Well Being Walks with Kip Hollister

Sulagna (Dia) Ghosh is a Google's Women Techmakers Ambassador with a background in computational biology and over 10 years of work experience in academia and biotech. As the founder of Joint Family, she is dedicated to building an innovative, inclusive and data driven venture to connect and empower individuals across generations. 

Earlier this year Joint Family held its very first multigenerational virtual series. This post The Pilot That Got Everyone Talking encapsulates some of the insights gained. To further strengthen community ties we have been hosting in person workshops. Our first session took place at the Foundry Festival and a word that resonated throughout the session was community. This video link provides a glimpse of the immersive experience. A similar sense of connectedness emerged during a gathering at the Cambridge Public Library with over 30 participants aged 9 to 75+ (video highlights) and a subsequent AI literacy workshop focused on mental health and companionship at the Woburn Public Library (SCI-Let)! Our work bridging generational divides was recently recognized by the local community in Cambridge, MA (Imagined In Cambridge). 

Joint Family will be resuming programs this Fall with an in-person session at the Malden Public Library on September 14th. Beyond these one-off events, a major focus for Q4 are community specific projects that bring together local residents on a semi-regular basis. An idea we are beta testing in collaboration with the Foundry Consortium centers on intergenerational storytelling with AI + local artists culminating in a mural of lived experiences.

Sulagna (Dia) Ghosh is a Google's Women Techmakers Ambassador with a background in computational biology and over 10 years of work experience in academia and biotech. As the founder of Joint Family, she is dedicated to building an innovative, inclusive and data driven venture to connect and empower individuals across generations. 

Earlier this year Joint Family held its very first multigenerational virtual series. This post The Pilot That Got Everyone Talking encapsulates some of the insights gained. To further strengthen community ties we have been hosting in person workshops. Our first session took place at the Foundry Festival and a word that resonated throughout the session was community. This video link provides a glimpse of the immersive experience. A similar sense of connectedness emerged during a gathering at the Cambridge Public Library with over 30 participants aged 9 to 75+ (video highlights) and a subsequent AI literacy workshop focused on mental health and companionship at the Woburn Public Library (SCI-Let)! Our work bridging generational divides was recently recognized by the local community in Cambridge, MA (Imagined In Cambridge). 

Joint Family will be resuming programs this Fall with an in-person session at the Malden Public Library on September 14th. Beyond these one-off events, a major focus for Q4 are community specific projects that bring together local residents on a semi-regular basis. An idea we are beta testing in collaboration with the Foundry Consortium centers on intergenerational storytelling with AI + local artists culminating in a mural of lived experiences.

Niren Chaudhary is the Chairman of the Board of Panera Brands, one of the world’s largest fast casual restaurant companies with nearly 4,000 locations in 10 countries. Prior to becoming Chairman in 2023, Niren served as CEO of Panera Brands. During his four-year tenure, he increased the company’s pace of innovation, strengthened franchisee partnerships and led the creation of a strong, people-first culture, resulting in industry-leading retention rates for GMs and associates, earning Black Box Intelligence’s Employer of Choice Award in 2022.

Niren served as Chief Operating Officer and President of Krispy Kreme where he implemented a new operating model to elevate consistency across the global brand and created a path for enterprise value growth of 3x over 5 years. Prior to that, he spent 23 years at Yum! Brands serving in global leadership positions including Global President of KFC and President of Yum! India. 

Niren is guided by his deep passion for serving others and building future leaders. He spends his personal time sharing his personal and professional journey with students and professionals, often wielding a guitar to sing about his life or even a new Panera menu item. In addition, he dedicates his personal time serving on the Tufts Medical Centre Board and as an advocate for DKMS, a leading non-profit with the world’s largest stem cell donor registry.

As a lifelong learner, Niren focuses on both formal and informal education. Formally, Niren holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from St. Stephen’s College in Delhi, an MBA in marketing from the University of Delhi, and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. Informally, Niren speaks 4 languages – Hindi, English, Dutch and German. He holds a black belt in Shotokan karate and is an avid golfer, tennis player and musician with his own rock band.

Join me in conversation alongside entrepreneur, investor, coach, and mentor Bob Allard, who has spent his career at the intersection of innovation, business, and people—seeking to find ways to help as many people as possible. A magnet of energy, he’s all about identifying talent, supporting it, and allowing individuals to become the best version of themselves. Join us as we engage in an authentic conversation discussing leadership post-pandemic, reframing fear into opportunity and growth, and leading with empathy.

