How to Change the World

Daniel Openden is the President and CEO of SARRC (Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center), an internationally recognized nonprofit that conducts innovative research, provides evidence-based practices, disseminates effective training and builds inclusive communities for individuals with autism and their families. Daniel talks to Catherine about his path to his current career, the state of autism research today, and how shifting our mindset toward people with disabilities can transform communities.

Today, Catherine is joined by Nate Rhoton, her good friend and Executive Director of one.n.ten, an amazing organization that provides a wide range of support services for LGBTQ youth in Arizona. Together, they delve into Real Impact by Morgan Simon. Real Impact is all about impact investment, a little-known trillion dollar industry. Impact investment entails supporting social and environmental projects with a financial return, and in the next decade is poised to eclipse traditional charitable giving ten times over. Catherine and Nate review Simon's ideas about the potential strengths, opportunities and pitfalls of the sector, and how they relate to their own day-to-day change-focused work.

Right now, the future feels full of unknowns. As the world comes together to fight COVID-19, many businesses, nonprofits, and political campaigns are drastically restructuring their methods of outreach, and it can be incredibly daunting. We share 7 tangible ways you can utilize digital and online tactics to serve your community at this time.

Katie Hobbs started her professional career as a social worker before a friend suggested she might want to explore running for office. She first ran for the AZ House of Representatives, then the Arizona Senate, before running successfully for Secretary of State of Arizona in 2018. She shares with Catherine the pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of her entire life, how administering elections impacts all important issues, and what her experience has taught her are the three vital ingredients for creating social change. Trust us, you don't want to miss this one.

As COVID-19 and its social, psychological, and economic impacts unfold on a daily basis, organizations are facing wide-ranging tough decisions about all aspects of your work. Answers are hard to craft against a backdrop of breaking news alerts and disparate opinions about best practices around the world. In this solo-round episode, Catherine reviews how to develop an adaptive response plan drawn from your core values. Connect with us @javelinaco on social media if you have questions about developing a values-based response plan to COVID-19.

Margaret Tyndall joins us as the third of four 2020 YWCA of Metropolitan Phoenix Tribute to Leadership honorees. Margaret served as the CEO of YWCA Pittsburgh for 23 years (1977-2000), as CEO of YWCA USA for two years (2000-2002) and has resided in Arizona for the past 13 years. She shares with Catherine the pivotal moment in her life that created a passion for YWCA's core mission of empowering women and eliminating racism, the job ad that changed the trajectory of her career, and everything she has learned about creating change along the way - including the importance of getting curious about whatever stands between you and creating the change you seek to make.

Our conversation with Mary Mitchell is the second of four with the 2020 YWCA of Metropolitan Phoenix Tribute to Leadership honorees. Mary serves as the Deputy Director, Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council. In her 21 years with the organization she has served in a variety of capacities and now serves as the senior advisor and co-lead for the organization's work related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Mary and Catherine discuss what diversity, equity and inclusion mean in today's world, and how they can be meaningfully incorporated into change making work. They talk about how to bring your best self to important conversations - and what to go when you fail to do so, as well as coping strategies for the stress of doing important change work in our community.

For the next four weeks, we are proud to partner with the YWCA of Metropolitan Phoenix to spotlight their 2020 Tribute to Leadership honorees. Up first, is January Contreras. January ran for Arizona Attorney General in 2018, after founding ALWAYS, a nonprofit that provides no cost legal services to vulnerable young people and victims of human trafficking. She also served for 12 years on the staff of former Arizona Governor Janet Napoitano and for four years in President Obama's White House. January shares where her passion for creating change came from, and why she is driven to personally positively impact those around her. From law school to election day, she opens up to Catherine about what she's learned along the way and what's next on her journey of community change.

Catherine is joined by Javelina partner David Waid to discuss The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz, field notes from the desk of a seasoned Silicon Valley tech CEO on how to build and run a business. Catherine and David share their key takeaways from the entrepreneur and current-day venture capitalist's own personal story. Look out for actionable takeaways on hiring and firing, the importance of culture, and when making a "culture hire" is a bad idea - along with much more!

Anyone who knows Kate Wells know she is a friendly, warm extrovert who has a passion for the people around her and the community we all call home that abounds from her every word. Catherine first met Kate years ago, when she saw her speak on a panel to a group of young nonprofit professionals, and was struck by how she has created a life she loves with intentionality and planning. Over 20 years ago, Kate and her friends vowed to open a children's museum when they learned Phoenix was the only city in the country's largest 100 cities without one. It took them a decade to open it, and it has been shaping our community ever since. Kate shares with Catherine the secrets to her success and what it takes to turn a vision into reality.