In this episode, Jay Chaudhary, a Visiting Fellow at Capita and Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, interviews Capita Co-Founder + CEO Joe Waters, Daniel Williams, CEO of the Steelcase Foundation, and Jesús Gerena, CEO of UpTogether, during the Aspen VisionXChange in Aspen, Colorado. They explore recent coverage of the Baby’s First Years evaluation, the role of two-parent households in addressing poverty, a more thoughtful definition of abundance, the influence of elite preferences on social policymaking, and the importance of centering the voices and aspirations of parents and families in shaping policy.

We are grateful to the Aspen Institute for allowing us to use the podcast studio on the Aspen Meadows campus to record this conversation on July 29, 2025.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Capita’s Chief Strategy Officer Caroline Cassidy sits down with Katie King, Senior Director of Strategic Engagement at KnowledgeWorks to revisit the first-ever ten-year forecast focused on the flourishing of young children and their families co-developed by Capita and KnowledgeWorks in 2019. A lot has changed in just five years. From the pandemic’s lasting impact to the rise of homeschooling and the growing urgency of climate change, they reflect on how a host of forces are reshaping childhood and family life in the U.S. They also dive into unexpected shifts, like the rapid evolution of AI and the complexities of children’s autonomy and equity in an increasingly digital world. The episode wraps up with a discussion on the power of strategic foresight—how leaders can use these tools to navigate uncertain futures and create better systems for families and their communities.

Katie King is the Senior Director of Strategic Engagement for KnowledgeWorks. Katie manages externally facing strategic foresight projects and partnerships, co-designs and delivers workshops and contributes to KnowledgeWorks publications about the future of learning. Katie leads foresight strategy in state supports for personalized, competency-based learning, supports the management of foresight operations and strategic execution, and manages strategic foresight projects focused on sensemaking and strategy development.

Katie has previously served as a consulting futurist for various nonprofit organizations and taught middle school English in Texas and California. She holds a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Southern California and a master’s in foresight from the University of Houston. She is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and co-author of The Futures Thinking Playbook.

Caroline Cassidy directs overall strategy for Capita, which includes public engagement, communications, and organizational development.

For two decades, Caroline has been a leader in the think tank, global development and not-for-profit sectors where she has orchestrated initiatives aimed at shaping a more just and humane world. She is a strong advocate for embedding a deeper approach to communications throughout an organization or project- from language, relationships, and framing to deep listening, behaviour change, and values. 

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Capita CEO Joe Waters talks with Isabelle Hau, the author of "Love to Learn." They discuss the importance of relationships and connections in early education. Hau argues that there is a relational crisis in society and that we need a relational revolution to support children's learning and overall development. She emphasizes the role of love and relationships in brain development and highlights examples of communities and organizations that prioritize relationships in education. The episode also touches on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on relationships and the need for ethical considerations in its development.

Isabelle Hau is executive director of the Stanford Accelerator for Learning, an initiative of Stanford's Long-Range Vision that seeks to accelerate solutions to the most pressing challenges facing learners. She was a founding partner at Imaginable Futures, the philanthropic investment firm of eBay founder where she led the U.S. education initiative. She has worked with a broad and deep network of educators, edu-preneurs, innovators, funders, researchers, community and system leaders – and partnered with Sesame Street, Harvard Center on the Developing Child, LEGO, Head Start, Khan Academy, Ascend at the Aspen Institute, edtech and philanthropic funders, the federal and local governments, and other esteemed organizations to scale innovations in education that have reached millions of learners.

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Joe Waters and US Representative Becca Balint speak about the crisis of loneliness and disconnection in America. They discuss the lack of social support for parents of young children, the impact of economic inequality on social cohesion, and the role of social media in exacerbating loneliness. They also explore potential solutions, such as investing in physical infrastructure to create spaces for social interaction and enacting policies that support families and communities. Representative Balint emphasizes the importance of diagnosing the problem and working together across the political spectrum to find solutions.

Rep. Becca Balint is a mom, teacher, and progressive leader who comes to Washington ready to fight for working families. Becca is the first woman and openly LGBTQ person to represent her home state of Vermont. As the daughter of a working-class mother and immigrant father, Becca is deeply committed to defending American democracy and protecting vulnerable communities. This Congress, Becca serves as Congressional Progressive Caucus Vice Chair for New Members and as a Co-Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. She is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, and the Budget Committee. 

