d'Skills in Action Hannah G. Williams

Ever wondered what's on the mind of a leader when they're working with someone from Gen Z like you? 
In this episode, we're going to give you an inside look at how leaders think when they're trying to engage and motivate someone from your generation. 
This show is all about breaking down what goes on behind the scenes to make Gen Z-Gen X working relationships successful. 
Join us as we dive into the world of leadership through the unique partnership of Coco Brown, the Founder and CEO of Athena Alliance, and Brit De Visser, the Chief of Staff at The Athena Alliance.  
Through their honest conversation, you'll get to peek behind the curtain and see how Coco, an experienced leader, keeps someone as talented as Brit (gen Z) engaged and excited about their work. 
Coco embodies the kind of leader you aspire to work with, and by listening in, you'll gain valuable insights into how leaders like her think and make decisions. 
This episode is your open door to expanding your connections.... 
So, put aside those textbooks for a moment, turn up the volume, and get ready to explore the world of leadership and Gen Z engagement with Brit De Visser and Coco Brown! 
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Embrace Transparency and Dialogue In our conversation, Britt emphasizes the importance of open communication and alignment between a company's mission and an employee's personal goals. 
"I think it's really about transparency and dialogue. If you can align your company's mission and vision with their personal goals, it's just a win-win." — Britt de Visser This alignment can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes... 

"When you give somebody autonomy and trust, you're essentially saying, 'I trust that you know how to get to the destination. I don't need to map out every step of the journey for you.'" — Coco Brown 
On the other hand, Coco highlights the value of trust and autonomy in empowering employees. 

Trusting them to find their own way to achieve goals can be more effective than micromanaging. 

Britt underscores that Gen Z individuals are often motivated by aligning their personal goals with a company's mission. 

Trust and goal alignment can be key to their success. 
 
Shift to a Partnership Mindset I get to ask Coco’s thought on the importance of Gen Z employees... 

and she stresses that Gen Z should be treated as partners and granting them autonomy and trust. 

This approach fosters a sense of ownership and collaboration. 

"With Gen Z, it's more of a partnership where you're saying, 'I trust that you have a unique perspective, unique skills, and unique ideas, and I want to leverage that. I want to harness that.'" — Coco 
Coco highlights the shift towards a partnership mindset when working with Gen Z, acknowledging their unique contributions and ideas as valuable assets. 

"It's not just, 'Hey, come here and do this task,' it's, 'Come here and let's collaborate on how we can achieve this goal together.'" — Coco  
She emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared goal setting when working with Gen Z... 
 
moving away from a purely task-based approach, and the need for a more flexible and non-structured approach in today's world, aligning with the evolving nature of work and society. 
 
Cultivating Autonomy, Embracing Continuity, and Nurturing...

Welcome Rebels! 🤘😎 
If you've been following our podcast rebrand and caught the excitement in the air 
You already know we're not just a podcast... 🔥💥 
We're a dynamic community and a powerful movement. 
This is for high schoolers or a gap year student with a unique perspective... 
We hope you've joined the vibrant d'Skills community already, too! 😉 
Today, Swetha Tandri and I will unravel the real "why" behind this journey 
From launching this show and its vitality... 
Plus, the 10 commandments that shape the very essence of the d’Skills community. 
Buckle up, because this episode marks the beginning of an extraordinary voyage into the world of skills, empowerment, and a different mindset.  
Are you ready? Let's dive in! 🎧🌟  
Welcome to the groundbreaking inaugural episode of d'Skills in Action! 🚀 
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Our 10 d’Skills Community Commandments: 
Skills Over Scores: We believe that real-world skills, mindsets, and impacts say infinitely more about who we are than test scores and GPAs. Progress over Perfectionism: We believe that mistakes are ESSENTIAL to grow and build resilience to succeed, and that we should welcome them in our lives. Courage Over Conformity: We believe in the power of courage and tenacity to break the mold and defy the status quo. Impact Now: We believe that we don't have to wait until we’re older to make a real impact in the world on real businesses and real problems. Community Over Competition: We believe in the strength of community to uplift, encourage, and educate one another, rather than just competing for “top spots”. Pathway-Inclusive: We believe that whatever pathway you're on—college, no college, technical school, entrepreneurship, or something entirely different—d’Skills are vital to launch you into a fulfilling, best version of yourself. Different OVER Better: We follow our different. Forge Our Path: We believe that everyone has the opportunity to learn from this community and carve out their own unique career path. Digital Tools, Infinite Potential: We believe Native Digitals are unstoppable when we harness the power of digital resources and AI technology. Real World, Real Skills: We believe that real learning happens when you begin with a real-world impact you want to make, and work backwards. In our community, we don't just learn; we apply and impact the real world. 
Links Manifesto — d'Skills (dskills.io) 
COMMUNITY — d'Skills (dskills.io) 

