Lead The Change

Jul 16, 2026 — In this episode, Bard MBA candidate Ana Caka interviews Zainab James, founder of Vaz House Café, a jazz-inspired Caribbean specialty coffee shop launching in Manchester, Connecticut. Zainab traces the café's origins to making morning coffee for her...

Jul 02, 2026 — In this episode, Bard MBA student Seamus Heady interviews Kristy Drutman, founder of Brown Girl Green and Green Jobs Board, about using creative storytelling to make climate work feel human, joyful, and actionable. Kristy explains why leaning into joy...

Jun 25, 2026 — What does it actually take to stay in the work of changing systems — not for a season, but for a life? Shawna Wakefield has spent twenty-five years building frameworks for transformative feminist leadership at Oxfam, Gender at Work, and the UN. She is...

Jun 18, 2026 — In this episode, Bard MBA student Eric Sargent interviews John Edel, founder and director of Bubbly Dynamics, about transforming derelict Chicago industrial buildings into closed-loop ecosystems for small businesses. John shares the story behind The...

Jun 04, 2026 — In this episode, Bard MBA student Jake Rosenzweig-Stein interviews Bill Fotsch, business consultant and researcher, about economic engagement and its role in building more equitable, resilient businesses. Bill introduces his five-pillar framework,...