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, CEO Joe Waters speaks with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dele Olojede, who was in Pretoria on May 10, 1994, covering Nelson Mandela's inauguration and the formal transition to democracy in South Africa. The following day, he flew to Kigali to cover the early days of the Rwandan genocide. In just a matter of days, Dele witnessed both the best of humanity and its greatest depravities. As South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of democracy, Dele shares his insights and wisdom. The conversation also delves into current challenges in the U.S., the critical role of leadership in navigating today's societal transformations, and the importance of a long-term perspective. This episode, introduced by Capita Board Chair Nicole Biondi, was recorded in November 2024 at a Capita Salon in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Dele Olojede is the founder and host of Africa In the World. A writer, publisher and editor over four decades, he has been a correspondent stationed in various global centers, including New York, Johannesburg and Beijing, mainly for New York Newsday. During his career he reported from more than 75 countries spread across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and North America. He also published an investigative newspaper in Lagos. Dele is a moderator of the Aspen Institute leadership seminars for the Aspen Global Leadership Network, of which he is also a fellow. He serves on various boards, including of EARTH University, in Costa Rica, Edesia Nutrition, in Rhode Island, and on the selection board of the Aurora Prize, which awards $1 million every year to a person or organization doing exceptional humanitarian work worldwide. Dele was the first African-born winner of the Pulitzer Prize, journalism’s highest honor, for his writing on the aftermath of the Rwandan genocide. He is a frequent writer and commentator on public affairs. He commutes between Stellenbosch and New York City.

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this extended episode, Deb Chachra, materials scientist and professor of engineering, explores the profound connections between care and infrastructure in our society; infrastructure systems are ways we take care of each other at scale. This conversation challenges us to rethink how we value and sustain the systems that underpin our lives.

Deb Chachra is the author of HOW INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS (Riverhead/Torva, 2023), and she writes, thinks, speaks, builds and collaborates widely on themes of technology and society. As one of the earliest faculty at Olin College, Dr. Chachra has been deeply engaged in all aspects of undergraduate engineering education, including the design of learning experiences and programs, as well as educational research. Her research interests include design and design education, the built environment, materials science, and the intersection of all the above with the arts and humanities.

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Joe Waters talks to Jon Baron, President of the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy, to discuss the evolution and impact of evidence-based policymaking in the U.S. Jon shares his journey and insights on how government funding can prioritize programs proven to work, tackling social issues through a rigorous, data-driven approach. The conversation explores some of the challenges and the potential of this approach to address core issues fueling public frustration, paving the way for a more effective and accountable policy landscape.

Jon Baron is a government reformer who has played a pivotal role in advancing evidence-based policymaking throughout government for over 20 years. He recently relaunched the Coalition for Evidence-Based Policy – the nonpartisan organization he founded and led from 2001-2015 – and serves as the Coalition’s President, CEO, and Chairman.

From 2015-2021, Jon served as Vice President of Evidence-Based Policy at the Laura and John Arnold Foundation (now Arnold Ventures), where he designed and led a major research funding portfolio that has successfully grown the body of proven-effective social programs. He left Arnold Ventures in 2021 and was a candidate for Maryland governor in the 2022 election.

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Capita’s Ankita Chachra talks to Jane Gilbert, Chief Heat Officer for Florida’s Miami-Dade County. In 2021, Jane became the first Chief Heat Officer in the world, a position that is now found in cities across the globe. Jane talks about how heat particularly impacts children and families, the types of strategies that can help keep residents safe, and how she is helping to create a vision for a more livable and climate-resilient city

Jane Gilbert is Arsht-Rock’s Chief Heat Officer in Miami-Dade County, US. Gilbert works across departments and partners to address the increasing risks to human health, lives and livelihoods associated with extreme heat. She has over 30 years experience in public private partnerships, climate mitigation and adaptation, and urban resilience.

Before joining the County, she served as the City of Miami’s first Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) for four years. In this role, Gilbert led the climate and urban resilience strategy development and implementation for the City of Miami. She developed and implemented a city-level response to the impacts of sea level rise and climate change.

