Opportunity Divide

The majority of us fail to realize that talent is all around us. In fact, everyone has talent. You just have to be serious about finding it.

Malcolm Gladwell is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, Talking to Strangers, and The Bomber Mafia. He is the co-founder and president of Pushkin Industries, an audiobook and podcast production company that produces the podcasts Revisionist History, Against the Rules with Michael Lewis, The Happiness Lab with Dr. Laurie Santos, and Broken Record.

Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant speak to Malcolm Gladwell on the importance of reinventing oneself later in life, the impact of logistical challenges on the economy and education, the inefficiency in identifying talent, career uncertainty, and occupational identity.

Key takeaways from our conversation with Malcolm:

• Reinvention and career exploration is key: Malcolm Gladwell discusses how his mother's successful career change later in life inspired him to think about the power of reinvention. He raises the question of whether people need permission to have openness about reinventing themselves instead of staying stuck in their current course. There is a huge significance in encouraging individuals to explore different career paths and embrace the possibility of change throughout their lives.
• There is an inefficiency in identifying talent: Gladwell highlights the concept of capitalization, which refers to the percentage of people with a given ability who are actually able to use it. He says society often fails to efficiently identify talent, with the availability of teachers and mentors being a limiting factor in developing skills. Talent exists everywhere, but it requires a serious effort to find and cultivate it, emphasizing the need for accessible opportunities and supportive environments to nurture potential.
• Addressing occupational identity and access: Rachel Romer shares her perspective on the importance of occupational identity and access to diverse professions. She discusses how privileged students have more freedom to explore their options, while others are expected to declare a major early on. A mindset shift that encourages a career-first conversation is key and allows individuals to explore their occupational identity before committing to a specific major. 

Join us for a provocative conversation that will expand your knowledge on the topics of investing in young talent, developing a wide range of skills, and employee recruitment and retention. This episode will empower you to view situations from a different perspective, motivate and inspire you to expand your skill set, and more.

More resources from Guild

About Malcolm Gladwell:

Malcolm Gladwell is a Canadian-born author, journalist, and speaker known for his thought-provoking insights into social psychology and human behavior. Born on September 3, 1963, Gladwell rose to prominence through his compelling works such as "The Tipping Point," "Blink," and "Outliers," which have become bestsellers and earned him a reputation as a leading thinker in popular science and non-fiction writing. Drawing from diverse disciplines and weaving together engaging narratives, Gladwell explores the underlying factors that shape success, decision-making, and social dynamics, challenging conventional wisdom and offering fresh perspectives on a wide range of topics. With his unique ability to translate complex ideas into captivating stories, Gladwell has become a highly influential figure whose work continues to inspire and provoke new avenues of thought.

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How can we reduce the staggering costs of incarceration and invest instead in the potential of our youth? Is there a way?

Geoffrey Canada is an advocate for education and social justice. He drew attention to the high incarceration rates in certain neighborhoods and communities by displaying a map of Manhattan with clusters of red dots indicating where people were in jail. He challenged wealthy individuals to invest more in education, pointing out that the cost of incarcerating someone was significantly higher than the cost of educating them. He believed that investing in children from disadvantaged backgrounds could lead to a better future for them, their families, and society as a whole.

Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant speak to Geoffrey Canada, an American educator, social activist, author, president of Harlem Children's Zone and founder of the William Julius Wilson Institute on the topics of investing in children, developing a wide range of skills, and employee recruitment and retention. 

Key takeaways from our conversation with Geoffrey:

• Investing in education and wraparound services can be beneficial for kids: Geoffrey emphasizes the financial benefits of investing in education and wraparound services and compares the cost of prevention to the cost of incarceration, which can be very high. Therefore, it is important to invest in education and wraparound services to prevent kids from ending up in jail.
• Companies should focus on hiring from their local communities: Geoffrey believes that companies should make an effort to hire employees from their local communities, rather than importing employees from other areas. This promotes equal access to opportunities and helps to level the playing field for people from all demographics.
• Investing in frontline workers' skillset leads to cost savings: Geoffrey highlights the importance of investing in the skillset of frontline workers, which can lead to significant cost savings for a company in the long run. Soft skills and tacit knowledge are crucial for people to advance in their careers, but are often not taught. Therefore, businesses should focus on teaching these skills to their employees to promote growth and development.

