How to Change the World

Last June, Jacqueline Thomas was crowned Miss Arizona 2019, and is currently serving our community under that title, driven by her deeply held passion of women's equity. In high school, Jacqueline was forbidden from being her class President because of her gender, and ever since she has been determined to make change for women in Arizona and nationwide. Jacqueline talks to Catherine about the pivotal moment that changed her mindset forever and enabled her to win the Miss Arizona title after 6 years of competing, as well as what politics and pageantry have in common, and how we can take lessons about how to change the world from both.

Jenny Poon is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of CO+HOOTS, a purpose-driven coworking space in Arizona. Jenny is committed to building vibrant and equitable cities by bringing visibility to coworking as an economic development tool. She talks to Catherine about the childhood moment that changed everything for her, and has led her to a career dedicated to changing the face of entrepreneurship in our communities.

This month, Catherine is joined by Blake Hardison, founding member of Keyser, an innovative commercial real estate firm that exclusively represents tenants and owner occupants in real estate transactions. Blake has completed over a quarter billion dollars' worth of commercial real estate transactions and has helped grow the firm from 5 to 50 people since 2013. What's noteworthy about Blake is that he is committed to giving his time, talent, and energy to better those around him. Although it may seem counter-intuitive, he believes that the greatest amount of personal success comes from selflessly serving others. In fact, Blake sent Catherine a copy of Give and Take by Adam Grant when they first met, which is why she invited him to join her to talk about Grant's argument that in professional interactions, it turns out that most people operate as either givers, takers, or matchers. Whereas takers strive to get as much as possible from others and matchers aim to trade evenly, givers are the rare breed of people who contribute to others without expecting anything from them in return. Learn why givers are the least AND most sucessful among us, and how to implement giving into your own work life and culture.

For our first episode of the decade, Catherine is joined by her husband Ruben to roll out their four biggest predictions for changes we'll see in 2020. From non-alcoholic craft beer to Harvey Weinstein's criminal trial, they dig into the things they'll be on the lookout for this year - and the wider implications they have for creating community change.

For our very special 100th podcast episode, members of the Javelina team get together and look back at 2019. What went well? What changed? What mistakes did we make? From expanding to Colorado to launching strategic digital services, the team dig in to the highs and lows of the year that's about to end - every step of the way asking: what did we learn? Featuring: Colorado VP Rob DuRay, VP for Digital Strategy Josh Zaragoza, Partner David Waid, Client Associate Justin Plumb and CEO Catherine Alonzo.

Kathy Hoffman was teaching in a public school when she was inspired and driven to run for public office. While many told her to start small, she had her heart set on the place that touches teachers and students statewide: the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Kathy talks with Catherine about everything she's learned about creating change in our community, from the moment she first thought about running to today, as she gets ready to head into her second year as the Superintendent of Arizona's schools. Trust us when we say you don't want to miss this one and all of the knowledge gems it includes.

Tania Katan is a speaker, performer, coach and consultant, and the author of Creative Trespassing, a field guide for injecting creativity into your work and life to break old barriers and create new outcomes. Tania is also the genius behind the #ItWasNeverDress movement and online phenomenon. No stranger to doing things differently and bringing her whole self into whatever space she is in, Tania and Catherine talk about what it takes to color outside of the lines and think beyond the rules. You'll doubtless take away a trick or two you can enact today.

This month, Catherine and David are joined by business leader and coach Eileen Rogers, who is certified in Brenè Brown's transformational Dare to Lead training program, to discuss the famed author's latest book: Dare to Lead. Five-time #1 New York Times bestselling author Brenè Brown has spent the past two decades studying the emotions and experiences that give meaning to our lives. Her work on perfectionism and shame have made her a household name and have generated organizational transformation around the globe. David, Catherine and Eileen delve into the core teachable and learnable skills that Brown has discovered lie beneath daring leadership - and discuss how to enact them in our own lives.

On a very normal day eleven years ago, Jodi read a text message that irreversibly changed the course of her life forever. Today, she leads U and Improved, an award-winning leadership development and training company that offers hands-on experiential training for Fortune 500 companies, small and medium-sized businesses, and individuals who want to learn, grow and improve. Jodi shares with Catherine that heart-stopping moment that changed it all, and what lies at the center of our innate ability to choose to live the life we want.

Karine Jean-Pierre is an accidental political organizer. Growing up wanting to be a doctor, she fell into political advocacy unexpectedly and unintentionally. She worked on Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, served in his White House and today serves as the Chief Public Affairs Officer for MoveOn.org, as a political commentator with CNN and MSNBC, and teaches at Columbia University. The author of the brand new memoir and call-to-action Moving Forward, she joins Catherine to tell the story of growing up a Haitian-American immigrant and falling into the career she loves. She shares how anyone and everyone can and should play a role in politics - now more than ever.