Flinn Talks

Flinn Foundation
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Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.

  1. May 14

    Alumni Hour Interview: Sarah Parmar on Shifting from Water Conservation to Community Conversation

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sarah Parmar (’02) about her journey from growing up on a ranch in southern Arizona to a career shaping water policy and community engagement. Sarah’s path has been defined by a deep connection to place, culture, and conversation—from early experiences in Douglas, Arizona, to shifting her academic focus at ASU and ultimately building a long career in nonprofit work centered on natural resources. Her perspective bridges the worlds of land management, water conservation, and community dialogue, emphasizing the importance of listening across differences. In this interview, Sarah discusses how community and culture shape policy decisions, what it means to build a long‑term career in nonprofit work, and how inclusive conversation can drive more sustainable approaches to water and land use. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — A day in the life of 10‑year‑old Sarah4:49 — Childhood dinner table conversations7:40 — Border culture and growing up in Douglas10:24 — The value of staying in Arizona13:08 — Giving yourself permission to explore15:23 — Why she switched to economics19:22 — Reflecting on the Fulbright decision25:33 — Staying at one organization for 18 years30:23 — Choosing the right nonprofit32:01 — What policymakers get right and wrong about water rights34:59 — Misconceptions between land and water communities38:03 — Returning to the family ranch43:02 — Addressing AI’s resource impact through policy47:58 — Uplifting underheard voices51:36 — The role of private landowners55:09 — Rethinking approaches to water resources

    59 min

  2. Apr 25

    Alumni Hour Interview: Alex Lau on Finding Stability in the Volatility of Film and Storytelling

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alex Lau (’03) about his winding path through filmmaking, storytelling, and creative leadership. Alex’s career spans documentary filmmaking, political campaigns, startups, and large‑scale corporate media environments. From landing an early whale shark-filming gig through Craigslist to working on a presidential campaign and ultimately leading creative production at Meta, his journey reflects both the highs and lows of working in a competitive, fast‑changing creative industry. In this interview, Alex discusses how good storytelling transcends industries, what he learned from moments of professional defeat and reinvention, and how creatives can navigate uncertainty while building resilient, values‑driven careers. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Background, upbringing, and family history3:05 — Choosing college over the family business5:18 — Early mindset and academic direction9:03 — Landing the first professional filmmaking job13:22 — What makes storytelling work across clients15:42 — Working on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign21:18 — Processing the election aftermath23:43 — Lessons from startup challenges28:07 — Executive production and creative work at Meta31:13 — Organizational change and AI in production teams33:04 — Key challenges for corporate media teams today34:07 — Advice for navigating anxiety and career uncertainty

    36 min

  3. Mar 26

    Alumni Hour Interview: Sara Castro on Her Journey Through the International Defense Community

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Sara Castro, Ph.D. (’95), about her path from Flinn Scholar at Arizona State University to a career at the intersection of intelligence, academia, and national security. Sara began her journey with early ambitions in journalism before a pivotal decision to study Chinese reshaped her career toward international relations and intelligence analysis. She went on to serve as a CIA analyst, supporting policymakers through rigorous evaluation of evidence, before pursuing a PhD to examine deeper questions about Chinese ideology and U.S.–China relations. Today, she teaches military officers, helping future leaders understand China on its own terms within an increasingly interdependent global system. In this interview, Sara discusses how language study shaped her career path, what intelligence analysis actually entails behind the scenes, and why teaching strategic thinking requires resisting assumptions and bias. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Early career aspirations and education2:37 — Learning Chinese and changing career direction5:43 — Experiencing the legacy of early PRC systems in China15:06 — Becoming a CIA analyst and dispelling common myths25:25 — Evaluation and promotion at the CIA27:48 — Analyst briefing and preparation techniques31:52 — Leaving the CIA for academic research33:57 — Insights from the Dixie Mission and U.S.–China relations41:10 — Teaching China to military officers44:34 — Xi Jinping, ideology, and grand strategy48:00 — Global interdependence and global enemies50:52 — Shared human values across cultures52:13 — Choosing discomfort as a path to growth

    54 min

  4. Feb 6

    Alumni Hour Interview: Alexis Darby Discusses the Many Pivots to a Career that Truly Fits

    In this Alumni Hour conversation, Flinn Scholars alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) speaks with Alexis “Lexi” Darby (’15) about her winding academic and professional path—from switching majors repeatedly at ASU to pursuing and ultimately leaving a PhD program in biomedicine. After stepping away from academia, Lexi discovered a fulfilling career in executive search, where she now works with emerging leaders and senior executives across multiple industries. Her journey reflects a commitment to values‑driven decision‑making, honest self‑assessment, and the courage to pivot when needed. In this interview, Lexi discusses navigating nonlinear career paths, the importance of aligning work with personal values, and how the Flinn community has supported her through major transitions. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Flinn Scholar experience and choosing ASU3:06 — The “three‑in‑one” undergraduate major5:34 — Deciding to pursue a PhD7:42 — Realizing medicine wasn’t the right path14:56 — Transitioning into executive search28:21 — Standing out in the job market32:25 — Over-indexing on achievement and rebalancing35:26 — Identifying and aligning with personal values44:45 — Daily joys in her work47:13 — Qualities of a future CEO49:08 — Inspiring interviews from an interviewer’s perspective51:43 — Navigating career transitions55:15 — Utilizing the Flinn community

    58 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Alumni Hour Interview: Eric Jackson Discusses Life in China and Pivoting to Linguistics