Join us for a provocative conversation that will expand your knowledge on the topics of investing in children, developing a wide range of skills, and employee recruitment and retention. This episode will empower you to view situations from a different perspective, motivate and inspire you to expand your skill set, and more.

More resources from Guild

About Geoffrey Canada:

Geoffrey Canada is a renowned American educator, social activist, and author who has dedicated his life to transforming education in underprivileged communities. As the founder and former president of the Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ), he pioneered a comprehensive approach that tackles the multiple barriers impeding children's success, encompassing education, social services, and community support. Canada's innovative strategies have gained national recognition, and his advocacy for equity and access to quality education for all children has shaped education policy and practices. His impactful work, documented in books like "Fist Stick Knife Gun" and "Reaching Up for Manhood," continues to inspire educators and activists in their pursuit of a more equitable and empowering education system.

Can corporations impact social change? Or maybe the better question is, are they obligated to?

Ken Chenault, former CEO and Chairman of American Express and award-winning executive leader, joins host Rachel Romer and special guest Adam Grant to discuss on this episode of Opportunity Divide, a show from Guild.

Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant speak to Ken Chenault,  chairman and managing director of General Catalyst, about disrupting higher education, skills-based hiring, and promoting diversity in the workplace. They discuss the negative impact of a zero sum mindset created by the higher education movement and how shifting the focus from excluding people to including them can lead to more innovative and successful companies. Additionally, they talk about the importance of giving people opportunities through retraining and reskilling, rather than relying solely on credentials while touching on mentorship, promoting diversity, and providing opportunities for all individuals in the workplace.

Key takeaways from our conversation with Ken:

• Opportunity is created by your leadership. Focusing on skills and learning can create transformative opportunities for individuals without college degrees and reduce inequality in the workforce.
• Mentorship is a two-way street. Both being a good mentor and selecting mentors based on their good judgment can have a profound impact on the mentee's success.
• Meritocracy can cause blind spots. Diversity and inclusion are not only morally important but are also beneficial for organizations in terms of innovation and resilience. Focusing on a meritocracy alone can lead to bias and favoritism, so acknowledging the importance of diversity is crucial.

This episode features a conversation on skills-based hiring, leadership, diversity, and responsible innovation that will enable you to provide better opportunities for your frontline employees. Join us!

More resources from Guild

About Ken Chenault:

Kenneth I. Chenault is the Chairman and a Managing Director of the venture capital firm, General Catalyst, and former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of American Express Company, a position he held from 2001 to 2018. As a managing director of General Catalyst, he focuses on investing in fast-growing companies that have the potential to become large, fundamental institutions. He also provides invaluable guidance to portfolio companies, particularly to those with an eye towards global markets and responsible innovation, as they scale their teams and products. Under his leadership at American Express, the company built one of the world’s largest customer loyalty programs – Membership Rewards – and earned global recognition as a leader in customer service. Ken is recognized as one of the business world’s experts on brands and brand management.

What are the changes we need to make today to motivate the workforce of tomorrow? Or maybe there’s a better question to ask…what motivates America’s workforce, and what can we change to support and motivate the workforce of tomorrow? 

Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant speak to Daniel Pink, author of "Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us," on the topic of motivation in the workplace through sharing his insights on why the traditional premise for motivation–rewards for desired behavior and punishment for undesired behavior–has limitations. He discusses why treating people fairly and with respect, as well as providing predictability and psychological safety in the workplace, are key foundational elements for successful motivation strategies. Additionally, we hear from our series guest host Adam Grant on the importance of belonging and connection in the workplace, and how personalization can lead to increased job satisfaction and performance. 

Key takeaways from our conversation with Daniel:

• Provide equal opportunities for education: Understand the massive obstacles between individuals and their educational goals, why middle and upper-class people have a hard time understanding this, and how mentorship and reducing costs are helpful solutions to this issue.
• Motivation strategies on fairness and respect: Learn why traditional approaches to motivation involving reward and punishment have limitations and why successful motivation strategies require understanding the environment and treating people fairly and with respect.
• Make your employees feel valued: Hear about the experiment that Adam’s colleague Francesca conducted on the onboarding experience for frontline workers, why participation matters in a job, and the correlation between making employees feel valued and their performance and job satisfaction increase.

