Bridging Chicago

Bridging Chicago is on location for this episode with En Masse Architecture and Design to record in their thoughtfully created design space. Nathan is joined by members of the En Masse team, Mike Shively, Lucas Goldbach, and Ross Renjilian to hear about how the space was curated, how work/life spaces have changed, and their love of their neighborhood. The lessons Founding Director Mike Shively learned early in the process prove to be invaluable, regardless of your role or industry, and we’re so excited to share those with you now. Thank you to the En Masse team for allowing us to visit and for sharing your vision with us!

Joe Amari returns to host Michael Odongo, founder and CEO of the Angaza Center, which aims to provide resources to children in Africa, to equip them to get the education they need to change their futures. Growing up in Kenya, Michael came to the U.S. to continue his education, doing his post-grad work in IT and began working in the field. Now, as a resident of the Chicago area, Michael has continued his passion for education and ensuring that he helped to provide a ladder for others to climb as well. Though the challenges are real, and sometimes loom large, Michael knew that providing more technical literacy to more people can open a new world of opportunity for every person. Michael and the Angaza Center continue to do their work, impacting lives both in here and abroad.

As the founder of The Laughing Academy, Kim Greene Hiller has quite the pedigree when it comes to improv comedy, and her roots run deep in Chicago. Sharing a stage with some of Chicago’s most well known actors, Kim knew early on that her path would look different than that of those who’s names you see on marquees in New York or Los Angeles. Her desire to either be an actress or a teacher has come full-circle, and brought her to The Laughing Academy, where she is teaching people of all ages more lessons than just how to act on a stage. The lessons learned have helped with youth dealing with bullying and adults who need to become more comfortable with public speaking. The benefits of improv run deep, and after hearing this episode, you may even want to try out your acting chops!

Dr. Gordon Siegel is an accomplished ENT doctor who, like many of us, saw the way that the Covid-19 pandemic was changing the world and saw an opportunity to help others make a shift. Gordy, as he’s known by his friends, then took a leap and started SpaceShifts a company dedicated to helping people and businesses find open office space that they can use. With many companies downsizing the number of employees using the office spaces, sharing these spaces allows those who are not ready to rent out a full office have a space to do business. While Dr. Siegel is still practicing medicine, SpaceShifts is something that he feels can help Chicago continue to be the center of business and innovation.

HR Expert and Author Myriam Del Angel joins the podcast to share what she has learned about people and the places they work. During her time, Myriam has stressed the importance of self-care and self-awareness, so that employees can be more of who they are at work while also adding benefits to the business. Myriam is also helping to shine a spotlight on Latinas who are shaping the future and providing leadership guidance that we all can use. Her book, Latina’s in Corporate, is her first solo writing project, though she has co-authored previous books as well. Be sure to buy her book on Amazon, you won’t want to miss out on her amazing insight.

If you’ve been looking for a podcast that shares the fundamentals of starting and growing a business, creating a network of leaders, and authoring a book with twenty-two of your best friends, look no further than this episode! Martha Razo and Gabriela Gomez, two of the authors of Business Diva join us to share all of this and more. While they have two different stories, they have a shared passion of leadership and sharing what they’ve learned with as many people as possible to help them reach their highest potential. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss this amazing episode!

*Note: This was intended to be a two-part episode, however the footage for part one was damaged and will not be made available. Please check out their websites to find out more information about each of them.

Patricia Mota is a powerful leader who’s experience and desire to lead by experience makes her story more than compelling. She now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HACE, the Hispanic Alliance of Career Enhancement, which is seeking to cultivate the pipeline of Latinx/a/o talent, especially in Chicago. The changing landscape in the country has stretched her, but does not change her fixation on member needs and growth. Patricia leads her team, which has turned to a remote-only workplace, and has created Cafecito, a remote learning environment providing leadership guidance and networking. Be sure to check out Patricia’s amazing story today!

Sandra Aguirre was born in Mexico and moved to Chicago at a young age, and has lived here ever since. She loved growing up in the city and the opportunities that provided her to keep growing and reaching for new heights! She is a former teacher who still substitutes from time to time, but started her natural journey 10 years ago. Since then, she has been passionate about helping people see the benefits of a natural life and trying to improve the lives of those in her community. Listen as Sandra shares what she has learned from the world and what it can provide when we care for it well.

Our series with Imelda Rodriguez wraps up with her sharing about her book, Latinas in Finances. From just wanting to be a part of a project like this, to being the author and lead, Imelda has taken what she's learned in her career and growing up and found ways to share them with us. The co-authors that Imelda has brought together for this book are truly incredible leaders and genuinely want to prepare people to retire on their terms. Be sure to listen to part 1 and then part 2 to hear all of Imelda's story and get all of the leadership nuggets you can!

To try and list all of the things Imelda Rodriguez does is an impossible task! An author, coach and CEO, Imelda has taken the lessons learned growing up and built the Personal Development Institute "Coaching Vida." In this first part of a two-part series, Imelda shares how her experiences in Chicago, including working at McDonald's near Chicago's business loop, framed her leadership experience and why she chose to study business. She also shares about what providing this resource to the Latino/a community can do for families and communities and what working alongside her mom has meant to her. Be sure to come back and listen to part-two the following week.