460. How to Be a Change Agent - Tania Bhattacharyya, Tara Abrahams, Alex Aide, and Alia Whitney-Johnson

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Overview

We need to see our mission as a serious stewardship to make our world better - and your individual voice, story, experience, and ideas are an important thread of that story. Join this panel of modern impact thinkers as we explore how to become a change agent for your mission - and for the causes important to you in this world.

Today’s Guests

Tania Bhattacharyya, Founder, Lumos Marketing
Tara Abrahams, Head of Impact at The Meteor
Alex Aide, Director of Programs + Impact, Born This Way Foundation
Alia Whitney-Johnson, Chief Operating Officer, Latin American Leadership Academy

“Before appeal letters, advocacy emails and podcasts, stories have always been how we have created change.”

— Tania Bhattacharyya, Founder, Lumos Marketing

Episode Transcript

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Episode Highlights

Looking under the iceberg of being a change agent (4:10)
Activating change agents at a grassroots level (7:05)
The power of listening and empathy (8:35)
What does it take to change systems? (9:40)
The role of collaboration (13:05)
Looking to the people around you (19:10)
Mindsets of a change agent (25:20)
The role of storytelling (28:00)
One Good Thing (38:00)
- Alex: Kindness is free and nd it has real, measurable impact on our collective mental health.
- Tania: "One day you will tell your story of how you've overcome what you're going through now, and it will become part of someone else's survival guide." -Brene Brown
- Tara: Look at the power of what can happen when we come together.
- Alia: Don’t forget to play.

Powerful Quotes

“By empowering and celebrating young people that want to be change agents, we're not only just creating a kinder world, we're also helping them develop leadership skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.” -Alex

“When I think about changing systems, it's really about turning things over to the people who are closest to what it means when those systems aren't designed and built for us.” -Tara

“It really takes all of us coming together to make a big dent in these issues.” -Alia

“Whether you call yourself a change agent or not going out into the world every day and saying, how can I add good to the world rather than add to its problems that's crucial when it comes to creating impactful programs.” -Alex

“Before appeal letters, advocacy emails and podcasts, stories have always been how we have created change.” -Tania

“As nonprofit leaders, we often hesitate to get into the limelight, because it's all about the mission, it's all about the organization. But when you step into the limelight, it always reflects light back onto your mission.” -Tania

“As a sector, we have an obligation to not only shine a light on the darkest places that we're trying to change but also to shine an even brighter light on the reality we are trying to build.” -Alia