Word on the C Street
A podcast where influential leaders reflect on the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion and share their perspectives on the defining challenges and opportunities of our time.
Ep. 15: Erika James on Inclusive Leadership
Erika discusses the mindset shift that helped her fully embrace her role as the first woman and first person of color to lead Wharton, the infrastructure needed to help companies diversify their talent pipelines, and the grounding mechanism business leaders can use to determine whether to speak out on a societal issue.
Ep. 16: Matt Johnson on Merging Professional Experience with Personal Impact
Matt discusses why he founded a different type of law firm - one grounded in social activism - and how his involvement with Los Angeles’s police commission shaped his perspective on police reform.
Ep. 14: Wendy Garcia on the Importance of Accountability in Creating Inclusive Institutions
Wendy discusses how representation in law enforcement leads to safer communities and why accountability is critical for fostering more diverse, equitable, and inclusive institutions.
Ep. 13: Fred Guttenberg on Discovering Purpose in Tragedy
Fred’s 14-year-old daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting in 2018. He has since dedicated his life to fighting for gun safety in America. Though this interview was recorded prior, the racist shooting that occurred in Buffalo, New York on May 14th gives Fred’s story and activism a renewed sense of urgency.
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Ep. 12: Julianna Goldman on Helping Mothers Remain in or Return to the Workforce
Julianna shares how the overwhelming response to her article on the motherhood penalty in TV news led her to found MamaDen; how hybrid work presents both opportunities and challenges for working mothers; and her views on the important role men can play in helping to change workplace culture, from serving as sponsors to helping normalize parental leave.
Ep. 11: Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan on Why Increasing Representation Can Improve the Investment Industry
Mona discusses what she views as the key to her entrepreneurial success, how diverse perspectives drive better decision-making, and why she believes DEI is existential to a capitalist economy.
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Ep. 10: Law Students for Climate Accountability on the Legal Industry’s Moral Obligation to Protect the Planet
Amelia Keyes and Marjan Kris Abubo share their perspectives on the legal industry's relationship with the fossil fuel industry, why choosing which clients to represent is an ethical decision, and why racial and social justice are necessary for climate justice.
Ep. 9: Laphonza Butler on Advancing Representation and Defending Women’s Reproductive Freedoms
Laphonza discusses her organization’s efforts to elect Democratic pro-choice women to office and the power of collective action in dismantling systemic inequities.
Ep. 7: Jaeson Ma on How Storytelling Can Counter the Model Minority Myth and Lift AAPI Communities Higher
Jaeson shares his life’s mission to bridge East and West through stories and talent and reflects on how AAPI leaders came together in a moment of crisis for their communities.
Ep. 6: Claudia Romo Edelman on the Power and Potential of the Hispanic Community
Claudia explains why Hispanic progress is American progress, her belief in society’s ability to move from tolerance to acceptance, and the data behind her optimism for the future.
Ep. 5: David Clunie on America’s Opportunity to Create an Intentionally Inclusive Economic Infrastructure
David discusses how economic policy can help Black and other disinvested communities build wealth, the hidden challenges Black entrepreneurs face, and why data is the key to making Corporate America more diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
Ep. 4: Jonathan Greenblatt On Combating Hate and Fostering Respect for Fellow Citizens
Jonathan discusses the role of traditional and social media in deepening partisanship, the Anti-Defamation League’s call for the resignation or removal of President Trump after the events of January 6th, and the three things he believes we can all do to combat hate.
Ep. 3: Pamela Newkirk on the Failed Promise of the Diversity Industry and How Corporate America Can Do Better
Pamela explains why the billions of dollars being spent on diversity have resulted in so little progress; her belief that when you have a diversity problem, you have a leadership problem; and the importance of empowering people to bring their full selves to work.
Ep. 2: Wes Moore on Unlocking Opportunity for Maryland's Black Families
Wes shares his perspective on what’s happening in Washington, his plan to unlock economic opportunity for Maryland’s black families, and what it was like to preach from MLK’s pulpit at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Ep. 8: Jaime Harrison on the Symbiotic Relationship Between Corporate America and American Democracy
Jaime discusses Corporate America’s responsibility to ensure all communities thrive and offers a path for preserving hope through what could be a turnaround moment for the country.
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Ep. 1: Dr. Alvin Tillery On What Corporate Leaders Can Learn From The Civil Rights Movement
Al discusses the inspiration for his innovative CREED model, how his upbringing in New Jersey drove him to study racial justice, and why he believes corporations are not ready for Gen Z.