Women Changing The World

EP 45: Nature-based solutions, local climate activism, and why we feel optimistic for the future of sustainability with Lara Birkes

In this episode, we talk to Lara Birkes. In addition to her role as the Head of Sustainability, Partnerships, and Social Impact at Sonder, she is deeply involved in conservation and climate change issues in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
This episode covers:
🌎 What it's like to lead sustainability with a small team at a newly public company
🌎 How Lara’s experience living in rural Montana has shifted her perspective on climate work
🌎 Tips for people who want to get involved in climate activism in their communities
🌎 Why you should vote
🌎 What nature-based solutions are, and why they’re such an exciting opportunity for innovation
🌎 Career advice for those who want to get into the sustainability field
You can learn more about Lara below:
LinkedIn
And here’s Lara’s advice for how you can engage in local politics and support community nonprofits:
Run for office.
Support those running for office with a pro-climate agenda (city, county, planning board, mayor - you name it.)
Meet with your representatives, understand their positions, and offer alternative solutions/perspectives if you disagree on a climate-positive future.
Take the time to understand key environmental issues in your community, where the tensions lie, and help those serving as thoughtful agents of change.
Support local journalism offering fact-based analysis.
Register to vote. Vote. And take people to the polls!
Seek out the local nonprofits engaged in grassroots climate & environmental advocacy. Oftentimes national/international NGOs don't have the credibility in communities that locally run, grassroots organizations do. A nuanced understanding is needed!
For anyone interested in the work Lara does in her community of Livingston, Montana here are resources:
Park County Environmental Council
Western Sustainability Exchange
Park County Community Foundation.
Ready to spend more time together? Check out the spaces below where my community hangs out:
Winter Workshops
Monthly MeditationInstagramLinkedIn

EP 44: Strengthening your voice, future-proofing inclusion efforts, and building coalitions with Sarah Chapman Bacerra

In this episode, we talk to Sarah Chapman Bacerra, the founder of Trailblazing in Color, an organization on a mission to help historically underrepresented leaders thrive in and change the systems that were not designed by them or for them.
This episode covers:
💜 The importance of curiosity in our relationships
💜 The challenges facing trailblazers who identify as “firsts” and “onlys”
💜 Why we need to build coalitions for different areas and chapters of our lives
💜 Tips and tools to get started in strengthening your voice
💜 Advice for effectively navigating differences at work and in life
💜 Why having a work best friend is so crucial
💜 How we can future-proof inclusion efforts in companies
You can learn more about Sarah below:
Sarah’s LinkedIn
Trailblazing in Color Website
Trailblazing in Color Podcast
Ready to spend more time together? Check out the spaces below where my community hangs out:
Girls Club MastermindMonthly MeditationInstagramLinkedIn

EP 43: Women in power, the politics around ESG, and how to get businesses to stop doing the wrong things with Alison Taylor

In this episode, we talk to Alison Taylor, someone who wears many hats both personally and professionally, including Executive Director of Ethical Systems, professor at NYU Stern School of Business, and author.
This episode covers:
📖 Why you should stop feeling like you need to accomplish anything by any specific age
📖 What to change in how we think about and advocate for more women to get into positions of power
📖 What gives us hope for the future
📖 The politics around ESG, plus how they impact practitioners
📖 The role of business in our society and what actually drives ethics in organizations
📖 What the book creation process is like
📖 Recommendations for posting prolifically on LinkedIn
You can learn more about Alison below:
LinkedIn
Twitter
Find Alison’s recommendations below:
Vault Employee Voice Software
Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? Book
Ready to spend more time together? Check out the spaces below where my community hangs out:
Girls Club MastermindMonthly MeditationInstagramLinkedIn

EP 42: Entrepreneurship as an introvert, authentic business development, and why the B Corp assessment is worth a look with Eliza Erskine

In this episode, we talk to Eliza Erskine, founder of Green Buoy Consulting, about her journey as a consultant who helps companies execute sustainability strategies and incorporate the triple bottom line into their businesses.
This episode covers:
💚 Eliza’s journey in becoming a consultant for businesses in the service-based sector
💚 The practice that can best help you estimate the amount of time you have available for your clients
💚 Strategies introverts can use to launch and grow your businesses (without talking to people all day, every day)
💚 Where to connect with ESG leaders and tips for building genuine relationships
💚 What B-Corp certification is, and why companies should consider it
💚 Insights on some of the most exciting things happening in ESG right now
You can learn more about Eliza and Green Buoy Consulting below:
Eliza’s LinkedIn
Green Buoy Consulting Website
Ready to spend more time together? Check out the spaces below where my community hangs out:
Girls Club MastermindMonthly MeditationInstagramLinkedIn

