Shows
Decide for Impact podcastAn invitation to contribute - Isabelle Swiderski | Decide for Impact show 432Read the show notes, links and resources here https://decideforimpact.com/show432-an-invitation-to-contribute-isabelle-swiderski/
In this conversation with Isabelle Swiderski, I learned:
00:00 Intro
03:10 Filmmaking is the most intense collaborative experience that you can imagine and the relation to systems change.
04:30 The Protagoniste network for designers. Design thinker and maker, make impact and make money.
09:30 Create a space where people can experiment. Remove the feeling that there are right and wrong answers.
12:20 It is easier to pit us against each other than it is to speak to our common humanity.
14:35 Why Silicon Valley developed at a m...
2024-04-181h 01
Decide for Impact podcastAn invitation to contribute – Isabelle SwiderskiToday, we are learning from Isabelle Swiderski.
With over 20 years of experience in design, strategy, storytelling, and education, Isabelle focuses on using design-led approaches to support social and environmental activism and systems change.
She runs Seven25, a multidisciplinary consultancy that helps global impact-driven organizations engage their audiences and stakeholders through multimedia storytelling and design strategy. As a podcast host, solutions journalism correspondent, and independent filmmaker, she explores and amplifies the stories of social justice innovators and ecosystem builders who are redesigning the world's systems for greater equity and inclusion.
Isabelle also serves as a Visiting Associate Professor at both The...
2024-04-181h 01
Design InfluenceSeason III / Episode 5: Communities, Networks, and Ecosystems — Platforms for ChangeHost Isabelle Swiderski sits down with Meaghan Kennedy, founder of Orange Sparkle Ball, an innovation consultancy focused on public-private partnerships to explore the role communities / networks / ecosystems can serve as a supportive framework for change.
2023-10-1037 min
Design InfluenceSeason III / Episode 4: What if we ran the thing?—Building Economic Democracy“What if we thought of the Bronx as an economy of scale? And what if we try to create a plan for the borough that actually brings all of us in, where we share a vision, where we share in leadership, and where the wealth and capital is owned by us and bred by us? So the simple phrase is: what if we ran it?”—Michael Partis
Host Isabelle Swiderski sits down with Michael Partis, current Executive Director of the Red Hook Initiative and previously ED of the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative to discuss the ma...
2023-08-0826 min
Design InfluenceSeason III / Episode 3: The Practice of Democracy—From Redlining to EquityThis episode features April De Simone, a transdisciplinary practitioner working at the intersection of architecture, planning, and systems thinking. She collaborates with different communities across the country, bringing to light the lasting impacts of redlining, urban renewal, and gentrification.
What are new ways to explore housing as a key node in ecosystems underpinning community fabric and the reinvention of democracy? How might we consider where we live as one aspect of our entire experience and health? How can under-represented voices finally be heard and valued to co-create equitable systems and shared value?
April shares insights...
2023-05-2434 min
Design InfluenceSeason III Episode 2 / Disrupt or destroy: the identity crisis of gender lens investingSana Kapadia, director of strategy at 2X Global, sits down with host Isabelle Swiderski to talk about the current state of gender lens investing and the resources and approaches that support the people and partnerships behind the work.
2023-03-2628 min
Design InfluenceSeason III / Episode 1 : Yes, and . . . —Iterations on the New EconomyThis episode features Vicki Saunders, founder of Coralus (formerly SheEO) based in Toronto. Coralus now operates in 5 countries and through the annual contribution of individual activators, provides interest-free loans and, crucially, a community of support, to ventures led by women- and non-binary folks. Over 140 ventures tackling the world’s to-do list have been taken in and gone on to grow their impact.
Vicki shares her insights from 20+ years spent exploring the conditions that allow individuals to thrive and what it takes to imagine and co-create a new solution for women to fund each other. How might we...
2022-12-1228 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 8: Driving Social Change—the Case for Economic EmpowermentThis episode, the last in Season II, features Darrell Schuurman, co-founder and CEO of the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.
The CGLCC is a coalition of LGBTQ2S+ businesses, government, corporate and community partners advocating for change to make a more inclusive Canadian economy possible. Darrell sheds some light on the evolution of the organization as it navigates its domestic role and its growing impact in other countries.