Prior to public service, Gilbert led three nonprofits and managed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) work for large corporations. She holds a Bachelor’s in Environmental Science from Barnard College and Master’s from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Ankita Chachra is committed to creating sustainable, just, and vibrant cities for young children and families. She has over ten years of global experience working on her mission through partnerships with city agencies, and the private, non-profit, and philanthropic sectors.
Ankita previously worked at Bernard Van Leer Foundation as the Knowledge for Policy Director. She found her passion for prioritizing the needs of children and caregivers in urban environments while leading the Streets for Kids Program at NACTO’s Global Designing Cities Initiative (GDCI), where her team published the guide on Designing Streets for Kids. She worked under Bloomberg’s Initiative for Global Road Safety, primarily in Latin America and Asia. Ankita was also part of the core team that developed the Global Street Design Guide , the first-ever worldwide guideline for designing city streets.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode, Capita Co-founder & CEO Joe Waters interviews Dr. Erin M. Cline, Tagliabue Distinguished Professor in Interfaith Studies & Dialogue at Georgetown University and Senior Research Fellow, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs. They discuss Cline’s book “Families of Virtue” which compares Confucian and Western views on childhood development and moral education. Cline describes how the Confucian tradition places a special emphasis on filial piety - the deep respect, reverence, and gratitude that children have for their parents. Cline explains how the Confucian view of rituals are central to moral cultivation. Finally, Cline and Waters discuss how the Confucian emphasis on the importance of early childhood development and the role of family and ritual aligns with modern developmental psychology, and how these insights could inform policy and public discourse around families.

Dr. Erin M. Cline

Professor Cline specializes in Chinese philosophy, Chinese religions, and comparative philosophy and theology.  The author of five books, she is especially interested in how the virtues, values, and rituals that classical Chinese philosophers emphasized can help us to live better lives today.  Her latest book, The Analects: A Guide (Oxford University Press, 2021), offers an argument that the Confucian Analectsis a sacred text, exploring its often-neglected religious and spiritual dimensions. Her last book, Little Sprouts and the Dao of Parenting: Ancient Chinese Philosophy and the Art of Raising Mindful, Resilient, and Compassionate Kids (W.W. Norton, 2020), shows how the wisdom of Chinese philosophy can enrich the lives of families today in a variety of surprising ways.  Inspired by her own experiences as the mother of three children, the book explores wide-ranging topics, from the role of daily rituals and mindfulness practices to ways of nurturing a love of nature and a love of learning, to how we respond to disabilities and challenges. Professor Cline recently completed a new translation of the Confucian Analects (under contract with W.W. Norton).

In addition to her work in the field of Chinese philosophy, Prof. Cline also works on Ignatian spirituality in relation to different religious and cultural traditions; her book, A World on Fire: Sharing the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with Other Religions(The Catholic University of America Press, 2018), puts the Ignatian tradition into conversation with Asian traditions (including Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism), showing how and why the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises—though they are rooted in the Christian tradition—might be adapted for people from traditions other than Christianity who are interested in Ignatian spirituality.

Joe Waters

Joe Waters is the co-founder and CEO of Capita. Since starting Capita in 2018, Joe has developed an array of initiatives to explore the major transformations of our time—social, demographic, cultural, technological, environmental, and economic—and anticipate their potential impacts on families and their communities worldwide.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.

In this episode Capita Senior Fellow Elliot Haspel interviews Brendan Ballou, author of Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America. They discuss the basics of private equity and its differences from venture capital firms and hedge fund investments. They outline the risks of private equity on the human services and child care sectors. Finally, they touch on policy solutions and how individuals can work with advocacy groups to address these risks.

Brendan Ballou

Brendan Ballou is the author of Plunder: Private Equity’s Plan to Pillage America.  He served as Special Counsel for Private Equity in the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.  Previously, he worked in private practice, and before that, in the National Security Division of the Justice Department.  His work has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and the Nation.

Elliot Haspel

Elliot--Senior Fellow at Capita--is a child & family policy expert and commentator. He specializes in early childhood & education issues and the intersection between early childhood development and climate change. He most recently served as the Senior Program Officer for Early Childhood Education at the Robins Foundation.

Among other accomplishments, Elliot conceived of and helped raise over $7 million for the Child Care NEXT philanthropic initiative, and helped spearhead the launch of the 100-member strong Virginia Funders Network.

Capita is an independent think tank and community. We anticipate global change, shape narratives, and partner with leaders to craft effective policies for a future in which families and their communities can flourish.