Bob lives in Andover, MA, with his wife, three boys, and two dogs. He enjoys golfing with his brothers, playing music with his band, Bleeding Hearts, and chasing his youngest (a four-year-old) around the house. 

Join me in conversation alongside my esteemed colleague, Kaya Ramjee, a remarkable individual I've had the pleasure of knowing for just over a year.  

 During our time together, Kaya and I have shared profound discussions on the shared experience of navigating the grief associated with the passing of our beloved sons. Our conversations delve deep into the spectrum of emotions accompanying such experiences, fostering a profound bond of understanding and empathy.

 Originally from the vibrant city of London and currently residing in the scenic landscapes of Portugal, Kaya hosts the empowering podcast "She's Electric." 

 Join us as we embark on a journey of well-being, camaraderie, and shared experiences. It's sure to be an enriching and rejuvenating experience for all involved.

In this week’s episode of Well Being Walks, Kip is joined by David G. Breen, principal Designer and Founder of VDA, Inc, an award-winning, full-service, event design and experiential marketing agency. Under David's guidance, VDA achieved remarkable success, including being named "Best In Business" by INC. Magazine in both 2021 and 2022. David and Kip walk through Mount Autumn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, and talk about their career journeys, opening up communication in the workplace, and just being human. Join us as we walk in nature. 

Learn more about David and VDA: 
LinkedIn: @vdainc
Instagram: @vdainc
Facebook: @thisisVDA

In this week’s episode of Well Being Walks, Kip is joined by Cindy Pierce, Author, Performer, Speaker, Sexuality Educator, Comic Storyteller, Innkeeper and Mom of three young adults. Cindy and Kip walk through Hale Reservation in Dover, MA, and grow from acquaintances to friends as they delve into Cindy’s leadership journey. 

Cindy takes us through her childhood as the youngest of seven, and how her unique path has shaped her into who she is today – a woman unafraid of failure and excited by new challenges. Her passion for educating our youth is exciting and inspiring. 

I invite you to listen and learn from all her wonderful advice. 

Learn more about Cindy Pierce: https://cindy-pierce.com/

In this week’s Well Being Walks episode, Kip is joined by Amy Pocsik, Founder of Bold Moves business coaching and Co-Founder of the Women's Business League, a national networking community. The pair walk around Lake Quannapowitt in Wakefield, MA as Amy shares her story about leaving her job as a CPA and following her entrepreneurial dreams.

This episode is a genuine conversation between two women that share a passion for the work they do, centering on human connection and overcoming the challenges of starting your own business. Amy takes us through her journey of following her passions and creating a business that supports like-minded women to help them thrive. Her unique perspective and experiences have given her the ability to open a world of opportunities not only for herself but for those she has connected with as well. Please listen and enjoy.

To learn more about the Women’s Business League, click here: https://womensbusinessleague.com/

In this week’s episode of Well Being Walks with Kip Hollister, we are joined by Thaddeus Miles, as he speaks about his experiences as a father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and community leader. As the pair takes a chilly stroll around the Lowell River Walk, Thaddeus describes what led him to devote his life to helping others: through his work at MassHousing, his time serving in The US Air Force, and the development of several nonprofits. His dedication to supporting, loving, and seeing the Black community is inspiring. His most recent work, The Black Joy Project, was recognized by the Boston City Council in September 2022. 

We are taken through the complex story of his life and delve into how he found his passions for family, photography, and serving others. Thaddeus explains how his unique experiences have allowed him to move from a mindset of victimization to one of empowerment. You will hear vulnerable conversations about taking action and the importance of genuine human connection. 

We invite you to listen and learn from this powerful and uplifting leader. 

Learn more about The Black Joy Project: https://linktr.ee/theblackjoyproject

In this episode of Well Being Walks, Kip is joined by Juliette Mayers, Founder and CEO of Inspiration Zone – A woman-and-minority-owned business enterprise providing services to companies looking for a holistic approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In addition to being the Founder and CEO of Inspiration Zone, Juliette is a published author and has her own podcast, Entering the Inspiration Zone. 

Kip and Juliette walk through the Norris Reservation in Norwell and discuss the importance of creating an organization that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive, starting from a place of empathy and awareness. This episode shows the importance of human connection on a deep level and understanding the systemic growth needed to create a positive and sustainable workplace culture. Juliette’s knowledge in this area is admirable, and we invite listeners to listen and learn from her experience as we have. 

To learn more about Inspiration Zone, click here: https://inspirationzonellc.com/