    In this conversation between Flinn alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) and Eric Jackson (’93), Eric reflects on how a childhood dream of becoming an astronaut shifted after a memorable NASA launch delay—and how that moment opened the door to an unexpected path in linguistics. His career has taken him from Moscow to rural China, working in language documentation, NGO roles, and computational linguistics while navigating life and partnership abroad. In this interview, Eric discusses his global work in language and culture, the impact of Flinn‑funded travel on his academic journey, and how emerging technologies are reshaping career opportunities at the intersection of linguistics and AI. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Eric’s current role in linguistics2:42 — The Flinn Scholarship and early career plans5:16 — NASA internships and unexpected career pivots12:12 — Transitioning to linguistics in Moscow17:25 — Understanding the field of linguistics19:49 — Pursuing graduate studies in linguistics21:44 — Moving to China: experience and advice29:21 — Life in rural China and cultural insights38:54 — Transitioning from NGO work to teaching49:29 — Breakthroughs in computational linguistics51:51 — Challenges of working with Chinese colleagues53:59 — Words that should exist in English55:40 — Language learning and pronunciation skills57:32 — Advice for a career in linguistics and AI

    1 hr

  6. 11/05/2025

    Alumni Hour Interview: Paul Burkhardt Discusses His Journey to University President

    In this engaging Alumni Hour interview, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) sits down with Paul Burkhardt (’86), the newly appointed president of Naropa University, for a wide‑ranging conversation about leadership, learning, and purposeful work. Paul’s path has taken him from living in the Bahamas and teaching scuba diving to senior roles at Arizona International College, Prescott College, and now Naropa, where he continues to advocate for holistic and student‑centered education. In this interview, Paul discusses lessons from leading educational institutions through change, the strengths of alternative and experiential learning, and how creativity and Eastern philosophy have shaped his approach to leadership and personal growth. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Introduction1:18 — Paul’s love for boats2:41 — Introduction to the Flinn Scholarship7:42 — Choosing a major and early career advice12:33 — Career path that brought Paul to Arizona20:10 — Leading the closure of Arizona International College22:10 — Strengths of alternative education models25:04 — Advice for Flinn Scholars at large universities27:22 — Paul’s study abroad experience31:19 — What makes Naropa University distinctive35:12 — Embracing creativity and overcoming fear37:21 — The role of a university president43:12 — How Eastern philosophy influenced Paul’s path47:17 — Student fit and recruitment at Prescott College50:49 — Transitioning from teaching to administration55:11 — Higher education trends and the value of interpersonal skills

    1 hr

  7. 09/16/2025

    Alumni Hour Inteview: Wylie Timmerman on Work-Life "Balance" and Data Science

    In this episode of Alumni Hour, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) sits down with Wylie Timmerman (’06) to explore the many directions his academic and professional journey has taken since graduating. Wylie has worked across policy, data science, and technology, with experiences ranging from international study programs to roles at the AFL‑CIO and fast‑growing private companies, all while navigating major transitions between disciplines and sectors. In this interview, Wylie discusses how living abroad shaped his worldview, what it takes to maintain strong networks through relocations, and whether pursuing a graduate degree in data science is worth the investment. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Introduction1:12 — First semester at ASU4:33 — Sticking with political science7:57 — First job after college11:44 — The San Francisco fellowship20:26 — Master’s program projects22:17 — Getting a job after grad school25:22 — Working in a fast‑growing firm30:23 — Private vs. public sector work33:32 — AI, coding, and job security38:07 — Flinn travel experience39:58 — Living and working in China42:09 — Work–life balance with a family45:07 — Maintaining networks48:36 — Is a data science graduate degree worth it?

    54 min

  8. 08/25/2025

    Alumni Hour Interview: Ryan Johnson Discusses Venture Capital, Startups, and City Design

    In this Alumni Hour episode, alumna Sara Zervos Knutson (’87) interviews Ryan Johnson (’02), co-founder and CEO of Culdesac, a company reimagining how we design cities and live together—without relying on cars. Based in Tempe, Culdesac is the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the United States. Ryan’s career spans venture capital, real estate investing, and leadership roles at McKinsey and Bain Capital, all of which shaped his passion for building sustainable, people-centered communities. In this interview, Ryan discusses his journey through startups and urban innovation, the challenges of scaling car-free development, and how his Flinn Scholars experience influenced his values around community, mobility, and design. Interview Highlights: 0:00 — Introduction2:13 — How the Budapest trip shaped a vision for city design4:05 — Risks of early real estate investments5:44 — Time spent in Brazil after university8:46 — Experience and nature of working at McKinsey16:23 — Role and learning at Bain Capital20:05 — Ryan’s life’s mission25:50 — Culdesac’s elevator pitch26:35 — Challenges of launching Culdesac28:52 — Culdesac’s mission and growth aspirations30:57 — Advice on coping with pressure33:39 — E‑bike recommendations34:36 — Working with city stakeholders on Culdesac37:16 — Building confidence from setbacks39:50 — Activating walkable neighborhoods in cities like Tempe42:16 — Pitching dense, car‑free neighborhoods to skeptics45:10 — Strategies for scaling Culdesac49:26 — Marketing walkable and new urban developments52:21 — Roadblocks for car‑free development in D.C.54:36 — Networking within the Flinn alumni community57:40 — Book and podcast recommendations

    58 min
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About

Interviews with Flinn Scholars about their careers and lives.

Information

  • Creator
    Flinn Foundation
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Flinn Foundation
  • Show Website
    Flinn Talks