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Working remotely and future work: How the COVID-19 Coronavirus is pivoting people and careers.

About this episode:

“An inflection point is something that can have a seismic effect on what we call a 10x impact on the business model as you know it today. When we sit back and look at what we are doing with COVID-19, I would say we are at an inflection point right now.”

– Carla A. Fleming, CEO and Founder of Pivoting Strategies

Carla Fleming has teleworked for half of her business career. And over that time, she developed and perfected time-management hacks that render the remote-work day both productive and successful.

Working Remotely and Future Work: An Inflection Point

Carla is a management consultant who studies market trends and business best-practices. She says that the COVID-19 Coronavirus has brought us to an inflection point that will permanently change how we work.

In this episode, we discuss Carla’s thoughts on how:

• Work is changing as a result of COVID-19 and social distancing. Starts at 1:55
• People can scaffold their skill and experience of working from home. Starts at 8:15
• Things are going to change. Starts at 17:10

About our guest:

Carla A. Fleming received a Bachelor of Science in Management, with coursework concentration in Journalism and Mass Media, from Rutgers University. She also earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from The George Washington University. She lives and works in the Washington, D.C. suburbs of Northern Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: March 27, 2020

Social media:

Pivoting Strategies, LLC – Website

LinkedIn Profile

Twitter

Instagram

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:50 — 20.4MB)

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The Pizza Man Delivers: Providing Chicagoans Food and Comfort During the Pandemic
About this episode:

“You have to do your best to be optimistic, because we are going to get through this. And, we have to find fun, we have to do our best to make each other feel good at this very difficult and unprecedented time.”

– Billy Jacobs, Owner of Piece Pizzeria and Brewery in Chicago

The pizza man delivers: Chicago food scene disruptor Billy Jacobs has an amazing story to tell.

In the early 1980s, he and his three brothers achieved phenomenal success when they introduced their fresh New York-style bagels to a city that had none. Then, years later, Billy founded the immensely successful Piece Pizzeria & Brewery, which serves authentic thin-crust New Haven style pizza and craft beers.

Billy and his team have scaled Piece to become the highest-grossing independent pizza restaurant in the United States.

However, this week, like every other restaurant in the United States, Piece is responding to the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. Billy’s popular sit-down restaurant is now closed to customers, but he and his team are working hard to bring the joy of Piece to hungry and thirsty social distancing customers by way of curbside pickup and delivery services.

Billy Jacobs lives his dreams doing meaningful work. And he inspires the team members that he employs. But, the COVID-19 crisis challenges him to keep his brand and business thriving and his people employed doing the meaningful work that he provides them.

About our guest:

Billy Jacobs received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Boston University. The New Haven, Connecticut native has called Chicago home since 1983.

EPISODE DATE: March 20, 2020

Social media:

Piece Website

Piece Instagram Feed

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:45 — 25.8MB)

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It is a monumental task to feed needy kids during pandemic lockdowns and disruptions.

About this episode:

Adelle Settle is the founder of Settle the Debt, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Through Settle the Debt, Adelle does meaningful work in ensuring that kids in-need get healthy meals at their public schools. She updates us on the success her organization has enjoyed in paying off thousands of dollars in accumulated student lunch debt at public schools in her Northern Virginia community.

We also talk about the fast spreading COVID-19 Coronavirus, and plans to make sure that kids who rely on school-served meals get fed, even if their schools suddenly close.

During this podcast episode we discuss:

• Settle the Debt’s big fundraise which helped pay off school lunch debt for hundreds of children. Starts at 2:39
• New laws in Virginia which make sure that kids-in-need get healthy meals at school. Starts at 4:00
• How children who depend on school-served meals will get fed if COVID-19 Coronavirus shuts down schools. Starts at 7:30
• The organization’s future plans. Starts at 13:37

About our guest:

Adelle Settle received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Albion College, and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. She and her family live in Prince William County, Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: March 12, 2020

Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Website

– Make a Donation

CORRECTION: In this interview, White House Cabinet member Sonny Purdue was incorrectly described as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. In fact, Mr. Purdue is the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA).

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:06 — 74.4MB)

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A career coach guides sidelined people to meaningful work.

“In 2009, I really believe that’s when work changed. I remember I had to find the self-motivation to be productive and to move myself forward and find some type of purpose.”

– Natalie Pryce, Career Coach

About this episode:

A self-described introvert and computer geek, Natalie Pryce struggled in grade school and knows first-hand what it is like to have a major career disruption. Yet, Natalie, who is wickedly smart, has never defined herself by her personality type or her past professional setbacks; instead, she channels her own bravery to empower vulnerable people—especially older, out-of-work professionals—find and do meaningful work. Natalie gets them grounded, focused, restored to self-confidence, and earning a paycheck.

A career coach guides sidelined people. Astoundingly, over 90 percent of her clients find new jobs and re-start their careers.

