In this episode of the Winning at Business and Life podcast, Professor Pete Alexander conducts a rapid‑fire "6 questions in 7 minutes" interview with Matt Zinnmann. Matt introduces himself as the author of the mindset‑focused book Z‑isms: Insights to Live By and as the CEO/founder of the nonprofit Internship Institute, which helps organizations create and scale internship programs, including virtual placements. He explains that his driving force is making a difference, citing examples such as growing an internship cohort from two to fifty interns and launching a program for a nonprofit aiding human‑trafficking survivors. When asked about work‑life balance, Matt emphasizes structure, clear expectations, and energy management—tackling high‑energy tasks when he is at his best and reserving low‑cognitive tasks (e.g., laundry) for other times. He recommends fellow leaders Alan Lazarus and Kevin Palmieri of the Hyperconscious Podcast as future guests. His advice to leaders centers on personal development, establishing formal skills‑training programs, and practicing kindness toward oneself and others. Matt recounts his first meaningful job: an internship at the PR agency Goebel Kirk, which shaped his view of internships’ value. The episode closes with contact information: the book’s site (z‑isms.com), the Internship Institute (internshipinstitute.org), and his upcoming podcast Insights to Live By (insights2liveby.com).
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This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are and what you do.
Hi, I'm Matt Zinnmann. I am author of a book, Z-isms: Insights to Live By, covering mindset and self-discovery and personal interactions, as well as amplifying mindfulness and getting into action around life enrichment. I am also the CEO and founder of a nonprofit called the Internship Institute, and we work with employers from solopreneurs to the largest sizes to help them set up internship programs, and we're doing a lot more now around virtual internships.
Matt, it's great to have you on the show. Question number 2: What's the best thing about working in your industry?
Well, I actually have always gotten most of my driving force from being a difference maker. So having the opportunity more recently, of course, with the, with the book coming out, uh, to, to speak with you among others, and thanks to your listeners. I just really enjoy being able to share whatever it is that we have to talk about. And then, on the internship front, that's all about the opportunity and creating— for example, 10 years ago, we might have started an internship with 2 interns and then they turn into annuities. So now there's 50 interns. And then just yesterday, I got a program going for another nonprofit that is helping victims of human trafficking to gain work experience, you know, to help them become more employable. So it really cuts across the board, but the rewards of making a difference.
And I commend you for making such a positive difference in other people's lives. Thank you.
Thank you.
Question number 3: I hear from other business leaders that staying in a good work-life balance for them and their members is a challenge. What are your thoughts?
I think a number of people are going through some of that adjustment more recently with, you know, some, some structure that they need to put into place. I mean, I've been an entrepreneur since '02, so it's, it's kind of second nature. I think it really comes down to a combination of structure and clear expectations from the employer on the deliverables and setting those deadlines. But from a, you know, my work-life balance is intertwined and has been for some time. But ultimately, in working, for those, you know, still working at home, it's about energy management. It's about knowing when you're at your best and that's when you take on the hardest tasks. And when you may not be at your best, do laundry.
I think that's really insightful. I love it. Kind of the metaphor, do laundry, don't need too much mindshare for that. Question number 4: What other successful business leaders like yourself do you think should be on my podcast?
I have recently gotten to know a couple of high-flying guys, Alan Lazarus and Kevin Palmieri of the Hyperconscious Podcast, and they run this whole series of masterminds, and they're just really on their game, and I'm very impressed with them.
So That's great. I'll reach out to them and see if they want to be a guest on my show. Thank you so much for the referral.
Absolutely.
Question number 5: What insight or advice would you give to other business leaders?
A couple of things. One is on, you know, for themselves, a commitment to personal development and the importance of developing their own people that, you know, has to start with walking the talk and their own commitment to continuous growth. I think that a lot of companies could do a better job of having formal work skills training programs, always developing their people as their best asset and that give back. And then the other thing that comes to mind is really being nothing less than kind to yourself and drawing the same line in terms of being kind to others.
I like that too. And yeah, treat others as you would like to be treated.
Absolutely.
Yeah, I couldn't agree more. And our final question, question number 6: Please tell me about your first job.
Ah, well, I can go back to age 12 where it was putting labels on a newspaper for a penny and label, but I'm gonna go with the graduating college from an internship I did at a public relations agency called Goebel Kirk. So I got my first sense of the value of internships in helping that, you know, me land on my feet.
Yeah, and it's the power of those internships. They're amazing because I had a few of them in college myself that I learned some great skills from. So, as you were saying about the internship program that you run, it's really powerful. Thank you.
I wish more people were doing it, and I wish more employers would see the value in it, but just reach out and I'll I'll convince you.
I hope they do. So, Matt, thank you so much for being on the show. How can people find you?
Thank you, Professor Pete. Well, a couple of ways. One, with the book Z-isms is z-isms.com. There's a front-end sample of the book to check out easily enough to see on Amazon. Some very kind reviews there. For the Internship Institute, that's internshipinstitute.org. And feel free to reach out through that site. I'm actually starting my own podcast called Insights to Live By next month. So insights2liveby.com is not up quite yet, but through zeisms.com, people can, can sign up and express interest and we'll keep them posted.
Perfect. This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. For more insights and ideas, please go to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or iTunes and search for the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
