Don't Stop Us Now AI Edition

This week’s episode features a woman who never dreamt she’d end up working in a high tech environment. In fact, Ellen Broad imagined she would be a lawyer or librarian when she was younger. 

However this tech exec and academic is now a Senior Fellow at the 3A Institute at the Australian National University. The Institute is a multi-disciplinary department created to help humans prepare for, and navigate, a world that will be forever altered by AI-powered ‘cyber-physical systems’. 

A little bit more about Ellen, she trained as a lawyer (more about that in our conversation) and she’s worked in data-related roles in the Hague and in the UK, including being an expert adviser to the UK Secretary of State on Data, and head of Policy for the UK’s Open Data Institute. 

Not only that, but Ellen has also written an award winning book on AI and its impact on humans called ‘Made By Humans’. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Ellen navigated moving countries, and finding work, without having any network in her new home-base
• How she's found her voice to speak up against gender bias
• What it's like working in a truly diverse team - hint it’s not always easy 
• Why she’s using social media a lot less these days, and
• Where she thinks technology will go in the next five years.

Enjoy this episode with the unassuming and very smart Ellen Broad. 

Links

3A Institute website

Ellen Broad’s website

Ellen’s Book - Made by Humans

Griffith Review Article - Computer Says No

Resources Recommended by Ellen

Coded Bias Documentary

Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble

Weapons of Math Destruction by Cathy O’Neil

PAIR Program with Google

The Coding Train - Daniel Shiffman

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How do you go with sensitive conversations? They’re not easy are they?  

This week’s mini episode shares how NASA executive Trudy Kortes has learnt over time to call out gender bias when she experiences it. 

If you’ve not heard one of these bite-sized episodes before, the idea is to focus on the most valuable insights, gems of advice and ideas from our incredible guests . . . all focusing on the theme of future proofing ourselves and our careers.

Trudy’s advice includes some great principles for all difficult conversations, so make your next difficult conversation a little easier with this bite-sized nugget of wisdom and experience. 

Useful Links

Trudy’s orig episode: A Career in Space and Real Life Moonshots

NASA website

Trudy’s website

Trudy Linkedin

Trudy Instagram

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We’re excited to introduce you to the youngest woman we’ve had on the show to date. But age isn’t the reason we’re happy for you to meet 27 year old Sophia Athas.  

Sophia is the self-taught, entrepreneurial founder of a thriving new-age creative agency called Hatrik House. 

Sophia’s business started out simply as a creative outlet and side hustle for when she was studying law at university. In the years that followed, Sophia realised she had the makings of a business as her work on social media attracted attention and turned her into a brand influencer in her own right.  

Hatrik House has now grown to become a fully fledged agency focusing on social media and content with a talented team of women helping service a whole host of brands.  

And full disclosure here, we were so impressed with Hatrik’s work when we saw one of their clients on Instagram, we hired her ourselves about two years ago!

In that time we’ve watched as Sophia’s business has grown and admired how she continues to navigate all the challenges that come with leading a fast growing business as a young woman.  

In this episode you’ll hear:

• Sophia’s experiences of being taken seriously (or not) as a female boss in her 20's
• What she believes have been the most important factors in running her business
• How she thinks COVID will affect both digital and real-life experiences going forward
• And, her advice if you're thinking of setting up a side hustle.

Without further ado, here’s our conversation with the composed and creative Sophia Athas. 

Links

Sophia on Instagram

Hatrik House website

Hatrik House on Instagram

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This week’s mini, Future Proof Me episode features some insightful advice about saying “Yes” to the unknown, even when it really scares you. 

We hear from fashion entrepreneur Caroline Issa, the CEO of the Tank group which includes the revered global fashion and culture magazine, Tank Magazine. 

We loved Caroline’s openness to embrace unexpected and unfamiliar opportunities. It seems so relevant in this time of COVID when nearly all of us are navigating the unfamiliar on an almost daily basis!

Her willingness to embrace doing things she hasn’t done before, even when she’s not sure she knows how to be successful with them, has worked so well for her. It’s as if she channels the magic of saying “yes” and it’s really paid off.

Hear her advice on how she copes when she’s not sure whether she can rise to the challenge or not....

Useful Links

Link to full 'Don't Stop Us Now!' episode with Caroline Issa

Caroline on Instagram

Caroline on Linkedin

Tank Magazine on Instagram

Tank Magazine website 

Book: Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway – by Susan Jeffries

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We think you’re going to love this week’s episode featuring two super impressive women who, amongst other things, teach at Stanford University’s famed Graduate School of Business (GSB). 

Yes, today you get two for the price of one! ;-) 

Despite their serious surrounds, these two are determined to bring levity and humour to the world having discovered just how powerful humour can be in dark times and at work. 

Jennifer Aaker is General Atlantic Professor at Stanford’s GSB, where she has been one of the favourite professors there for around 20 years. She’s a Behavioural Psychologist and author, and her research focus areas include: purpose and meaning and how they shape the choices we make; and most recently she’s been working with our other guest today, Naomi Bagdonas on the power of using humour in a business context. 

Naomi Bagdonas was a stand up comic by night and a management consultant by day, never mixing the two, until one day she realised that she was living an almost double life and decided it was time to be herself wherever she was. These days Naomi is a lecturer at Stanford, an Executive Coach, an author and she even teaches improv comedy to inmates at San Francisco’s County Jail.

Jennifer and Naomi began teaching the importance of humour to MBA students and then realised that what they’d discovered was what the world really needed right now . . . hence their new book out this week, ‘Humour, Seriously’. 

