Solution Seekers

Sara Razavi is the CEO of Working Solutions CDFI, an institution that makes capital and business consulting services available to diverse entrepreneurs. She has 20 years of experience in the social sector, with specific expertise in operations, strategy, small business, and partnership management.

Sara serves on the Board of Directors of the Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the Advisory Council of RDEF Impact Investing Fund, and many other organizations. Before joining Working Solutions, she worked in multiple social sector entities specifically focused on serving under-resourced communities, including immigrant children and low-income families.

In this episode...

Historically, diverse and underrepresented business owners lack adequate access to the funding they need. So where can you acquire the funds to successfully launch your business?

CDFIs (community development financial institutions) receive funding from various federal, state, public, and private corporations to support disparaged individuals and business owners. When seeking capital from these institutions, social finance expert Sara Razavi advises evaluating the requirements and developing sound business models. Many lenders face risks and liability obligations, so it’s important to exercise patience and understanding during the process. Working Solutions works with these diverse individuals at any stage of their business to determine a funding option suitable for their needs.

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck welcomes Sara Razavi, CEO of Working Solutions CDFI, to discuss community funding efforts. Sara explains how CDFIs address funding disparities, the challenges business owners face when acquiring community funding, and her experience growing Working Solutions after succeeding the founder. 

Erika Pichardo-Ley is the Head of Client Relations at Cápita Works, a professional employer organization focused on helping American entrepreneurs by finding qualified talent in Latin America. As an enthusiastic and goal-oriented leader, she has experience in business management, law, and behavioral economics. Before Cápita Works, Erika was a Project Assistant at Winston & Strawn LLP and a Business Development Associate at Gazzo Café.

In this episode…

In the aftermath of the pandemic, remote and offshore talent has become increasingly common. So how can you manage these teams and navigate the future of work?

According to Erika Pichardo-Ley, the first priority when acquiring remote or offshore talent is identifying your company goals. Once you’ve determined the talent you need, you can develop a framework for training programs and task delegation to prepare for the hiring process. It’s essential to maintain transparent communication and outline expectations during the onboarding process to streamline your operations. Cápita Works does all of this and more to pioneer the future of work through its strategic approach to offshore talent. 

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck sits down with Erika Pichardo-Ley, Head of Client Relations at Cápita Works, to discuss tactical hiring solutions for the future of work. Erika shares how Cápita Works navigated the pandemic’s challenges, best practices for managing remote teams, and their mission.

Noah Tarnow is the Founder and Producer at the Big Quiz Thing, the nation’s premier company for high-level corporate and private trivia events. As the company’s head writer and senior quizmaster, he starred in, wrote, and produced the Big Quiz Thing TV show: the world’s first bar trivia television program. 

Noah also co-hosts the podcast I Don’t Get It: The Pop Culture Get-Off-My-Lawn Cast; was an editor for Rolling Stone and Time Out New York; and has written for other notable publications. In 2017, he raised thousands of dollars for the ACLU by singing 400 karaoke songs in one year.

In this episode…

In today’s volatile business landscape, team building has become more important than ever. So how can you bring your team together to foster a deeper connection and strengthen your business?

Quizmaster Noah Tarnow has leveraged trivia events to enhance an organization’s value and promote interest among team members. He shows the value of hosting customized events that incorporate elements of a company’s brand to optimize engagement. With its innovative trivia events and quiz games, the Big Quiz Thing encourages interaction and allows businesses to connect with each other. 

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck welcomes Noah Tarnow, Founder, Producer, and Quizmaster at the Big Quiz Thing, to discuss how to develop interactive trivia events to amplify businesses. Noah shares how he transitioned to virtual trivia, the challenges and successes of the platform, and how the Big Quiz Thing creates value through its events.

Kim Alpert is the Senior Director of Global Workplace and Real Estate at Udemy, a marketplace that provides online courses to empower organizations and individuals. She oversaw the remote development of three new office spaces in Ankara, Turkey; Denver, Colorado; and Mountain View, California. Her skills include real estate strategy, lease negotiation, budget strategy, and remote team management. Before Udemy, Kim was the Head of Real Estate and Workplace Services at Castlight Health.

In this episode…

With the rise in remote work, company culture and collaboration are more important than ever. Yet some employees are hesitant to return to the office, and companies continue to struggle with engagements. So how can your company foster an inclusive environment while ensuring your team’s safety?

