Masks From Recycled Fabric – Jennifer (JJ) Lee, United We Mask

“100% of the materials used in our back to school (mask-making) kits were …from deadstock (discarded) materials…to provide a sustainable mask alternative for kids in need to that they ….can keep their communities safe.” Jennifer Lee on Green Connections Radio. As we all adapt to the temporary normal of having to wear a mask to protect ourselves and others from the Covid-19 pandemic, Jennifer Lee came up with a creative eco-friendly way to make mask-wearing fun for kids and give masks to people of all ages in need.  Building this nonprofit is Jennifer’s side hustle; her day job is as a global technology manager in cosmetic giant L’Oréal’s incubator. Listen to Jennifer describe to Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson how she came up with the idea for United We Mask, who else is on board (including Fabscrap, a previous guest on this show), and how L’Oréal is responding.

Planet Word Museum – Ann Friedman, CEO, Founder, Creator

“You learn the techniques that make a song or a speech or that ad really effective and persuasive..” Ann Friedman on Green Connections Radio. We are experiencing every day how powerful words are, ours and other people’s. From the 2020 election to social media, to the protests for equality and climate change, to advertisements and music.  Now, there’s a brand new interactive museum in Washington, DC about language and how it’s effective and persuasive. Listen to this enlightening conversation with Ann Friedman, Founder, CEO & Creator of Planet Word and Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson about how to bring language to life. We included some sound from the exhibits too, to take you inside.

Managing Crisis & Change, From Fmr Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James

“We all have to recognize whether we’re working in industry or government or in the nonprofit sector, is change is a constant…(Y)ou constantly have to be thinking about your next move. Life is not a game of checkers these days, it’s a game of chess and you have to be thinking three or four steps beyond where you are now if at all possible.” Deborah Lee James on Green Connections Radio podcast. From managing life-and death crises to managing career decisions and “jerks,” Secretary James tells Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson the truth about being a strong woman advancing in an organization up to leadership.

Making Women Extraordinary Leaders  – Coco Brown, A Top 100 Woman in Silicon Valley, CEO of Athena Alliance

“It’s time (for women) to pick our heads up and look around the executive realm and really think broadly about how big our impact can be…Don’t underestimate your value.”  Coco Brown on Green Connections Radio podcast
The economy is in the midst of a massive global shift when the old ways of doing business are giving way to new paradigms – in every sense from managing supply chains to marketing to employee relations, to financial reporting – to a focus more on sustainable business aligned with ESG factors (environment, social and governance). As a result, leadership is changing and it’s becoming more and more apparent every day that the way women tend to lead is more effective and drives stronger performance across all those metrics. Listen to this fascinating interview with Coco Brown, ranked one of the top 100 women in Silicon Valley and Founder/CEO of the Athena Alliance, to find out what the new paradigm of leadership is and how women are uniquely suited to it.

Study: What Motivates Women To Be Leaders? – Maggi Reiss, IDS Publishing

With women still only 7.4% of the Fortune 500 CEOs, executives, recruiters, and advocates are wondering what needs to happen for more women to ascend to those roles. A brand new study conducted by Green Connections Media (GCM) and IDS Publishing may provide some answers, especially for those in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering and math). Called the Reiss Motivational Profile (“RMP”), it “helps people to…think about what they really want out of life, what’s really important to them,” Maggi Reiss explained. Listen to this fascinating interview with Maggi about what motivates women to be leaders, high-achievers.

7 Million EVs By 2030, Climate Week – Katie Sloan, Southern Cal Edison

“I’ve never seen as much alignment as there are in electric vehicles today.” Katie Sloan on Green Connections Radio podcast. To commemorate Climate Week 2020, Listen to Katie Sloan, Director of eMobility at Southern California Edison, who is the focal point for electric vehicle adoption in the most populous state in the U.S. and how they plan to achieve their 7 million EVs goal. (This was recorded shortly before the pandemic broke out in the U.S.)

Seeing Opportunities in Crisis – Colleen Biggs, Founder/CEO & Leadership Coach, Lead Up for Women

“People aren’t looking for the perfect you, they’re looking for you and what you can do for their company – and your ‘why.’”  Colleen Biggs on Green Connections Radio podcast. We are all having to find new ways to generate revenue, be seen and heard, conduct business, stay connected to our audiences and make a difference in this pandemic economy. Some are thriving while others are struggling, and we wanted to know what the thrivers are doing, so we sat down with a serial entrepreneur who has mastered the art of reinvention in both business and as a person. Listen to Colleen Biggs, Founder and CEO of Lead Up for Women, discuss tips for how women in her network are thriving in these uncertain upside down times with Green Connections Radio host Joan Michelson.  Biggs founded and runs a community of women leaders and business owners focused on advancement and doing good, is a leadership coach and hosts her own podcast.

Can Kamala Harris Heal A Century Old Conflict Between Black And White Women – Elevating Both?

As we commemorate the centennial of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote this month, Biden choosing Harris is an opportunity for a healing moment for the country and for American womankind.  We are wise to remember the winding road of the alliance between black women and white women reflected in my great-great aunt’s unlikely friendship with Mary Ellen Pleasant so very long ago.  

Eco-Oyster Farming – Kay Olin, Panacea Oyster Cooperative

You can still get sustainable seafood during a pandemic, and Green Connections Radio previous guest Kay Olin and her Estuary Oysters proves businesses can continue to grow. They are now a supplier to all Whole Foods in Florida (where Estuary is located), with plans to expand. Listen to this interview from a couple of years ago when Kay explained to GCR host Joan Michelson how they farm sustainable oysters and build the economy at the same time.

Non-Toxic Disinfecting COVID19 – Rayne Guest, R-Water

“For healthcare grade disinfection, the EPA has certain requirements….that you test against, and those lab reports, we showed 100% kill in one minute, which is actually really impressive, because most toxic products they use in hospitals for disinfectants take 10 minutes, have to be reapplied multiple times to stay wet for 10 minutes, and only have a 95% kill rate and still be approved by the EPA for healthcare grade disinfection.” Rayne Guest on Green Connections Radio podcast How do you know your office or school or facility is truly free of COVID-19?  There are no 100% guarantees, but learn about an environmentally-friendly disinfectant that the EPA says is 100% effective in one minute with Rayne Guest, CEO and Founder of R-Water, on Green Connections Radio podcast with host Joan Michelson.