In this podcast episode, Natalie, describes:

• Her childhood work-dreams. Starts at 2:51
• Breakthrough moments in college. Starts at 7:50
• The work done, and value proposition of, Pryceless Consulting. Starts at 25:01
• The critical need for ongoing professional development. Starts at 42:58
• How she thinks future of work may be more meaningful. Starts at 48:28

About our guest:

Natalie Pryce received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Public Relations from Central Connecticut State University. She is a successful entrepreneur and TEDx Speaker who uses her skill, resources, and thought-leadership to help local businesses grow and people thrive. Natalie lives and works in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

EPISODE DATE: March 6, 2020

Social media:

Linked In

Pryceless Consulting Website

Tedx Talk – Future of Work

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:27 — 47.4MB)

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Will there be clean energy jobs in 2020?

About this episode:

It may come as quite a surprise to some that, in 2020, one of the fastest growing sectors in the American workforce happens to be the clean energy space: think solar, wind, geothermal, energy storage (batteries), hybrid and electric vehicles,  and, energy efficiency as some of the big drivers in the scale-up.

Currently, 3.3 million American workers are actively employed in meaningful work doing clean energy jobs. 

To learn more about this exciting development, we spoke with Bob Keefe. He is the Executive Director of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), a nonprofit that helps build economic and employment opportunities across the clean energy space.

In this episode, Bob describes:

• E2’s mission and his role in driving its success. Starts at 5:24
• How many, and what types of, clean energy jobs already exist in the United States. Starts at 7:04
• The job growth value frames that E2 provides to elected officials. Starts at 11:24
• Clean energy’s surprising appeal in Red States. Starts at 15:32
• Workforce training requirements for clean energy jobs. Starts at 24:22
• Ways people may explore clean energy careers. Starts at 33:20
• E2’s parent NRDC and its famous new CEO. Starts at 35:28

In the news:

Dan headlines the alarming drop in American workforce participation (now at 63.4 percent) and the added threat to workers from robots and AI.

About our guest:

Bob Keefe enjoyed a successful career in print journalism before entering the advocacy space. Earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from UNC Chapel Hill, he worked as a correspondent for Cox Newspapers and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Bob joined the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) as Press Secretary in 2011; in 2014, he became Executive Director of NRDC affiliate, Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2). Bob lives and works in Southern California.

EPISODE DATE: February 28, 2020

Social media:

E2 website

– Clean Energy Jobs Reports

LinkedIn

Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:24 — 45.9MB)

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Does smart transportation of the future include autonomous vehicles in urban areas?

About this Episode:

Dr. Richard Ezike is leading the charge for American Transportation Equity, to make the full range of mobility options—and, in particular, Autonomous Vehicles or AVs—as readily available for inner-city residents as they are for people in our more affluent suburbs. He believes that AVs will provide safer and more accessible mobility, and may greatly improve the lives of inner-city residents who otherwise are deprived of quality transportation.

During these key interview segments, Richard covers autonomous vehicles in urban areas. He:

• Defines the term “Autonomous Vehicle.” Starts at 5:09
• Offers his insight as to whether people of color will accept AVs as a transportation equity option. Starts at 10:19
• Addresses the national security and “hackability” concerns related to the development of AVs. Starts at 14:22
• Offers his thoughts on how, 30 years from now, AVs may revitalize historically poor and underserved communities such as Southeast Washington, D.C. Starts at 26:58

About our guest: Dr. Richard Ezike received a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan. Currently, he is a Senior Policy Associate, Innovation for Inclusion at The Urban Institute in Washington, D.C. Dr. Ezike is a frequent events speaker and podcast guest in the areas of transportation equity, resource sustainability, social responsibility, STEAM learning, careerism, and the environment.

EPISODE DATE: February 21, 2020

Published work:

Transportation, Sustainability, and Equity and the Effect on the African-American Community, Published October 20, 2016

Transportation, Environment and Health: Inexorably Linked for Black People, Washington Informer, Published September 7, 2016

Can Transportation be a Bridge to Wealth for African Americans?, Published May 10, 2016

Social media:

Richard Ezike, Ph.D. Website

LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:10 — 34.6MB)

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The future of work doing meaningful work includes pursuing truly epic experiences.

About this episode:

Pew Research finds that the American Dream many in the workforce experienced as upward mobility is long gone; it was replaced by a soberer pursuit of economic stability. As a result, we now fill our homes and storage bins with less stuff. More of us, and especially Millennials, instead pursue less stuff and more profound meaning and experience.

There are few industries where that shift to experience is more evident than in the travel and hospitality space.

Eva Grodberg is a lifelong lover of international travel and an entrepreneur who delivers epic vacation travel and leisure experiences to her discriminating clients who are pursuing truly epic experiences.

