The Human Algorithm: Market Minds Insights
Highlighting the human-intelligence that creates our algorithm.
The Human Algorithm: Market Minds Insights has one goal:
Feature the brilliant minds making the market ~ the ones people can learn from, who see things differently, think in analysis and strategy, are building sustainable systems that perform, and prefer to take a creative approach.
What sets genius Market Minds apart isn’t always visible.
It’s not always in a title or résumé; rarely something that can be simply explained, yet the energy it carries presents its self boldly, and unspoken.
It’s built over time. Through environment, exposure and the kinds of experiences that shape how someone thinks long before they are in a position to lead.
The Human Algorithm series exists to share Insights of the Minds shaping the Markets.
— And the best way to start is with my own.
Because what I bring to the table didn’t start with a degree, title, or reference, it began in observation during formative years.
I was raised by a single mother, alongside older brothers who did everything they could to give me the best life possible while also pursuing their own life success. It took a village… and my version of that village looked like offices, not daycare. I don’t remember being dropped off for childcare after pre-k…
I remember typewriters. Reception desks. Bookkeeping systems. Filing cabinets. Back offices. Conference rooms.
I grew up watching & learning how businesses actually operated ~ from the inside.
Eventually, observation became participation…
As soon as I could walk and talk, I was “running” my oldest brothers real estate office in my business professional fashionista ensembles I wore to kindergarten class. If he had a big deal or showing I would dress up to be ready for the meeting or open house after school. I knew which agent had the best candy stash, how to get on the receptionist’s computer to play games, and sometimes I would even help direct clients to the right agent office.
At the wise age of maybe 7 — I made my first big sale! I had just started competitive cheerleading, the beginning of an intense childhood sports career… and I was tasked with my first chocolate bar fundraiser so naturally I went to the real estate office. It was my lucky day, the owner of the Keller Williams Realty Branch was in the office so I went straight to him and asked if he’d like to buy a chocolate bar to support my cheerleading. Without hesitation, he asked “How much for the whole box?” I gave him my fundraising goal, he handed me more than enough, and told me to pass them out to the office as a gift from Sam. I did. I skipped around, passing them out to every Agent, and client in the office. Although it may have slightly warped my entry sales experience, it gave me a confidence I can’t wait to pass on to other children one day.The experience that office gave me just from shadowing my big brother during such important years of my life is priceless and by far some of the favorite memories I made working with my brother supporting him in his position on the KW 501(c)(3) Board with their charity drives organization, we delivered Back to School supplies, Thanksgiving meals, Christmas trees and presents to local families. Between the charity experience, and the “Pay It Forward” office movie night, I learned so much about life and business with lessons that will stay with me my whole life.
By the time I was entering high school I made a deal with him for a ride home from school. In exchange, I would work at his construction company office as a receptionist/assistant. I learned the basics of file organization, answering phones, scheduling, data entry, reconciliations, and QuickBooks.
At 16, I met my biological father for the first time. I accepted a job at his Togo’s Sandwich shop franchise as an opportunity to further establish a relationship with him, and learn from him — an engineer and serial entrepreneur. In this job, I learned fast paced customer service and shift leadership.
When I turned 18, opportunities opened up. Knowing I wanted to move away from my hometown to go to college in Los Angeles, and with a shortened school schedule I took on 3 jobs my senior year to make it happen. I was contracted as a receptionist staff trainer for a local collision center, where I learned their programs, workflows, and trained new staff on the best practices. I alternated evenings hosting at a steak house and studying, spending my weekends working sales at the Michael Kors Outlet just outside of town.
It was intense but I did it and moved myself to LA for Santa Monica College. Here I waitressed my way through undergrad until I landed an essential role as an admin assistant for an Estate Planning Attorney’s office during COVID. While the world changed during this time, I became a Notary Public filing a notebook and a half in about a year, this experience refined my attention to detail, proofreading, communications, client management, and organizational skills.
From Legal, I ended up in a regulated BioPharmaceuticals industry as an Executive Sales Assistant. When I started this role, I had landed my dream job. I couldn’t have been happier, a remote-first hybrid role that I loved, allowing me to grow beyond the limitations of an in-person desk job and challenge myself. This opportunity reinforced confidence in my capabilities, my area of expertise, and comfort in a self-governed remote setting. At its peak, this experience gave me confidence in myself, showing me the benefits of remote-first on mental health, overall well-being that comes with the freedom, and trust in my self-worth.This marked a shift in my professional learning experiences, that has led me to AWWWsolutions.com and The BirdHouse Co.
By the time I stepped into consulting and self-employment, I wasn’t learning business…
I was translating it and navigating a whole new level of life lessons.
~ Across industries, systems, and environments that appear different but operate the same at their core.
That’s what sets me apart.
— something I can’t put into words explicitly, but can be explained many ways, and with every story.
Yet, my inability to believe in myself with the unconditional trust, and vulnerability it takes to be visible held me back. Maybe I wasn’t ready, maybe there was more I needed to learn, maybe I just needed the confidence to write my story I want shared ~ Maybe I needed to find A Way With Words.
I am Blaize Braun.
Authentic. Bold. Unapologetic.
Now more than ever, the defining differentiator is who we are at our core, our individuality, our uniqueness, our creativity, our boldness. Everything that’s made us who we are for better, and worse, and better again, and again.
The people who consistently build, scale, adapt, and evolve, those who are accepting themselves and what it takes to define and share what makes them, them ~ me, me ~ and you, you.
Digital networking hasn’t just connected us. It has shaped how we think, create, and interpret the world around us.
Through the algorithms, we’ve collectively developed a shared yet independent form of creativity — A way of seeing structure with strategic intention. A way of simplifying complexity with purpose. A way of executing with creativity and clarity.
All through our own perception and sharing in our own words.
However, in pushing the limits of innovation, something vital has been overlooked.
We’ve become so focused on optimizing systems that we’ve drifted away from and are returning to the very thing our systems depend on:
Human uniqueness.
The perspective. The instinct. The lived experience that cannot be replicated.
This is what holds everything together. Through A Way With Words I’m featuring the trailblazers building our future, and their stories that deserve to be shared.
WHO ARE YOU?
Because in a world increasingly driven by speed, automation, and trends —
the real differentiator will always be the mind, heart, and soul.
Your story.
Your perspective.
Your goals and dreams.
