industries, including MBA students early in their careers who are meeting many new people, professionals with expansive networks like VCs, and small businesses looking to develop better relationships with their best customers. Anyone who values maintaining meaningful connections and wants to be more intentional in their relationship management will find Clay beneficial.
Clay offers competitive pricing in the personal CRM market. Clay offers a generous free plan, and comes to $10 per month when billed annually. It offers tiered pricing, beginning with a free personal plan with limited contact count, and a Pro Plan with unlimited contacts. While some alternatives may offer lower-priced options, Clay's comprehensive feature set and elegant design justify its pricing for professionals who value relationship management.
Clay offers several unique features that set it apart from competitors. Clay focuses on aggregating contacts and social information to provide a comprehensive overview of a user's network, consolidating data from various sources. Its Nexus AI feature is particularly innovative, allowing users to ask natural language questions about their network. Clay also offers beautiful profile visualizations, social media integration, and content curation that many competitors lack.
Yes. Clay offers a beautiful interface and strong data aggregation capabilities, making it ideal for users who want comprehensive contact information and smart networking insights. Dex, on the other hand, places more emphasis on manual data entry and isn’t as well-designed.
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Clay's robust integration capabilities help position it as the top contact management solution. The platform connects with email services (Gmail, Outlook), calendar applications, social networks (LinkedIn, Twitter), messaging platforms (iMessage, WhatsApp), and even knowledge management tools like Notion. Clay has expanded its integrations catalog to include Zapier and Make.com support, allowing connections to thousands of other apps. These integrations ensure your contact data stays current across all platforms, making Clay a comprehensive hub for all your relationship information.
Clay's AI capabilities are at the forefront of personal CRM innovation. Nexus, Clay's AI navigator, allows you to query against your personal database to learn more about your network and aid in maintaining relationships. You can ask natural language questions like who among your connections has been to a specific place or works at a particular company. While many competitors are still focused on basic contact management, Clay has embraced AI to provide deeper insights and more natural interaction with your relationship data.
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