In these key interview segments, Eva:

• Relates how we may make the most of a life with less stuff and more experience. Starts at 6:30
• Describes how the dynamic aspect of the pursuit of experience gets factored in to the work that she does. Starts at 16:53
• Speaks to how “adrenaline junkies” escape the rush of work when on vacation. Starts at 18:31
• Dreams of an epic experience she would like to have. Starts at 19:55

In the news:

Fifty-five percent of people on the job don’t use all of their earned vacation time. And the reason may be FOMO, or, a fear of missing out. We discover how skipping vacation time can prove harmful to health and work performance.

About our guest:

Eva Grodberg is the Founder and President of Epic Experiences, LLC. She is a graduate of the Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, and, lives and works in New York City.

EPISODE DATE: February 14, 2020

Social media:

Facebook

Epic Experience Website

– Newsletter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 48:36 — 66.8MB)

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Two headhunters on executive recruiting, and the rewarding experience of helping people connect with work and career.

About this episode with two headhunters on executive recruiting:

Listeners of this podcast know that Dan Smolen successfully managed a 20-year run in executive recruiting—a career act that happened because of our guest, Victoria James. She is the founder and president of Victoria James Executive Search, a nationally recognized and respected recruitment firm that places top executives in the digital marketing services space.

Before she became a headhunter, Victoria enjoyed a successful sales and management career supporting major marketing services companies.

Also:

Dan describes reading, and listening to on Audible, Disney CEO Bob Iger’s inspiring new biography, The Ride of a Lifetime.

About our guest:

A native of Newark, New Jersey, Victoria James earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Bloomfield College and an MBA from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. She and her company are based in South Kent, Connecticut.

EPISODE DATE: February 7, 2020

Social Media:

– Facebook

– LinkedIn

– Twitter

– Victoria James Executive Search Website

– Featured Blog Post: Tackling the Work from Home Dilemma (Again)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:02 — 71.5MB)

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With Nicole Rousseau, we discuss how to instill nurturing workforce culture.

About this episode:

Nicole Rousseau has made it her mission to help people in the workplace thrive. During a Fall 2019 appearance on The Tightrope Podcast, Nicole described how she helps people and hiring managers work effectively and happily to scale revenues, but also to make the work that they do more meaningful. She has been so particularly effective in her work that clients dubbed her the Queen of the Millennials—it is a hat-tip to her uncanny ability to empower members of the American workforce’s largest cohort. Without hesitation, she took that title and proudly made it her professional brand.

Instilling a Nurturing Workforce Culture 

Nicole returns to The Tightrope Podcast to discuss the role of nurturing in the workplace; hiring managers, she says, must look beyond their revenue targets to fulfill the emotional needs of their workplace talent. We spoke in January 2020, over Skype, from her family home in Western Massachusetts.

In the news: 

Reflecting on a difficult week in the news that included the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant, we discuss deliberately pursuing second-act careers to do well, but also to do good for the world, our neighbors, and lots of people that we may never meet.

About our guest:

As a kid growing up in the Berkshires, Nicole Rousseau dreamed about helping people and her community. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Smith College, an MBA from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business, and Professional Coaching certification from Columbia University. Nicole splits her time between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts

EPISODE DATE: January 31, 2020

Social Media:

Queen of the Millennials Website

Coachable Solutions Website

Instagram Page

LinkedIn Page

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:34 — 58.5MB)

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One thought-leader is guiding entrepreneurs to conscious leadership.

In this episode:

Jake Mitchell, the founder of consultancy Serenity Labs, says that impact entrepreneurs tend to give all of their energy towards making a positive difference in the world, among people, and their communities. But, he also asks: how can those same impact entrepreneurs change the world for the better when they are totally drained?

Guiding entrepreneurs to conscious leadership is Jake Mitchell’s mission.

It’s an important question—one that Jake is not letting go unaddressed. He works with people to help them to achieve goals that go well beyond building revenue scale to mindful pursuits. And among those goals: to carve out considerable time during the day to escape work and do something joyful.

For Jake, joyfulness comes from the precious time he spends with his girlfriend and playing Disc Golf.

To extend his considerable thought-leadership, Jake speaks to a global audience as host of The Conscious Leader Podcast. Each week, he interviews a wide range of thought-leaders—in business, academia, and the healing arts—who serve humanity.

About our guest:

As a young child, Jake Mitchell thought that he would become a professional baseball player. But, it was when he dreamt at night that he pondered the meaning of the universe. Jake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Skidmore College. In the years after graduation, he became a New York-based film producer. Then, he relocated to Boulder, Colorado where he brings the same deep well of creativity and passion to his work guiding and empowering impact entrepreneurs.

EPISODE DATE: January 24, 2020

Social Media:

– Serenity Labs Website

– The Conscious Leader Podcast

– Instagram Page

– LinkedIn Page