Host Leslie Jennings Rowley wanted to take a moment to say thank you to our ROADS TAKEN listeners. "I know you are out there –Dublin to Abu Dhabi, Sao Paulo to Singapore to Vancouver to Rome, and all over the U.S. And I really appreciate that you keep coming back. 

"When I started this podcast, I wanted to share the stories of my classmates and how they’ve navigated their sometimes winding roads since college.  I knew the stories would be as varied as the individuals telling them. I love that these stories and I love how they have resonated with listeners on all phases of their journeys—from newly-minted alumni who are thinking about their first steps, to those farther on who are thinking about what their next chapter might hold. It’s been great to receive your feedback about our interviews and how hearing these stories have affected you.

"Because I’m now greedy for more, I invite you to fill out our survey at RoadsTakenShow.com by clicking the Contact Us page. Let us know what you want to hear more of as we wind down this first full year of episodes and contemplate a potential Season Two. 

"Of course, as much as I want to hear from you directly, it would be so helpful if you could leave a review on your podcast platform of choice.  It makes the platforms like us and helps others find the show. Of course, we’re also gaining listeners by word of mouth through your own personal networks and we appreciate that, too.//

"But again, I’m so glad you’ve been listening and enjoying the show. Next week, I will bring you another great story and I look forward to bringing you more stories in the coming weeks and months on ROADS TAKEN."

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest John Barros journeyed to college from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston and tried to become the best version of himself by participating in numerous activities and leadership roles. He went into the business world at an insurance company right after graduation, thinking that law school could help him further hone his worldview and the best way to be of service. Service came looking for him, though, in the form of a call from home.

The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, a community development organization for which John had volunteered since before school, was in need of an interim executive director and he was asked to apply. They asked him to stay and, in his thirteen years at the helm, organization built affordable housing and small business space, designed new schools to reengage the community around them, and ended up creating the largest urban land trust in America. When the city’s mayor decided not to run again, he heard another call: this time to run. Though that campaign did not lead to the position he sought, he was asked to be the city’s chief of economic development and now seeks the mayoral position once more.

In this episode, find out from John how returning to what you know and being comfortable with playing the long game can set you up to make true impact, just when home seems ready for you…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

John Barros, a lifelong resident of Boston’s Roxbury and Dorchester neighborhoods, previously served as the Executive Director of the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative for more than a dozen years and the Chief of Economic Development for the city until recently when he made the announcement that he is running to be the next mayor of Boston in November 2021.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Dave Kramer stayed in Hanover after graduation to complete the teacher preparatory program and answered a classified ad to teach in Colombia. He headed to Cali with a mind to reinvent himself but anticipated honing his Spanish and having an adventure. Finding both his life mate and an appreciation for the environment there, he became a passionate advocate for not only the environment but also Colombia as a place and people. But continued unrest at the turn of the century made his wife anxious to get her gringo back home, thus beginning a recurring theme of “back to Boston.”

Dave found his way at a number of environmental organizations, building networks and connections as he went, including through his cohort at Harvard’s Kennedy School. A move to Austin allowed him to branch out on his own, consulting for a variety of organizations, but always keeping an eye to projects that support the people and environment of Colombia.

In this episode, find out from Dave how being an idealist who's a match-maker for ideas can sometimes spark what you need for your next adventures…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley,

About This Episode's Guest

Dave Kramer is an environmental generalist who has skills in grassroots organizing, experiential education, and supporting the next generation of global change makers to reimagine our world. He is currently the program director for Planet Texas 2050, coordinating interdisciplinary climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives at UT Austin. But if you're heading to Colombia for a visit and need a guide, Dave's your man. He is also the founder of the Colombia Rising Project. Follow them on Twitter @RisingColombia. 

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Lisana Gabriel Brown started her career as a graphic designer but felt to constrained by how someone else thought things should look. An astute supervisor saw her technical skills and moved her into the world of IT. Though she had considered the corporate path “too buttoned up” in earlier days, she found that the corporate world—particularly banking—was the right fit and a progression of more and more technical roles led her into business continuity risk planning and disaster response.

