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

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. 

Amy Javaid came face to face with the reality that she had it good, and many did not, early in life. Like many guests on The PlayFull Podcast, Amy turned her a-ha into a to-do, and got busy helping others. Decades later, as CEO of A Wider Circle, she’s still at it, making the world better through play, compassion, and dignity. 

As a great wrap to our CEO series, listen in and learn how Amy leads a national movement to reduce furniture poverty, a glaring issue that gets little attention. And you’ll hear how she uses play – like hiding rubber ducks throughout the agency’s 35,000-square-foot warehouse – to delight clients and staff and make a game out of filling empty homes with “donations with dignity.”

Listen in as Kristine and Amy discuss:
How A Wider Circle is a leading force in the movement to end furniture povertyWhat it means to donate items in “dignity condition” What being a management consultant has in common with making sure people have beds to sleep on and a comfortable place to eat a meal after a long day at workHow the hotel industry’s Covid-rebound has created a huge pipeline of furniture donations
Key Takeaways:
70% of people who call A Wider Circle for help are sleeping on the floorA Wider Circle does not means-test or require clients sign up for case management; all you need to do to “qualify” is ask for helpThe U.S. lags behind Europe and Canada in measuring the scope and impact of furniture poverty, but the negative impacts of being furniture-deficient are many, including mental and physical health issues, poor self-esteem, loneliness, etc.Be creative! Find ways, like (rubber) duck hunting, that bring fun and joy to your team members and clients
"Everyone can do something, and together we can do a lot of somethings. How great is that!?!" — Amy Javaid
 

About Amy Javaid: Amy Javaid currently serves as the President and CEO of A Wider Circle, a social service nonprofit based in Silver Spring, MD. With a staff of more than 60 and thousands of volunteers each year, A Wider Circle seeks to support those experiencing poverty through an array of services and programs. 
Amy joined A Wider Circle in 2017 and took on several roles during her tenure including in workforce development, neighborhood partnerships, and development. In early 2021, Amy became Interim President and CEO and in July 2021 became President and CEO. 
Amy has spent her career in the management, project design, development, implementation, and monitoring of programs for an array of marginalized and vulnerable populations. Specifically, she has led programs in the health, education, and workforce development fields. She has also supported nonprofits in realms including program design, monitoring, and impact as well as on governance, fundraising, strategic planning, and operations. 
During her tenure at A Wider Circle, Amy has filled an array of roles. She began with Workforce Development before branching out to launch the Partnership to Independence (P2I) five-year wraparound program and the Neighborhood Partnerships program. She also oversaw the development and build-out of A Wider Circle’s Ward 8 Hub located in Washington Highlands. 
Previously, Amy worked for Deloitte, the Academy for Educational Development, several smaller nonprofits, and with a variety of clients. She has managed portfolios with total contract values in excess of $40 million, led teams of up to 100 staff members, and implemented client-level interventions in rural, urban, domestic, and international settings. 
Amy is originally from Boston and currently resides in Washington D.C. with her family.

Resources Mentioned:
TurboHaul: https://www.turbohaul.com/ 
Connect with Amy Javaid: 
Website: https://awidercircle.org/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-javaid-250068138/

Connect with Kristine:
Website: https://www.impactfullinc.com/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/impactfull_inc
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kri

In this episode you’ll meet Jean Oelwang, CEO of Virgin Unite, who’s worked and played with global luminaries like Jimmy Carter, Nelson Mandela, Peter Gabriel, and Desmond Tutu, using joy and fun to crack the code on solving the world’s biggest problems. 

You’ll hear inside scoop on how her boss, Virgin Group CEO Richard Branson, prefers pranks and practical jokes to Power Points, and how together they’re uncovering what’s unacceptable and turning it upside down. 

And finally, she shares the magic of her life’s many “disruptive detours,” and how those twists and turns have led her straight to the heart of what matters most.

Listen in as Kristine and Jean discuss:
How joy is the only renewable resource.How comfort is the enemy of change.Why it’s better to play than work after lunch.Why changemakers shouldn’t feel bad about playing when things are hard.
Key Takeaways:
Fair and unfair is subjective. Instead, identify that which is unacceptable and turn it on its head. Play creates space to listen in a deeper way. Joy and play can relieve tension and nerves. It can break the ice and build your confidence. Adding moments of joy will make the moments of stress lighter and easier to handle.Play, joy, and connection are a pathway to change, not the enemy of change. Don’t want to get stuck in your comfort zones. Instead, play with purpose even if at first it’s uncomfortable.Stepping back from the world’s problems is not an option; play and joy will keep us moving forward together.
"Sometimes we think it's frivolous to play. In reality, play helps make the runway faster to those solutions. It helps ease the runway. It helps us trust each other, and makes us want to work together." — Jean Oelwang
 

About Jean Oelwang, Founding CEO of Virgin Unite, Co-founder Plus Wonder: 

Jean is a Collaborations Architect and the founding CEO of Virgin Unite. Over the last 19 years, she has worked with partners to lead the incubation and start-up of several global initiatives, including: The Elders, The B Team, The Carbon War Room, The Africa Donor Collective, Ocean Unite (now ORRAA), The Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator, 100% Human at Work, and several others. 

Jean spent seventeen years helping lead mobile phone companies in South Africa, Colombia, Bulgaria, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, and the US.  She was the joint CEO of Virgin Mobile in Australia prior to starting Virgin Unite.

She co-founded the not-for-profit Plus Wonder to spark more meaningful deep connections and collaborations in the world. She is the author of the new book, Partnering.  

Resources Mentioned:
SXSW: https://www.sxsw.com/ Comic Relief: https://www.comicrelief.com/ Partnering by Jean OelwangThe Art of Gathering by Priya Parker: https://www.priyaparker.com/book-art-of-gathering The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton: https://www.amazon.com/Sun-Does-Shine-Freedom-Selection/dp/1250124719 Long Walk to Freedom by Nelson Mandela: https://www.amazon.com/Long-Walk-Freedom-Autobiography-Mandela/dp/0316548189 
Connect with Jean: 
Website: https://pluswonder.org/ 
Plus Wonder: https://pluswonder.org/book/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pluswonder/ 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pluswonder/ & https://www.instagram.com/jeanoelwang/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plus-wonder/ & https://www.linkedin.com/in/jean-oelwang/ 
X: https://twitter.com/pluswonder & https://twitter.com/JeanOelwang

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.