The PlayFull Podcast with Kristine Michie: Bringing Fun to the Serious Work of Changing the World Kristine Michie

In the first of this two-part episode, you’ll join us live on stage at the Marmalade Festival held in conjunction with Skoll’s annual gathering of global changemakers.

Listen in as Kristine discusses the intersection of play and hard work with four amazing guests.

Emma Belcher, President of Ploughshares FundTaddy Blecher, CEO of the Maharishi InstituteShauna Carey, CEO of IDEO.orgSharyanne McSwain, COO of Echoing Green
You’ll hear tales of sipping tea with the Dalai Lama, doing puzzles in the office, working on Wall Street until you realize you “just don’t believe it anymore,” how the worst things often prove to be the best, and how we need to channel our inner five-year-olds to remember we’re creative at our core.

Key Takeaways: Join guests and audience for a guided meditation focused on honing your imagination as a tool to fuel your work and an Impact Origin Timeline exercise that will help you see how you came to care. The tool is shared HERE so you can follow along.

“Love is the most powerful force in the universe. We have to be brave enough to hold on to it and we will prevail.” - Dr. Taddy Blecher

About Emma Belcher:
World-renowned expert on nuclear weapons policy, Dr. Emma Belcher is the President of Ploughshares. In leading the largest foundation singularly focused on reducing the threat of nuclear weapons, she is an authority on the threat of nuclear weapons and the nuances of nuclear weapons policy. She has experience in a variety of media concerning the threat of nuclear weapons.

About Taddy Blecher:
Dr Taddy Blecher is CEO of the Maharishi Invincibility Institute and the Imvula Empowerment Trust, CEO of the Community and Individual Development Association; and Chairperson of the SA National Government team on Entrepreneurship, Education, & Employability. He is a pioneer of the free tertiary education movement in South Africa, helping create six free access institutions of higher learning.

He is passionate about the approach of Consciousness-Based Education, a system of education developing the full potential of every student. This has led the Maharishi Institute to winning the first prize in a global competition to find the most promising and innovative education initiative in the world.

About Shauna Carey:
Shauna currently serves as CEO, leveraging her deep expertise in both design and social impact to oversee the strategy and vision for IDEO.org.

Previously, she worked alongside design teams and communities to surface insights to unlock new possibilities, create narratives that inspire action, and share stories about the impact of design. Over the past nine years at IDEO.org, she has worked on projects and programs focused on advancing health equity, criminal justice reform, refugee rights, gender equality, and climate resilience.

About Sharyanne McSwain:
At Echoing Green, Sharyanne oversees all aspects of the organization’s internal management and administrative systems supporting the Finance, Operations, Communications, Human Resources, and Programs teams. Most recently, the launch of the organization’s Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund and related programs focused on advancing racial equity has given her the opportunity to dive deep into the continuous restructuring of the organization’s goals to align with and amplify Echoing Green’s mission to build a more just, equitable, and sustainable world for all.

Connect with Emma:
Website: ploughshares.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/emma-belcher-a9216958

Connect with Taddy:
Website: miu.edu
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/taddyblecher

Connect with Shauna:
Website: ideo.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shauna-ryann-carey

Connect with Sharyanne:
Website: echoinggreen.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharyanne-mcswain-594bb2

Connect with Kristine:
Website: impactfullinc.com
Instagram: instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie

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In this special Mother’s Day episode, we talk to the one and only Lisa Truong. Starting out as a “mommy blog,” Lisa donated her Mother’s Day in 2009 and, with a friend, collected 15,000 diapers for those in need that year. That small act became first a nonprofit, and then a movement! Today, Help A Mother Out (where Lisa is CEO), is one of the leading mom-focused agencies in the U.S. and the biggest one in San Francisco filling this critical need with more 64 Million diapers donated. Listen in for an awesome triple scoop, be inspired by her story, and learn how you can also get involved in changing lives, one diapered child at a time. 

Listen in as Kristine and Lisa discuss:
How Lisa learned about the diaper need and created an organization to address it. Why diapers are an intersectional issue and are about more than a baby’s bottom.The system-change needed in the world infant care. The difference between cultural humility and cultural competency. Using and developing a playful leadership style. 
Key Takeaways:
Dignity comes when people have what they need, and deserve. Diapers are a basic human need for our tiniest, most vulnerable citizens. By collecting and distributing diapers, Help a Mother Out positively impacts economic empowerment and racial justice. Children learn through play and community; adults can learn from them to do the same. Consider honoring a mother in your life by donating to a women's and children’s organization in your area this Mother’s Day. 
"We really want to change the public policy. We want to change the system because this is an oversight. I'm happy to be in this role and to serve the community in this way. But I think, ultimately, we really want to see that vision. We want to see a vision when every baby in America has access to a healthy supply of diapers." — Lisa Truong
 

About Lisa Truong: Lisa is a social entrepreneur with 20 years of experience in the non-profit sector. She has been working across sectors to build public and private partnerships to address diaper needs since 2009. Under Lisa’s leadership, Help a Mother Out (“HAMO”) has grown from a grassroots, volunteer-run kitchen table idea to a nationally recognized, policy-influencing organization with an annual operating budget of $3 million. During her tenure, HAMO established (2015) and operates the nation’s first publicly funded diaper program, the San Francisco Diaper Bank, in partnership with the City and County of San Francisco. Prior to her work with HAMO, she held roles at Tides Foundation, among other nonprofits. Lisa is a 1.5-generation immigrant and grew up in the Bay Area. A first-generation college graduate, she received her B.A. from the University of California, at Berkeley. She currently lives in Oakland with her two boys. In her spare time, you'll likely find her taking a dance class or hiking in the redwoods.