In this laughter-filled episode, you’ll hear: 

• Why Naomi and Jennifer believe humour is a secret superpower at work and in life,
• How we all fall off a humour cliff at the age of 23 and what we can do about it,
• Practical tips to increase creativity and innovation in your team, and
• How you can potentially gain an additional 8 years on your life!

Enjoy this episode with these two witty, wickedly smart women ...

Useful Links:

Humour, Seriously website

Test to see what humour type you are

Jennifer Aaker on LinkedIn

Naomi Bagdonas on LinkedIn

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This week’s Future Proof Me mini episode shares some great advice if you’re contemplating starting your own business or side hustle.

We were so inspired by social enterprise founder Navyn Salem when we had her on the show a year or so ago. She told us how, when she had the idea to set up a social enterprise to tackle malnutrition in children in developing countries, everyone told her it couldn’t be done. 

She decided she would prove the naysayers wrong and, today, her organisation Edesia has made an incredible impact and transformed 12 million children’s lives in 54 countries.

In this mini episode, Navyn shares advice about how to get started and how to approach the many problems any founder is sure to encounter. 

Navyn really is the ‘real deal’ and if you like this mini episode be sure to listen back to our full conversation with her here. 

Useful Links:

Edesia Website

Navyn on Instagram

Link to the full 'Don't Stop Us Now!' episode with Navyn Salem

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This week’s episode is one of our ‘How To’ episodes and we’re covering that sometimes awkward topic of networking. 

One of our guests has described your network as your ‘net worth’ and while that may be an exaggeration, there’s no doubt who you know can really make a difference to opportunities that may come your way. Particularly if you’re in the position of wanting to change industries or jobs.

Of course, building your network during COVID can be a little bit trickier and we talk about this during the episode.

You’ll also hear tips and advice on:

• How to nurture and maintain your existing network 
• What we (Claire and Greta) actually say and do when we’re ‘networking’ 
• How we approach it to take the awkwardness away 
• And how to think about growing your network to help your career goals.

So if you’re contemplating a career change, or have neglected your network this year, then this is the episode for you! If you know someone who is looking for a job or to change careers, then why not share this with them now. Enjoy!  

Useful Links:

New York Times Article we refer to - 'We're all socially awkward now"

Full interview with Dr Cath Ball - Flying High with Drones and More

Full interview with Maria Macnamara - On Reinvention

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This week’s future-proofing mini episode is all about how to take action even when you feel unsure, nervous or afraid. 

The advice and observations of one of our earliest guests, investment banker and Chair of numerous tech startups, Lindley Edwards, is really valuable on this topic. Particularly in this time of COVID, learning how to manage our fears, nerves and worries is an important skill. 

It’s a skill we all need to continue to practise because it’s completely normal for all of us to feel fear at times, if not often, at work. But fear can hold us back from growing and learning if we don’t practise taking action despite some nerves or fear. 

Lindley has a great way of contextualising this very human experience which we think you’ll find really helpful. You are not alone. 

Enjoy this mini episode …. 

Listen to our full interview with Lindley Edwards

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We have such a treat for you this week with the truly multi-talented and globally respected Debbie Millman. 

Debbie is a designer, author, educator, artist, brand expert and host of one of the world's longest running and highly respected podcasts, Design Matters. 

Named one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company and one of the most influential designers working today by Graphic Design USA, Debbie has also written six books, her artwork has been exhibited in numerous galleries, and she co-founded the 

world’s first Masters in Branding.

She’s also one of the most authentic and thoughtful people we’ve met. 

From difficult and traumatic beginnings, Debbie has gone on to have a stellar career.

She was President of Sterling Brands for 20 years and grew the company from 15 people to 150 before selling the business. She’s created many many iconic household brands that you see in stores today, including for Haagen-Dazs, Burger King, 7Up, and Star Wars merchandise. 

In this episode you’ll learn: 

• How the worst day of Debbie’s life ended up being probably the most important day of her life,
• Why she feels branding is one of the most significant disciplines in our culture and lives today,
• Her advice about developing self esteem; and 
• What's she's learnt from over 500 podcast interviews with some incredible guests.

Enjoy this episode with the insightful and inspiring Debbie Millman. 

Useful Links

https://www.debbiemillman.com/

Debbie’s TED talk - How Symbols and Brands Shape our Humanity

Society 6 Debbie Millman - various designs by Debbie that you can buy

How to Build Your Personal Brand - A Course with Debbie Millman

The Art of the Story - Creating Visual Narratives

Debbie’s reading list

Futurists Debbie mentions:

Faith Popcorn

William Gordon’s books

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This week’s ‘Future Proof Me’ mini episode shares fantastic advice on how to overcome Imposter Syndrome. We were really struck by the great advice one of our very earliest guests shared with us on this topic.

Courtney Hohne has a box seat to some of the most incredible innovations in the world as chief Storyteller at X: the Moonshot Factory, Alphabet’s (i.e. Google) - innovation and R&D company. Think self driving cars, internet balloons and drone deliveries amongst many other innovations in the works. 

At X, Courtney is surrounded by some of the world’s brightest, quickest and sharpest minds, an environment where even the most confident of executives could be forgiven for feeling a tad intimidated or for feeling like an imposter at the meeting table!

In fact, as she so refreshingly shares with us, this is something Courtney has to face into every day and her great advice on overcoming that imposter feeling is well worth heeding. 

Check it out now we’re sure you’ll be glad you did! Enjoy. 

Link to Courtney Hohne's original episode : https://dontstopusnow.co/courtney-hohne-the-truth-about-innovation/

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