Workplace strategist Kim Alpert leverages innovative technology to enforce testing policies and perform contact tracing. With these measures, her company can ensure a safe and effective transition back to the office and can host social gatherings to promote engagement. By conducting frequent team check-ins, you can create a supportive company culture and encourage your employees to return to work. 

In today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck chats with Kim Alpert, Senior Director of Global Workplace and Real Estate at Udemy, about transforming company culture to adapt to the future of work. Kim discusses the challenges of balancing remote and in-person work, the importance of inclusive company culture for talent acquisition, and Udemy’s process for fostering community amid changes in the workplace. 

Maeve Naughton is the President and Owner of MKN Consulting Group, a company that provides partner marketing consultation for tech companies. She has 25 years of experience creating event sponsorship programs, driving millions in revenue for large customer events and regional conferences. As an experienced marketing professional, Maeve focuses on lead generation to support sales and channel revenue goals by creating customer reference programs.

In this episode…

In the marketing and event space, forming partnerships with stakeholders is a great way to drive engagement and generate leads for your brand. So what are some ways you can leverage this strategy to its full potential?

As an expert in partner marketing, Maeve Naughton emphasizes strategic communication to foster relationships among sponsors, vendors, and partners. This involves working to meet their personal needs, answering questions, and acquiring feedback. Prior to the event, it’s beneficial to host a webinar and provide a prospectus that outlines key features to facilitate collaboration and streamline the process. By doing all of this and more, you can start to generate brand recognition. 

Tune in to this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast as Paige Buck interviews Maeve Naughton, President and Owner of MKN Consulting Group, about forging strategic marketing and event partnerships. Maeve talks about the key considerations of event planning, how she supports event partners, and tips for navigating marketing partnerships.

Elaine Honig is the Founder and CEO of STUDIO 4Forty, a national leader in strategic nonprofit planning and signature event fundraising. In 2005, Elaine developed Wine Women & Shoes where she served as a local community fundraiser before launching her next fundraising concept, Farm to Table (aux). In 2016, she merged both businesses to create STUDIO 4Forty, which has now raised over $85M for its nonprofit partners. 

Elaine currently serves on the board of the Napa Communities Firewise Foundation and has previously served on the boards of The Napa County Land Trust, di Rosa Center for Contemporary Art, and The Napa County Farm Bureau among many other organizations.

In this episode...

Event planning in the nonprofit space is a complex process that requires careful consideration of factors such as sponsorships, management, and even auctions. Most business owners are not equipped to handle the demand or have the resources to successfully execute a fundraiser. So how can you develop an effective planning strategy to ensure you’re providing value to your organization?

Elaine Honig coaches clients by offering a handbook that advises them on navigating sponsorships, event setups, and strategic calls. When creating the concept for a fundraiser, Elaine encourages business owners to structure their event around three crucial guidelines: cultivating entertainment, raising money, and communicating their mission. By conferring and collaborating with an event planner, you can develop fundraisers to amplify your company’s message.

In today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck sits down with Elaine Honig, Founder and CEO of STUDIO 4Forty, to discuss how she executes customized events to sustain value. Elaine shares her strategic fundraising process for clients, common mistakes clients make when planning events, and how she transformed challenges into unique opportunities.

Paige Buck is the Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Kennedy Events, which produces high-level corporate events for leading tech and media companies. She started at Kennedy Events as an event planner, working to build a strategic and talented team before taking on a leadership role. She initially worked in the nonprofit and tech space, leading fundraisers for companies such as the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, SF Works, and Craigslist Foundation.

Maggie Kennedy is the Founder and CEO of Kennedy Events, where she helps create informative and interactive events for a range of reputable nonprofits and businesses, including Adobe, American Red Cross, and Google. With over 20 years of creative event strategy experience, she manages the company’s logistics, marketing, sales, and team growth. Maggie is also an industry leader in virtual and hybrid events and is a board member of the Entrepreneurs Organization.

In this episode...

Are you trying to grow your business and reach more clients? Organic business growth requires developing a wide range of knowledge and skill sets. This can be easier said than done, often taking plenty of time and resources. So what initiatives can you take to streamline the process?