2022-10-3130 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 7: Catalysing Community—The Power of People in Driving Systems ChangeThis episode features Sarah Burgaud who leads Programs and Partnerships at StartOut, a national US 501c3 organization supporting LGBTQ+ founders. StartOut’s mission is to accelerate the growth of the LGBTQ+ community to drive its economic empowerment, building a world where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur has equal access to lead, succeed, and shape the workforce of the future.
After 5 years with the not-for-profit, Sarah shares her insights on building lasting partnerships and what has made the pandemic an accelerator to the far-reaching systems change work StartOut is leading in the U.S. and globally.
2022-08-2324 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 6: Good Business Sense—Inclusion & Diversity as a Corporate Lived ValueThis episode features Al Ramsay, VP and Head of 2SLGBTQ+ & Black Customer Segments at TD Bank Group.
How do corporations navigate changing social mores and customer expectations and still successfully develop thriving corporate cultures founded on diversity of thought and service to customer? What does it mean to truly live values of inclusion and diversity?
Al Ramsay shares insights gleaned from over 15 years of supporting diverse communities, partners and teammates as part of one of the largest banks in North America.
2022-07-1229 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 5: The Audacity of Difference—Reinventing LGBTQIA ActivismThis episode features Louise Chernin, an activist, LGBTQIA business and community leader, and the former CEO of the Greater Seattle Business Association.
What does it mean to create shared value partnerships uniting small businesses, corporations, and government? How might we best redirect resources, technical support and money where it's most needed?
Louise shares insights gleaned from 20 years on the front lines of community building and economic empowerment:
1. seeing opportunities for reinvention in crisis
2. supporting collective impact and systems change by making human connections
3. showing up as an ally as we...
2022-04-2734 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 4: Young & Restless—Heeding the Call to EngageThis episode features Jordan Wolken, a sustainability student, social enterprise enthusiast, and the Global President of Bridges for Enterprise, a volunteer-led non-profit empowering early-stage impact startups. He is currently based in Paris, France. Social entrepreneurship is a complex undertaking at the best of times. The pandemic and overall volatility of the world has arguably made it exponentially more so in recent years. Yet, in the face of chaos, war, and rampant inequity, young people are stepping forward to take up the challenge. As he completes his Masters in Sustainability, Jordan shares his view of the promise of social entrepreneurship...
2022-04-1230 min
Fuck U BitchLisa General Manager McDonald’sLisa is an Asian General Manager and McDonald’s. This bitch is terrible. Pay people seven25 to 8 dollars an hour --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fuckubitchsssss/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fuckubitchsssss/support
2022-03-3106 min
FamouszackLisa General Manager McDonald’sLisa is an Asian General Manager and McDonald’s. This bitch is terrible. Pay people seven25 to 8 dollars an hour --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app--- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/fuckubitchsssss/messageSupport this podcast: https://anchor.fm/fuckubitchsssss/support
2022-03-3106 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 3: Women’s Work—The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs in KosovoThis episode features Arta Istrefi, an experienced private sector development adviser, ecosystem builder, Founder of Women Entrepreneurs Kosovo and a PhD candidate, based in Pristina. She is focussed on the growing role of entrepreneurship as an engine for economic mobility, particularly for women. We had a chance to discuss her findings on how the younger generation of female entrepreneurs in Kosovo is taking the lead in developing ambitious, thriving businesses with global aspirations.
2022-03-3028 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 2: Chosen Friends & Family—Bridging the Racial Wealth GapThis episode features Kevin Jones, a successful serial entrepreneur who, with his wife, has built media and event businesses centered on niche communities—including the influential SOCAP Conference. He is currently focussed, amongst other efforts, on helping communities of faith take seriously the call to economic justice through faithfinance.net.
For generations, the systematic exclusion of Black families from access to home ownership, white collar jobs, college, and voting has resulted in a widening racial wealth gap that has yet to be overcome. According to the Brookings Institute, in 2019 the median white household’s wealth was 7.8 times that...
2022-02-1739 min
Design InfluenceSeason II / Episode 1: Designing Collective Wellbeing—The Happy City MovementThis episode features Charles Montgomery, author of the book Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design, and the founder of the consultancy of the same name.
We know cities are key economic drivers, often even outperforming their own countries in terms of growth. We also know that urbanization comes at a cost, particularly around transportation, affordable housing, and pollution but also around safety and access to public and green spaces.
How can we design cities where we live together better and create ways for people to be more included, empowered, and to have access t...
