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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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:03:58 — 87.9MB)

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We explore a Londoner’s work in recruiting and radio.

About this episode:

We go across-the-pond to chat with Russell White, a London-based executive recruiter who doubles as a radio host representing 1970s-era Disco music. Russ recounts his considerable success placing professional talent in executive roles in United Kingdom and European Union companies, and, offers his surprisingly positive post-Brexit outlook for people seeking work.

But, it is during evening hours behind a radio station microphone where he truly discovers the meaningful work of his dreams.

In a Londoner works in recruiting and radio, Russell discusses:

• Executive recruitment in the UK and EU including the anticipated effect of Brexit. Starts at 5:43
• Being “Retro Russ” on Delite Radio. Starts at 35:26
• His thoughts on doing meaningful work. Starts at 49:10

In the News:

Mid-January 2020 marked an epochal moment in American labor history as women became the majority of the active workforce. While their newfound majority will create some positive market-driven dynamics, we believe that women still need the protection of new state and federal laws too fully achieve income equality and proper family leave benefits.

About our guest:

Russell White is a veteran executive recruiter and the managing partner of London-based Premier Consultants which places people in a variety of senior-level marketing job assignments. Also, he is known around the globe as “Retro Russ,” presenting 1970s Disco music on Delite Radio. Russell earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Business Studies from Middlesex University. He lives and works in London, England.

EPISODE DATE: January 17, 2020

Social Media:

– Premier Consultants

– Delite Radio

– Discolicious on Delite Radio with Retro Russ

– Facebook

– Instagram

– Twitter

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:36 — 32.5MB)

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Adrienne Schoch discusses how to apply science and empathy for work.

About this episode:

If you are committed to finding meaningful work in the new year, then we urge you to consider an internship. We discuss why they are not just for career-focused college students; internships help mid-career professionals to seek meaningful work.

Also in this “between the seasons” episode, we meet Adrienne Shoch of 5 to 1 Consulting who describes steps needed to apply science and empathy for work. She is an industry recognized expert on neuro-centricity. Major corporations and organizations hire Adrienne to ensure that their people work efficiently, but also in a way that fosters their mutual support and respect. We also discuss empathetic recruiting, how it helps people to find meaningful work, and changes how they get hired.

About our guest:

Adrienne Shoch is the founder of 5 to 1 Consulting. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Towson University and studied at University of Paris – Sorbonne, and, the Neuroleadership Institute. Adrienne lives and works in Washington, D.C.

EPISODE DATE: January 10, 2020

Adrienne’s social media:

– 5 to 1 Consulting Website

– Adrienne Shoch LinkedIn Page

The GREEN Program:

– Learn More About the GREEN Program

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:40 — 47.7MB)

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A discussion of how we went about designing the user experience for DanSmolen.com with Gresham Harkless, Jr.

About this episode:

In the first of our “between the seasons” episodes, we ring in 2020 with New Year’s resolutions—particularly the ones in which people set out to find a new job. According to an Inc. Magazine survey, 16 percent or nearly 53 million of us will seek a new job this year. It surprises us that the number is not higher; the Gallup Organization reports that 66 percent, or 145 million American workers, find work to be, to some degree, meaningless.

Designing the user experience for future of work and meaningful work thought-leadership.

Also in this episode we meet Gresham Harkless, Jr. of Blue16 Media. Along with our Tightrope Podcast co-producer Carla A. Fleming, Gresh completely reimagined the DanSmolen.com website to provide our followers a phenomenal user experience, to fully explore all of our content: podcast episodes, blog posts, and work-related thought-leadership. Most important, Gresh takes us through the critical design thinking that went into launching the new DanSmolen.com site.

About our guest:

Gresham Harkless, Jr. creates dazzling multimedia presences for his Blue16 Media clients. He also produces and hosts the I AM CEO and CB Nation podcasts. Gresh is a native of the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. where, as a kid, he built his own kit computers, He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Howard University, and a Masters of Science in Sports Management from George Washington University.

EPISODE DATE: January 3, 2020

Social Media:

Blue16 Media Website

CB Nation

I AM CEO Podcast

Progreshion Website

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:08 — 71.6MB)

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Settle the debt: school lunch debt relief non-profit provides attorney meaningful ork

About this episode:

“In 2017, I was just driving down the street and I heard this interview on NPR and it was about this child in New Mexico who had gone to get a school lunch. And he walked up to the cash register with his meal in his hands, and it turned out that he didn’t have enough money in his account to pay for the lunch. So, the lunch lady took the meal out of his hands and threw it in the trash right in front of him, and, gave him an alternative meal like a cold cheese sandwich instead of the healthy meal—one that had already been served that they couldn’t give to anybody else. And instead of letting that child eat that meal, they threw it away. And they did it in front of him. You know, of course, that the child is going to be traumatized by that.”

-Adelle Settle, Founder of Settle The Debt

She already does meaningful work as an attorney for a federal government agency.

But as mom to an elementary school-aged child in Virginia’s second-largest school system, Adelle Settle discovered that thousands of kids in her community often go hungry, because they, their parents, or caregivers cannot afford to re-pay their outstanding student lunch debt.

Adelle could not sit idly by; she founded Settle the Debt, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that pays off the unpaid school lunch accounts in her community.

In this episode, Adelle describes:

• How, as a very young child, she developed a strong social conscience [starts at 2:27]
• The mission of Settle the Debt [starts at 19:57]
• What happens to a student who lacks proper nutrition [starts at 27:19]
• Her work with elected officials to pass “anti-food shaming” legislation [starts at 34:36]

About our guest:

Adelle Settle is a Senior Attorney Analyst with the Social Security Administration in Washington, D.C. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Albion College, and a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University. Adelle and her family live in Prince William County, Virginia.

EPISODE DATE: December 27, 2019

Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Website

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