Event planners and entrepreneurial experts Paige Buck and Maggie Kennedy formed a strategic partnership to get their event management company — Kennedy Events — off the ground. Forging an alliance gave them the opportunity to share key insights and expertise to solve organizational challenges. With a wealth of additional knowledge, Paige and Maggie discovered innovative ways to develop compelling events for their clients. 

In this episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast, John Corcoran of Rise25 interviews Paige Buck and Maggie Kennedy about building a business relationship for organic growth. Together, they share the importance of partnerships in event planning, their strategies for overcoming event challenges, and how they leverage expertise and talents to maximize their business performance.

Susan Jacobson is a leading expert in nonprofit fundraising, with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration, events, and now consulting. She is the CEO at Glavin Jacobson, a nonprofit consulting firm she co-founded after holding executive positions at a variety of nonprofits in San Francisco and pursuing consulting independently. At her firm, Susan specializes in major gifts, supporting nonprofits as they strive to strengthen and maintain relationships with donors.

In this episode… 

Running a successful and impactful nonprofit has more similarities to dating than you might think. Emphasizing human connection, having constructive conversations, and repairing deteriorating relationships are just as essential to finding love as they are to securing a major gift from a donor. How? Susan Jacobson, a Robinhood of nonprofit consulting, explains.

When she consults with clients, one of the first things Susan does is identify relationships with donors that could be stronger. Maintaining these personal connections drives nonprofit staff and board members to host engaging events, connect with their audience, and ultimately form additional fruitful relationships. Plus, thousands of meaningful conversations happen along the way.

In today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast with host Paige Buck, listen in on a constructive conversation between peers in the nonprofit space with guest Susan Jacobson, Co-founder and CEO at the nonprofit consulting firm Glavin Jacobson. Susan talks about all things in nonprofit success. Their conversation highlights Susan’s insight as she shares her thoughts on making connections with donors to acquire major gifts, hosting events in a virtual world, and diversification within the field.

Julie Liu is the Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at AvePoint, a SaaS and data management platform that manages and protects data to secure collaboration in the Microsoft cloud, SharePoint, Salesforce, and Google. Julie is an industry-recognized marketing leader, most recently mentoring others to create scalable marketing strategies, launching a sustainable global partner program, and establishing AvePoint as a publicly-traded company. 

In this episode…

With the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have been forced to alter their marketing approach to accommodate the resulting decline in attention spans and shift in customer demands. So, how can you adapt your campaign to effectively reach your audience and solve their most pressing issues?

Creating a serviceable marketing campaign requires understanding your audience’s needs. Julie Liu says that one way to achieve this is to create a brand survey that generates feedback from customers. From there, you can establish your intention and coordinate a short, informative virtual event that addresses the pain points outlined in the survey. Focusing on the knowledge you can provide to your clients will allow you to build trust and meaningful relationships with them.

Tune in to today’s episode of The Kennedy Events Podcast as Paige Buck sits down with Julie Liu, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at AvePoint, to discuss honing your marketing strategy to build relationships with customers. Julie shares how she’s shifted her marketing strategy during the pandemic, her tips for creating targeted ad content, and how to garner trust with your clients and team.

Avital Ungar is the Owner and Founder of Avital: Food + Drink Experiences, a culinary experience company hosting in-person and virtual events for corporate team building, conferences, and more. Avital has been leading artisan food and wine tours for the last decade. She’s served as a judge at the International Chocolate Salon, the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-off, and the Good Food Awards. She has been featured on CNN, The Travel Channel, Travel and Leisure, and more.

In this episode…

In the restaurant industry, the customer experience is central to every food tour. With food and beverage as the driving force behind these experiences, how can you engage with consumers to build lifetime value?

The first step is to facilitate meaningful connections through innovative and hands-on events. For Avital Ungar, this involves hosting educational classes, providing a safe space for customers to try something new, and accommodating individual preferences and needs. And with a vibrant team of people who share your core values, you can successfully create intimate experiences that stimulate a passion for food.

In today’s episode of the Kennedy Events Podcast, Paige Buck joins Avital Ungar, Owner and Founder of Avital: Food + Drink Experiences, to talk about cultivating relationships in the food tour industry. Avital reveals her mission, how she transformed her business amid industry changes, and how her company encourages a deeper human connection.