2022-01-1929 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode 8: More together, with more humilityThis episode features Adriana Valdez Young, an urban design researcher and strategist based in New York City. Her perspectives on cities and how we live together seem particularly relevant in a time where our collective notions of private and public spaces have shifted. Where the global pandemic has meant that for the privileged who can perform their work remotely staying safe has been synonymous with staying home.
How might we reimagine and co-create streets, spaces, and cities to help them fulfill their potential as the change machines Adriana knows they can be? How can we help people f...
2021-04-0428 min
Can't Tell Us NothingSeason 3 Episode 16: Lifestyle DealershipCan't Tell Us Nothing is joined by the producer of Seven25 Mag, Queezy Leo! He chats with us about how he started the online magazine http://www.seven25mag.com/ and what its mission is. Inspired by this conversation, we also figure out what happened to the California Raisins, how to be Houston’s Top Catch, and the effects increasing your income may have on your lifestyle.We have opinions and you're gonna hear them! Follow our characters down rabbit holes in our fast-paced improv shows.Hosted by Amechi Ngwe, Antoine W.B, Jon Myles, an...
2020-07-231h 02
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode 7: It starts with the peopleIn this episode I speak with Delilah Agho-Otoghile, an Organizer, Political Strategist and Co-Founder of VoteSimple, a Texas based digital voter registration organization focused on registering young voters of colour and LGTBQ+ Texans. Delilah previously worked as State Director for Beto for America and Field Director for Stacey Abrams for Governor. Her work is dedicated to ensuring our democracy truly reflects progressive values and the striking diversity of her country—the United States.
In these times of change and unrest, how do we meet potential voters where they are? How do we ensure everyone’s vote is count...
2020-06-2632 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode 6—Reinventing social networksIn this episode, I speak with Mica Le John. Mica is a writer, technologist, and educator, and the CEO and co-founder of 2SWIM, a social messaging app with an emphasis on close connections and private communities. 2SWIM will be for everybody but is currently invite-only for POC-, LGBTQ+-, and/or womxn-centric communities, creators and brands (and their allies).
How have online communities changed in the light of the COVID-19 crisis?
How can we reimagine these virtual communities to moved them from being spaces for performance to spaces for engagement?
Can social networks gene...
2020-05-1519 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode V—Reclaiming SpacesIn this episode, I speak with Sean Condon, Manager Director at 312Main, a Vancity Community Foundation project in Vancouver's Downtown East Side, about his hopes for this project which reclaims a building heavy with our colonial history. What happens when we open up avenues and physical spaces for dialogue, when we invite community and indigenous organisations to co-habitate and inspire each other? How do models of social enterprise come into play in addressing some of societies most blatant inequalities?
2019-11-1232 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode IV—Lessons from the Lucky Iron FishIn this episode, I speak with Dr. Gavin Armstrong, Founder and President of Lucky Iron Fish Enterprise, a Canadian social enterprise tackling the issue of iron deficiency with a simple health innovation.
I was in Lima supporting startup ecosystem builders and taking part in a training day for micro, small and medium enterprises. THE MSME event, organized by the Asia Pacific Foundation and Global Affairs Canada, featured a talk by Gavin.
I met Gavin a year ago in Toronto and it felt like a small world to meet again in Lima. Over and over what ca...
2019-09-1928 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode III—The gender arcIn this episode, I speak with Sean Harvey, Founder of Sympónia Men and Co-Founder of GenderArc. As a writer, speaker, and consultant he is exploring new narratives around gender balance in organizations to transform people, cultures, and systems. In a time that seems to favour headlines over dialogue and shouting over listening, Sean is trying to build bridges. How can we tame language to weaken the extremes of the gender binary? How do we facilitate compassionate conversations? And when and how do we even create space for them to occur?
2019-08-1727 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode II—The complexities of systems change and collaborationIn this episode, I speak with Dara Parker, Vice President of Grants and Community Initiatives at Vancouver Foundation, about the social profit landscape as she sees it. What happens when the private and third sectors meet? What does collaboration mean for not for profits and how does social entrepreneurship fit in all of this?
2019-07-1924 min
Design InfluenceSeason I / Episode I—The Promise of Social EntrepreneurshipIn this episode, I speak with Keith Ippel from Spring Activator about ways of defining social entrepreneurship and how this way of doing business can fulfill its promise to make the world a better place.
2019-07-1217 min
Design InfluenceHello! This is Design InfluenceConversations about redesigning the world through entrepreneurship, philanthropy and new collaborations.
2019-06-2102 min