She did similar work in the health education industry, but the pace wasn’t fast enough to let her make the impact she wanted. But when she returned to the banking world, she also got the surprise of a baby on the way. Interestingly, it took a pandemic—which she was all too ready for her in job—to give her the work life balance she and her family were looking for.

In this episode, find out from Lisana how sometimes making plans for the future isn’t foolproof and waiting it out is the thing to do …on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Lisana Gabriel Brown has had a long career in business continuity risk management, predominantly in banking IT and cybersecurity, most recently with MUFG Union Bank. She and her family now live in Charlotte, North Carolina.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Amy Peller, Dartmouth '96, could always be counted on to find the fun in a moment, whether meeting people on the way to the snowboarding lessons or performing magic in the campus pub. Throughout her career in consumer marketing and brand management, she tried to always keep that sense of fun and joy.

Some employers, such as Mattel (where she worked on products from water guns to Matchbox cars), made it easy.  Others, who wanted her to move too far from family or deal with layoffs, not so much.  Luckily, the skills she built at all of them allowed her to envision her own path, an entrepreneurial venture that some may say is for the dogs—a mobile dog grooming company.

In this episode, find out from Amy how sometimes teaching dogs new tricks doesn’t require forgetting old ones…on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley

About This Episode's Guest

Amy Peller is founder and president of Wag & Shine, a mobile dog grooming company in the greater New York metropolitan area. Find Amy and her grooming friends (including her Labradoodle and Chief Happiness Officer Benny Hana) at WagAndShine.com. 

You can follow Benny Hana on his official Instagram @bennyhanadoodle.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Edited by Worth Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Helene Sisti has always wanted to take in every experience life offers, whether in the classroom, on a field or on stage at an Aerosmith concert. Combining her love of sport with her interest in psychology, she found her way to sports psychology. But while pursuing a masters in kinesiology, an early class in neuroscience during opened her eyes to the world of research. She continued on for a PhD in neuroscience, looking specifically at the mind-body connection and how we learn.

As all-season track athlete in college, she was unable to study abroad; so she made sure her postdoctoral experience included a stint in Europe. Along with the memories and souvenirs, though, she returned home with a case of burn-out and wasn’t sure that academia was for her. She tried adjunct teaching and then spent a couple years in consulting, but ultimately found her way back to neuroscience research with new perspective.// In this episode, find out from Helene how sometimes putting something on ice and then returning can be the healthiest thing on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Helene Sisti is a neuroscience researcher. Being a lifelong athlete, she is most passionate about understanding the nature of the mind-body connection. She has examined the brain from multiple perspectives, ranging from cellular models to human brain imaging studies. While currently an assistant professor at Norwich University, she still tries to do it all, skiing, running, biking and keeping her eyes out for the next thing to try.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Edited by Worth Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Mark Griffin, Dartmouth '96, had two parents in the state department so had been used to lots of moves before boarding school in Austria. The promise of mountains and persuasive literature sealed the deal for Dartmouth. He loved the intellectual freedom the college afforded and he stumbled into philosophy to round out his genetic propensity toward government. Although he knew that public service was in his blood, he worried that the typical law career might pigeon-hole him. He read about applied policy and public administration and continued on for his masters before law school.

After a couple of shorter lived experiences in the law, including in a public defender’s office, Mark stumbled again, this time into an area he’d known nothing about—campaign finance—and has made a career out of it.

In this episode, find out from Mark how keeping your thinking broad and following connections ultimately helps you find your way on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Mark Griffin is Associate Counsel at the New York City Campaign Finance Board, where he has worked in a number of capacities for almost two decades. His career focus has been on political and administrative law, regulatory compliance and policy implementation. Mark keeps stumbling into good things.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Monica Oberkofler Gorman, Dartmouth '96, had been accepted at Yale Law School and had earned a scholarship to study in Oxford, but her heart lay in public service work in DC so after graduation she took the opportunity of a White House internship—ill-timed, perhaps, given her shared name with another intern at that moment. And although she loved DC, she felt that she needed to see more of how the world worked before she would feel comfortable helping to shape policy. She went to Oxford and get both a masters in politics and stayed for a PhD (turning down Yale in the process).