EP 41: Founding Ladies Get Paid, reinventing yourself, and effectively negotiating your salary with Claire Wasserman

In this episode, we talk to Claire Wasserman, educator, author, and founder of Ladies Get Paid, an educational platform, global community, and book that champions the professional and financial advancement of women.
This episode covers:
💸 How getting 100 women in a room to talk about money evolved into a 75,000-member community
💸 Wisdom for the multi-passionate person who is ready to carve their own path
💸 Tips for moving through imposter syndrome
💸 How to negotiate your salary so you can get paid what you deserve
You can learn more about Claire and Ladies Get Paid below:
Ladies Get Paid Website
Ladies Get Paid Instagram
Claire’s Instagram
Ready to spend more time together? Check out the spaces below where my community hangs out:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn

EP 40: Enabling sustainable travel, navigating a multi-hyphenate path, and embracing unexpected career pivots with Michelle Arellano Martin

In this episode, we talk to Michelle Arellano Martin, founder of Travara, a purpose-driven travel brand for today’s modern, socially conscious global citizen.
This episode covers:
🌎 What is sustainable travel, and how can you travel more sustainably?
🌎 The journey to founding a sustainable travel company
🌎 Advice for people trying to make the most of unexpected career twists and turns
🌎 How to choose what to say yes - and no - to
You can learn more about Travara below:
Travara Website
Travara Instagram
Ready to spend more time together? Connect with our community here:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn

EP 39: Assumption checking, cultivating a morning routine, and scheduling joy every day with Danielle Polini

In this episode, we talk to Danielle Polini, a UX design research and strategy consultant for early-stage startups.
This episode covers:
✨How asking “what” and “how” questions can change how people communicate with you
✨Cultivating a morning routine that works for you
✨Scheduling joy into your weekly routine
✨Secrets for asking strategic questions to build trust with people around you
✨Making pizza from scratch and tips to get started at home
You can learn more about Danielle and get her pizza-making tips below:
LinkedIn
Danielle’s Pizza Tips
Ready to spend more time together? Connect with our community here:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn

EP 38: Life lessons from a former lobbyist, becoming a sustainability consultant, and designing a more diverse and inclusive sustainability field with...

In this episode, we talk to Heather Mak, Principal Advisor of Heather Mak Consulting and one of the co-founders of Diversity in Sustainability, a network initiated by diverse sustainability professionals aimed at increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field of sustainability.
This episode covers:
✨How working in a number of different sustainability capacities, from retail industry lobbyist to practitioner in Canada and the UK, prepares you to run your own company.
✨How behavior change is related to sustainability progress.
✨The most impactful things sustainability practitioners can do to help move the
industry forward when it comes to diversity and inclusion.
✨How solving for the most vulnerable helps us all and ways we can put this into practice.
You can learn more about Heather and Diversity in Sustainability below:
Heather’s Twitter
Heather Mak Consulting Website
Diversity in Sustainability Website (with a link to download The State of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Sustainability Survey and Summary)
Diversity in Sustainability Google Group
Ready to spend more time together? Connect with our community here:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn

EP 36: Inspirational post-it messages from Women Changing the World 🌎

This very special episode highlights the women who have joined me on the Women Changing the World podcast over the past year and the post-it-length inspiration they want to share with you.
Below you can find links to each interview in order of the quotes that were featured in this episode so you can dive in further with each of our guests:
Quote 1: Carrie Sawyer
Quote 2: Kyle Moss
Quote 3: Melanie Aubert
Quote 4: Raquel Reyes
Quote 5: Kacie Brennell
Quote 6: Maia Tekle
Quote 7: Diana Hernandez
Quote 8: Melanie Conover
Quote 9: Jessica Marati Radparvar
Quote 10: Amelia Travis
Quote 11: Jamie Varon
Quote 12: Noemi Jimenez
Quote 13: Marina Brenden
Quote 14: Stephanie Dolmat
Quote 15: Danielle Jezienicki
Quote 16: Radhika Lalit
Quote 17: Stacy Magdaluyo
Quote 18: Gesche Haas
Quote 19: Hannah Wells
Quote 20: Nina Stoller Lindsay
Quote 21: Theresa Lieb
Quote 22: Aditi Mohapatra
Quote 23: Carrie Majewski
Quote 24: Miloney Thakrar
Quote 25: Michelle Eggers
Ready to spend more time together? Connect with our community here:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn

EP 35: Reflections on 1 Year of the Women Changing the World podcast with Lis Best

It’s our birthday 🎉! In this episode, Lis reflects on 1 year of the Women Changing the World podcast and takes you through her biggest takeaways from our first 25 interviews.
Ready to spend more time together? Connect with our community here:
Girls Club Mastermind
Monthly Meditation
Instagram
LinkedIn