If you're in high school, you probably spend a lot of time buried in textbooks, but don't really know how your skills could apply to the real world. Trust me, I get it. It can be daunting to build skills and take them outside the classroom. That's why we started this show.  Welcome to d'Skills in Action, the show where we help you get the d'Skills you need to impact the real world, not just ace a test or rely on a degree. 
I'm your cohost, Hannah Grady Williams. I'm 25 and I'm the brain behind d’Skills and alongside me is Swetha Tandri. She's 20 and she's the founder of Melodies for Math. Both of us have forged our own career paths doing something we love. This is a real dialogue podcast. It's for high schoolers, gap year adventurers, and epic parents with a different mind. 
  
Each month, we'll bring you d'skills deep dives with students who are making real world impacts so you can see how it's done, and Rebel roundtables with leaders who had untraditional pathways to success and who inspire us. Why are we doing this? Well, it's pretty simple. Less than 30 percent of companies in the 21st century think that students with degrees have any marketable 21st century skills. 
Big yikes. It's time to ditch the script and get d'Skills in high school. But we're not just a podcast, we're a movement and a community, and you can join the conversation and have a chance to be featured on the show if you go to d'Skills. io forward slash community or click the link in the show notes. 
Because we're on a mission to help 1 million high schoolers graduate with an impact portfolio of the skills they've applied to the real world before they ever get a degree. All right, Rebels, ditch the script, and we'll see you on the other side. 
 
Links Manifesto — d'Skills (dskills.io) 
COMMUNITY — d'Skills (dskills.io) 

This episode marks a bittersweet moment... 
Because today is the final episode of Native Digital Native Analog Show. 
As we welcome a new chapter with the d’Skills in Action... 
Strap in for our last ride as we cap off this season with a conversation full of mind-blowing thoughts about the profound impact of artificial intelligence on our world. 
With our special guest, Cynthia Schauer. 
Exploring topics from automating outdated practices to addressing AI-related fears... 
Cynthia Schauer has a brilliant mind with extensive experience as an executive and strategic advisor, including her recent role as Vice President of Creative Services at Rite Aid. Today, she is pioneering a crucial venture in the AI landscape, helping companies automate their onboarding and historical data processes through SmartFlow. 
Her expertise in questioning the fundamental premises of practices, especially in the context of onboarding, offers valuable lessons. 
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The Necessity of Adapting to AI and Automation  In my conversation with Cynthia, I get to ask her thoughts about the students coming into corporate... 
She noticed the growing gap between how students are exposed to technology and AI in their personal lives and how they are educated within traditional institutions. 
“Students are going to come in and they're not prepared for the way the companies have changed. I would challenge you and flip it. I would say the students are going to be prepared. The companies aren't, especially in some of these more established companies.” --Cynthia Schauer She emphasizes the need for educational institutions to catch up and teach students how to harness AI as a tool... 
And the importance of companies and institutions adapting to AI and automation. 
She added..."If companies are going one way and the education systems are going the other, that gap is just widening." 
 She emphasizes that these technologies are here to enhance human capabilities rather than replace them. 
AI and Abundance Mindset Another pressing topic from our conversation is the common misconceptions and fears surrounding AI, such as job loss or misuse.  
"It's a little of both. Now, when I talk to those in the tech sector, there have been some that have admitted they're seeing their own clients don't understand AI."--Cynthia Schauer Along with this is the shift from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset in the context of AI. 
Rather than fearing job displacement due to AI, people and organizations should embrace the opportunities it presents for increased efficiency and productivity. 
It's crucial to educate individuals about the benefits and opportunities AI can provide while addressing their concerns. 
"There is enough for everybody... We need to bring that happiness back into our teams. Stop making my job so frustrating because when I have to redo something multiple times, I'm not happy." --Cynthia Schauer Transformation of Organizations As we look ahead 10 years, the conversation we had predicts a transformation in the way organizations operate. 
"You need a chief AI officer to drive this... It is the person that not only understands technology but also understands leadership."-- Cynthia Schauer Cynthia emphasizes the need for a CAIO. 
This role is described as a bridge between technology and leadership,...