Resources Mentioned:
Amy Javaid: Unpacking Furniture Poverty - Why a Roof Overhead is Just the StartJean Oelwang: Things Aren’t Just Bad. They’re Unacceptable. Here’s What Can Be Done.Diapers at the Doctor: https://med.stanford.edu/childhealthequity/engagement/diapers.html Nurse-Family Partnership: https://www.nursefamilypartnership.org/ InsightTimer: https://insighttimer.com/ Design for Belonging by Dr. Susie Wise: https://www.designforbelonging.com/ We need to Talk by Celeste Headlee: https://celesteheadlee.com/we-need-to-talk/ 
Connect with Lisa: 
Website: https://www.helpamotherout.org/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helpamotherout

Connect with Kristine:
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ 

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This is a PlayFull Rewind Episode, a “best of” from Year 1 of bringing fun to the serious work of changing the world.

Listen in as Kristine and Sarah discuss:
Why New York is the world’s ultimate playgroundPhilanthropy, playfulness, and promoting gender equity around the world with women at the centerHow joy improves giving – Sarah says: “Philanthropy is joy, and no number of zeroes are required”Why every problem is a woman’s problem and every solution needs a woman’s touch – as Sarah says, “inspire and encourage women to step into their resource power… owning the power they have and the change that they can realize when they come together”How Women Moving Millions balances its members’ interests while elevating what they hear from leaders on front line who tell us what they need to do the work – Sarah says: “We don’t need to make it up, let’s hear from the experts and have them tell us what works, what they’re seeing, what could be possible.”Curiosity and ambiguity is ok; embrace and center possibility as the key to making change
Key Takeaways:
America Ferrera had it right. The challenge to incorporate play amid serious work creates tension, especially for women – Sarah says: [It’s like the actress’ quote in the Barbie movie]: “For women, experiencing barriers to professional growth, it’s like be confident but not assertive, not make any mistakes, but don’t be a perfectionist, be adaptable, be playful, be serious - [this tension] contributes to attitudes and beliefs that hold women back from being who they fully are.”In the vibrant global community of Women Moving Millions, play becomes a catalyst for breaking down barriers, fostering collaboration, and infusing joyPlay breaks down barriers from folks with different lived experiences, cultural backgrounds, as an important part of movement buildingClimate, healthcare, migration, education, these and all problems impact women first, most, and most severely. Women are also the key to solving these challenges.Women Moving Millions leverages the playful spirit of its diverse members, using innovative approaches like speed-dating and creative ice-breakers to create a supportive and joyful space for women to explore challenges, experiment with philanthropy, and drive positive change.Foster a culture of possibility in leadership, draw inspiration from role models, mentors, and contemporaries, recognize the importance of play and humor, to break barriers and promote a more inclusive and authentic work environment. 
Sarah’s Call-to-Action:

"Contribute whatever you can to your local women's foundation. They are the backbone of the movement. If you don't know where it is or if you have one [where you live], Google it, find it. They need your support now more than ever." — Sarah Haacke Byrd

About Sarah Haacke Byrd: Sarah Haacke Byrd is a seasoned executive and philanthropy leader, currently holding the position of CEO at Women Moving Millions. With over two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector, she has demonstrated expertise in providing leadership to dynamic organizations, supporting growth and sustainability, and managing key stakeholder relationships. Sarah's commitment to social impact is evident in her work at Women Moving Millions, where she has mobilized over $160 million in new funding to date, contributing to the organization's impressive track record of moving a billion dollars since its founding in 2007. As a recognized figure in the sector, Sarah has a deep understanding of global issues affecting women and girls and a proven ability to drive large-scale social change through strategic programs and initiatives.

Connect with Sarah Haacke Byrd: 
Website: womenmovingmillions.org
Email: shaackebyrd@womenmovingmillions.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarah-haacke-byrd-9b53b417

Connect with Kristine:
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_i

This is a classic rewind episode with Hector Mujica. 

Google does everything big. So it’s no surprise they chose a guy with a big resume, a big agenda, and most of all, a big heart to run a huge initiative in their most consequential market! 

Meet Hector Mujica, Head of Economic Opportunity for the Americas for Google.org. 

As he leads Google’s philanthropic efforts to create a just economy in Canada, the US, and the 33 countries of Central and South America, he’s learned a thing or two about play and how to bring people together around problems of staggering size.