Knowing she still needed to learn more about the work of work, she hit the pavement looking for a job in industry and ultimately landed a communications role at Gap Inc, just as the clothing giant was under fire for labor practices. She was on the team to write the report that became the model for the entire apparel industry and introduced her to global supply chain, international commerce, and corporate social responsibility. She remained in that world, next at American Eagle and then for New Balance, her entire career. That is, until a new opportunity arose to meld her years of experience and a life-long dream.

In this episode, find out from Monica how how doing what’s right is ultimately good for others and good for yourself on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Monica Gorman is Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the manufacturing portfolio in the Biden Administration. Previously, she was the Vice President of Responsible Leadership and Compliance at New Balance and held roles in corporate social responsibility at American Eagle and Gap, Inc. She is a former Clinton-era White House intern.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Editor: Worth Rowley Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Shakari Cameron Byerly, Dartmouth '96, recognized that at her core she is someone who brings communities together, shines a light the diversity within them, and amplifies the voices so all viewpoints are heard. She did that in her youth and in college through student assembly work and with the cultural communities that she was a part. She figured that she would have a future in public interest law or public service. But a straight path to law school didn’t feel right and she served the communities that nurtured her by returning to teach high school in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. 

Realizing she still had a yearning to work at a more macro level, she worked on the social services side of education and mentorship. But she still had the political bug, so pursued a master's in public policy, worked with the state legislature and think tanks on education policy and economic development, ultimately getting pulled into the world of public opinion polling that she never knew existed. The perfect fit for her community-building values, she now runs one of the only African American-owned polling firms in the country with husband Rodrego Bylery, Dartmouth ’98.

In this episode, find out from Shakari how amplifying and elevating the voices of everyday people can be its own kind of public service on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley. 

About This Episode's Guest

Shakari Byerly is partner and principal researcher at EVITARUS, the Los Angeles-based public opinion research and public policy consulting firm that she runs with her husband Rodrego Byerly, Dartmouth '98. The firm is one of the only African American owned and operated polling firms in the U.S. You can find out more at evitarus.com.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]

Guest Will Uppington, Dartmouth '96, had a desire to do good in the world, so naturally thought he would follow in his father’s footsteps into medicine. But after a few too many hospital experiences he thought there might be another way to be of service and pursued a double major in economics and government. Worried this might not give him quite enough hard skills, he spent senior year dabbling in Chinese and math and coding. Despite these new skills and yet without any role models in the business world, he still sought a surer footing and so began is career in management consulting.

Consulting experiences in the technology sector and newly-deregulated energy industry led him to a stint in venture capital, just as the dot-com bubble was bursting. Even so, he knew he wanted to pursue a life in technology entrepreneurship after business school. A few start-up experiences later, he was ready to launch his own venture, this time looking more deeply at the models in front of him, namely in artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In this episode, find out from Will how important models can be and how knowing what is inside them is what gives them power on ROADS TAKEN...with Leslie Jennings Rowley.

About This Episode's Guest

Will Uppington is CEO and co-founder of Truera, which helps enterprises analyze machine learning, improve model quality and build trust. Find out more at truera.com. Though his first founder role, this certainly isn't his first rodeo in the technology start-up world. He has a started and grown a number of successful companies and products and always tries to do something that is both of personal interest to him and of use to the greater world. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his wife Lauren Currie Uppington ’96 and their family.

EPISODE TRANSCRIPT

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Email the show at [email protected]

Find more episodes at https://roadstakenshow.com

Executive Producer/Host: Leslie Jennings Rowley

Music: Brian Burrows

Email the show at [email protected]