Just a few weeks ago, we had James Fellowes on our podcast, a partner at Bridge of Hope Careers.  
We delved into the world of invisible and visible disabilities in the workplace, exploring how unlocking the potential of people with different backgrounds can become a powerful advantage for companies. 
Little did we know that James would introduce us to a friend with an even more extraordinary story--- Chance Bleu Montgomery 
Chance, the Partner Support Manager at Bridge of Hope, has overcome incredible odds, from a challenging childhood marred by abuse to facing the depths of addiction and prison. 
His transformation and the impact he's making now will leave you in awe. 
As you listen, pay close attention to the unique challenges faced by individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds when entering the workforce. And Chance's coaching tips offer practical ways to uplift and support them. 
Every word of this episode is pure gold. 
 ---The Journey of Personal Transformation "So, I was left with these choices to either not live or change... And I spent three years and 10 months in therapy almost every day to unlock some pain and to deal with those childhood traumas while spending five years studying with the Open University to give myself an education my childhood didn't afford "-- Chance Montgomery Chance's journey from a traumatic childhood to becoming a successful founding partner of Bridge of Hope exemplifies the remarkable power of personal transformation. 
His story highlights that reframing one's mindset and investing in self-development can help overcome adversity. 
He reframed his experiences, replacing phrases like "life is hard" with "life is challenging," leading to a shift in his mindset and outlook. 
He found the determination to change by recognizing the value of time as a currency and committing to a long-term journey of growth. 
“Now I realized that time was a currency we spend. You spend money you spend time if you spend it, It's a currency. I started to think about how I am spending my time currency? Am I spending it for a return?... When you start to look at your time currency in that valuable way, you start to think right, ‘well, I'm now an investor’. I'm an investor of time and I invest my time in a return.” -- Chance Montgomery This shift in language and perspective empowered him to navigate difficulties with resilience and adaptability. 
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Bridge of Hope's Holistic Approach to Empowerment I get to ask Chance what Bridge of Hope do and how does it specifically help? 
Chance emphasizes that it is driven by sincerity and passion rather than just setting up a business. 
“We mean it. It's not about let's set up a business here. It's about let's change lives.” --- Chance Montgomery The program focuses on changing lives by offering candidates access to various support partners. 
Candidates benefit from skills assessments, personalized industry suggestions, and pathways to qualifications. 
Financial support forms a crucial component, with candidates being able to access wages before payday and receive free financial advice for themselves and their families. 
By recognizing that a person's success has a ripple effect on their family, Bridge of Hope strives to uplift entire communities. 
"Because if they love who they are, that's when inspiration strikes in the family household. That's when it taps into that next generation. Because we know when someone has...

Ever wondered about the boundless potential of education? 
In our ongoing pursuit of reimagining education and reshaping traditional learning paradigms.... 
We've brought you captivating conversations with trailblazers like Ted Dintersmith, James Fellowes, and many more... 
But what if I told you that there's more? 
More to the story of bridging the gap for students and adults who face barriers to accessing traditional pathways. 
Today's exploration takes us deep into the heart of innovative education and career pathways. 
As we ponder the question of equity and opportunity, we’ll continue that dialogue from a unique vantage point... 
with someone whose journey will leave you in awe – Nitzan Pelman, the visionary force behind ClimbHire. 
Hold onto your seats, because as you listen, you'll discover how ClimbHire opens doors to learning tracks that transcend traditional norms.  
Join us in this immersive episode, where Nitzan's journey unfolds in her own words. 
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The Transformative Power of Relationships "Once you get a label, then you live into that label and it's really hard to not live into it."--Nitzan Pelman In our conversation, Nitzan Pelman shares her personal experience of being labeled as a "special ed" child in her early education.  
This label led to low expectations from teachers and peers, and she found herself in a cycle of limited learning experiences.  
She describes the demoralizing environment of separate classrooms for labeled students, where they internalized the label and formed a self-deprecating identity.  
The result was a lack of motivation to excel academically, leading to a deep desire to distance herself from school. 
But her transformative journey highlights the impact of personal relationships on shaping one's capabilities and mindset. 
"I invested the time, and I invested the energy and I invested and pushed through those feelings of shame."--Nitzan Pelman She discusses how her relationship with her boyfriend, who had a deep love for learning, introduced her to a different way of thinking.  
Being surrounded by his intellectual circle challenged her to reevaluate her own potential. 
This experience led to a profound shift in her perception of herself and her capacity to learn.  
Rethinking Education for the Critical Thinking Economy While technology offers new opportunities for learning and collaboration... 
Nitzan emphasizes that critical thinking remains an essential skill in an increasingly automated and outsourced knowledge economy. 
She discusses the role of emerging technologies like ChatGPT in the education sector. 

"The art of writing is really the art of thinking, and if you can't think critically, then you're going to have a hard time doing anything that's valuable in society."--Nitzan Pelman  
Nitzan challenges the notion that technology can replace core skills like writing and critical analysis. 
Instead, she advocates for a reimagined education system that focuses on developing strong critical thinking skills to navigate the evolving complexities of the modern world. 

Building Social Capital for Economic Mobility Nitzan highlights the disparities in access to networks and relationships that often hinder individuals from low-income and non-traditional backgrounds. 
 
"No one wants to be that first black person on the staff... it has to be organic, and it has to be real, and it has to be...