Driving Outcomes

Joining Traci for today's podcast is Dr. Shuvra Das, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Detroit Mercy. Traci and Dr. Das address the school’s contribution to urban development for innovation and partnership as an academic institution in an urban city. The discussion highlights urban and industrial revitalization as it relates to Detroit and its own economy especially within the U.S. automotive industries. As part of the conversation, the academic gap between higher education was acknowledged and discussions ensued for consideration to resolve the issues. The podcast focused on skill development in the industry and the comparisons that are made to the educational focus on exams which detracts from skill-based learning because memorization is more the focus.

This podcast, with The Mark's CEO Traci Shirachi and Evaluation Associate Leanne Tortez, explores evaluation through an equity framework. They discuss some of the challenges and best practices when evaluating Native American populations and other underrepresented groups. They also talk about how we can begin to face our own individual biases and the importance of having a safe environment to do so.

Jack F. Eichler, UCR Distinguished Teaching Professor and Associate Professor of Teaching in Chemistry (LSOE) joins Traci on today’s podcast. Topics of discussion include the difference between a teaching professor and a research professor. They also speak about the reason why tuition costs still need to be maintained at research universities despite virtual learning. Jack emphasizes the impact of remote learning for chemistry students that are unable to use the necessary resources during COVID and the potential effect it will have on their future careers. He also speaks to how evaluation has helped demonstrate or evaluate educational outcomes and what UCR is known for as a university!

Please join us for our next podcast featuring Chris Kello Interim Vice Provost and Graduate Dean at UC Merced and Mary Hegarty a Professor and Associate Dean at UC Santa Barbara. Chris has over 100 publications across a variety of fields and research communities, with a broad emphasis on interdisciplinary studies of human behavior. Mary’s research is on spatial thinking in complex activities such as comprehension, reasoning, problem-solving, and navigation.

This week's topic includes a brief conversation on virtual and remote working and the impact on the brain. It also includes further discussions on their roles at each respective organization and what they are working on as part of Alliances for Graduate Education and the Professoriate (AGEP), which is focused on increasing diversity specifically on Hispanics and PhDs to provide the necessary support for further professional advancement. It's a collaborative project with the UC and Cal State schools.

Traci and Isabelle discuss Isabelle’s collaborative approach to a strong digital strategy. Particularly, the challenges and fears around data, framing the problem, and how to address solutions by listening to the story the data is telling. Isabelle is a strategic marketing leader with over 20 years of experience optimizing customer-centric digital transformation in healthcare and nonprofit management. As a digital data strategist, Isabelle seeks to align technology and data with organizational objectives and educates cross-functional partners with meaningful insights.

Traci talks with Roz Huang, CEO/Co-Founder of Athena Music & Wellness Therapy and CEO of Dandelion Global, and Angelo Molino, co-founder of Athena Music & Wellness Therapy and early-childhood music educator, about the mission behind their music and their new app, TuneWell. TuneWell provides clinically proven music therapy songs, videos, and exercises to improve mental health and wellness. The content is all personalized and developed by music therapists to reduce stress, increase focus, and calm the body and mind. Not only do they discuss music therapy’s use in mental health, but also its’ beneficial effects on children with autism.

Do you know what it's like to manage an organization and not have clarity around decision-making? To be impacted by external factors on a consistent basis and unable to make sense of it? Do you feel like you're implementing technology or looking at a lot of data or statistics but getting the sense you don't know how or why you purchased the technology or why you're feeling overwhelmed by data to begin with when it was supposed to bring clarity to decision-making?

If you're like many individuals who fear or struggle with data, this podcast is for you. Data is key and especially right now as individuals talk more about data driven decision-making. What is that? How should you approach it in an easy, simple manner?

Join me as I interview The Mark's Director of Evaluation and Research, Jessica Martone, who has a Ph D in sociology and long-standing experience working with organizations to use evaluation methodologies and learn/understand the fundamentals of data to avoid certain pitfalls.

Today is a big year for the topic of diversity and surprisingly enough it is also the 100th year of a woman's right to vote. I had the pleasure of interviewing Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire who is the CEO of 2020 Women on Boards. Betsy shares her insights and best practices with listeners for how to start the conversation as a board candidate. She discusses with me what the research says about board diversity and the success of a company. She also shares how men can also better support women, especially since board seats historically have been occupied by males. Betsy talks about how individuals can join her for workshops or read her books to learn more!

The Resolution Project was started in 2007. The non-profit organization is geared towards empowering and developing socially responsible young leaders. These individuals want to make a positive impact on their immediate communities. Join us to talk about the organization and the amazing ventures young leaders are putting together in the face of adversity. For example these individuals are leading first and helping frontline workers through COVID-19. They are also addressing the key issues and concerns around diversity that goes beyond race/religion/gender. They are the thought leaders of today's social issues/concerns in action. The Resolution Project seeks to promote social ventures and enterprise around the world as individuals seek to achieve transformative results. Learn how you can get involved as a volunteer and mentor remotely!

I had the opportunity to talk and learn from Kaori Sasaki who is instrumental in demonstrating the power, knowledge and strength of the global community. Kaori is a phenomenal entrepreneur, innovator, leader and CEO of two companies, Unicul International Inc. and ewomen, Inc. Kaori has sat on corporate boards of many large public corporate companies in Japan, and been an instrumental leader in gender equality since the early 90s in Japan. She is involved with many government agencies like the World Bank and non-profit organizations. Kaori shared with me how COVID-19 has impacted Japan and the plans for the 25th annual global women's conference in Japan. She also shared her expertise and research behind a diversity index that she created and has used to demonstrate the economic impact and significance of diversity on companies.