Join us for a provocative conversation that will equip you with the tools to create space, manage anxiety, and cultivate empathy within all levels of your organization. This episode will empower you to deconstruct negative stories, foster positive growth, and create an empathetic workplace culture that inspires greatness.

More resources from Guild

About Daniel Pink:

Daniel H. Pink is the author of five New York Times bestsellers, including his latest, The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. His other books include the New York Times bestsellers When and A Whole New Mind — as well as the #1 New York Times bestsellers Drive and To Sell is Human. Dan’s books have won multiple awards, have been translated into more than 40 languages, and have sold millions of copies around the world. He lives with this family in Washington, DC.

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Guild CEO Rachel Romer and best-selling author Adam Grant talk to Brené Brown, renowned professor and author about how leaders can best support frontline workers and creating workplaces that work. They touch on leadership, vulnerability, and addressing the mismatch between talent and opportunity in the United States. Brown discusses introducing vulnerability and bravery into leadership with a focus on America’s frontline workforce. 

Key takeaways from our conversation with Brené:

• Contagious Calmness: Learn tactics for becoming a calm leader and creating space between stimulus and response. Discover how to break free from the grip of anxiety and inspire tranquility within your organization.
• Unscripted Empathy: Understand the fundamentals of empathetic leadership, where active listening, thoughtful questioning, and genuine reflection reign supreme. Say goodbye to rigid scripts and hello to deep connections that foster trust, creativity, and innovation.
• Overcoming Shame with Empathy: Shame is a universal emotion that can cripple individuals and organizations. Unearth the power of empathy in challenging negative self-talk and transforming workplace narratives. Learn how to construct a compassionate environment where everyone thrives.

Join us for a provocative conversation that will equip you with the tools to create space, manage anxiety, and cultivate empathy within all levels of your organization. This episode will empower you to deconstruct negative stories, foster positive growth, and create an empathetic workplace culture that inspires greatness.

More resources from Guild

About Brené Brown:

Dr. Brené Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work. She also holds the position of visiting professor in management at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs School of Business. 

Brené has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of six #1 New York Times bestsellers and is the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead.

Brené’s books have been translated into more than 30 languages, and her titles include Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With Tarana Burke, she co-edited the bestselling anthology You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience.

Brené’s TED talk on the Power of Vulnerability is one of the top five most-viewed TED talks in the world, with over 60 million views. Brené is the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, and in March 2022, she launched a new show on HBO Max that focuses on her latest book, Atlas of the Heart. 

Brené spends most of her time working in organizations around the world, helping develop braver leaders and more courageous cultures. 

She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve. They have two children, Ellen and Charlie, and a weird Bichon named Lucy.

Join host Rachel Romer and special guest Adam Grant as they kick off their thought-provoking podcast series, "Opportunity Divide", presented by Guild. Together–with experts like Brené Brown, Malcolm Gladwell, Daniel Pink, Ken Chenault, and Geoffrey Canada–they will explore innovative ways to bridge the opportunity divide and empower organizations to unlock career mobility for their workforce.

In this episode, Adam and Rachel discuss the Opportunity Divide at hand, and what trends and takeaways leaders can start to unravel and understand today in order to narrow the gaps within their own organizations. And, Adam shares some key findings from his research that will help leaders understand the current state of America’s workforce.

Key takeaways from this conversation include:

1. Investing in creating a great workplace culture is a long-term strategy that pays dividends in the future. Leaders can start by prioritizing employee engagement and looking into good HR practices.
2. To close the opportunity divide and build a healthy work culture, leaders should focus on removing elements of toxic culture such as disrespect and exclusion. Leaders can also provide frontline workers with more flexibility to improve work-life balance, which will lead to a more motivated workforce.
3. Leaders should invest in promoting from within and providing opportunities for career growth. By doing so, organizations can create good jobs, which serve both individuals and organizations, and foster creativity and innovation. 

"Opportunity Divide" is a must-listen for frontline leaders and managers, HR professionals, and anyone passionate about driving change and unlocking the full potential of America’s workforce. Join Rachel Romer and special guest Adam Grant as they illuminate the path towards a more inclusive and prosperous future for businesses and individuals alike.

Join us as we work to close the Opportunity Divide