We eat ice cream from a black-woman-owned, vegan ice cream shop in Oakland while we talk change, justice, and score-card how we think philanthropy is doing in its efforts to seed and sustain real change. Join us!

About Hector:

Hector Mujica Head of Economic Opportunity, Google.org, Americas Hector Mujica leads economic opportunity efforts at Google.org—Google’s philanthropy—across the Americas. Within his role, he looks after a $100M+ grantmaking portfolio that supports interventions which aim to provide pathways to digital economy jobs for individuals with multiple barriers to employment. Hector also serves on Google’s Latino Leadership Council, where he helps to steward Google’s social impact ventures with the Latino community. Hector has spent the last decade advancing social justice through philanthropy and public policy. Prior to Google, Hector’s experience ranged from investment banking at Oppenheimer & Co, constituent casework at the Office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and diplomatic relations at the Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo. Hector holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Business from Florida International University, a Professional Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and a Master of Public Affairs from the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley. Outside of work, Hector Co-Chairs the Latino Digital Success Task Force at the Aspen Institute, and serves on the Board of Directors of Hispanics in Philanthropy, the Hispanic Federation, and several advisory boards, including WorkingNation and Inicio Ventures. Hector currently resides in South Florida. 


Linkedin: HectorDMujica

Sources and Websites from Episode
https://www.google.org/
https://hipfunds.org/

This is a classic rewind episode with Jenny Flores. Small Business Robin Hood Having built a career in banking, Jenny Flores knows a thing or two about money. And as her work has been almost entirely focused on breaking down barriers to access, Jenny knows even more about how money harms or helps, depending on who’s holding it.

As the Head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy for Wells Fargo, Jenny masterminded a plan that moved $420 million from the bank’s bottom line into the hands of small business owners impacted by COVID. Having joined Wells only weeks into the pandemic, conceiving and selling this idea internally was no small feat.

But as someone who wakes up every morning with an inner voice declaring she’s got another chance to “dream big,” it’s all in a day’s work. Settle in for some talk of impact and equity, but not without due time for her thoughts on play, ice cream, and the glory of a roly-poly bug.

About Jenny: 

Jenny Flores is Head of Small Business Growth Philanthropy for the Wells Fargo Foundation, one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S. In 2020, the Foundation accelerated economic opportunity and success in underserved communities with a strategic focus on housing affordability, small business growth, and financial health, while also responding to the urgent needs of COVID-19. With more than two decades of experience in banking, impact philanthropy, employee engagement, and corporate citizenship, Flores is responsible for combining financial resources with business expertise to help underserved and diverse entrepreneurs expand their contribution to the economy and their ability to provide jobs. She also leads Wells Fargo’s $420 million Open for Business Fund to support the immediate and long-term needs of small businesses that were negatively impacted by the effects of COVID-19.  Most recently, she served as Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Bank of the West, where she led the company’s strategy for small business engagement and environmental sustainability, including the creation of a new $30 million investment fund with community development financial institutions and the development of a $1 billion commitment to renewable and clean energy. Prior to her role with Bank of the West, Flores spent a decade in community development at Citigroup and also held roles at the Congress of California Seniors, Greenlining Institute, and the California State Legislature. An active community leader, Flores is based in San Francisco and serves on the Board of Directors for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO), Harlem Grown, Chair of the Venture Capital Disruption Committee of How Women Invest and volunteers as a mentor for start-up entrepreneurs through the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center’s Milestone Maker program. She is also a member of the Mastercard Strive USA Advisory Committee. She received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California–Berkeley and an MBA from the FW Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

How you can connect with Jenny Flores: 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jenny-flores-2672982

Sources and Websites from the episode: 
Welcome to C2C | Kindergarten to College

stories.wf.com/meaningful-investments-and-support-keep-small-business-doors-open 

This is a classic rewind episode with Gregg Bishop.

9/11. Stories about those for whom September 11 was a fork in the road are many. Gregg Bishop is the first changemaker I’ve met who reacted to that fateful day by leaving the corporate world for the nonprofit sector.

And aren’t we glad he did?!

This week’s episode gives us a peek into Gregg’s professional life, as Executive Director of the Brooklyn Social Justice Fund and philanthropic adviser to Joe and Clara Tsai, who have pledged $50 million to fuel social, racial, and economic justice efforts in NYC’s southernmost borough – among other game-changing giving.

He also shares with us about time working for the City of New York, his penchant for flying across country in the middle of the week to hit a concert for a band he loves, and the transformative nature of a good question.

Resources Mentioned:
Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation: https://twitter.com/thejctf Creme & Cocoa Creamery: https://www.cremeandcocoa.com/ Visible Hands: https://www.visiblehands.vc/ Marcy Lab School: https://www.marcylabschool.org/ Hack Diversity: https://www.hackdiversity.com/ 
Connect with Gregg Bishop: 
Website: https://www.bksjf.org/ 
Website: https://www.greggbishop.nyc/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greggbishop/ 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/greggbishopnyc 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greggbishop

Connect with Kristine:
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristine-breese-michie/ 

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.