Long Life Learning

Yale SOM Executive Education brings you conversations with scholars and experts on professional development and lifelong learning in a rapidly evolving world.

Introducing Long Life Learning Season 2 04/28/2025

Jo Ann Jenkins on Social Change and Lifelong Mentorship at AARP 11/13/2024

Jo Ann Jenkins on Social Change and Lifelong Mentorship at AARP The final episode of season 1 features Jo Ann Jenkins, visionary CEO of AARP for the past 10 years. Jo Ann has revolutionized the mission of this “nonprofit, nonpartisan, social change organization” to help Americans embrace life after 50 as a vibrant time of transformation and connection. Jo Ann joins Kavitha to talk career pivots, lifelong mentorship, and legacy-making whose benefits extend to people of all ages. She invites us to consider the needs of an ever-evolving present day: one in which the fastest-growing age group in the U.S. is Americans 85 and up, and in which today’s 10-year-olds have a 50% chance of living to see their 100th birthday. Kavitha and Jo Ann unpack how public discourse around aging and longevity has shifted toward inspiration and engagement. Though Jo Ann warns that we are still far from success, some of the issues at the forefront of AARP’s mission under her tenure have seen significant wins: combating hunger, lowering the cost of prescription drugs, and protecting Social Security among them. This final episode of the season is a celebration of third act joy and purpose generated into impactful action! Transcript Links and Resources Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: by Jo Ann Jenkins and Boe Workman AARP’s collaboration with NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports by Deborah Whitman by Gary Shapiro About Today’s Guest Jo Ann Jenkins, Former CEO of AARP As CEO of AARP, Jo Ann Jenkins leads the world’s largest non-profit, nonpartisan membership organization, harnessing the power and passion of almost 2,300 staff members, 60,000 volunteers and numerous strategic partners. Since 2014, Jo Ann has transformed AARP into a leader in social change empowering all people to choose how they live as they age. Under her leadership, AARP has been recognized as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, has been named to the Washington Post’s Top Workplaces and Fast Company’s Best Workplaces for Innovators. Jo Ann began her career at the Department of Housing and Urban Development, moving on to progressively more responsible leadership positions in the Department of Transportation and Department of Agriculture before serving as Chief Operating Officer of the Library of Congress. She has served and continues to hold board and advisory positions at a number of corporate and civic organizations. Her national best-selling book, Disrupt Aging: A Bold New Path to Living Your Best Life at Every Age, has become a signature rallying cry for revolutionizing society’s views on aging by driving a new social consciousness and sparking innovative solutions for all generations. It has also been released in Chinese and Korean. She holds a BS degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, is a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business Executive Program, and recipient of Honorary Doctorates of Humane Letters from both Spring Hill College and Washington College. She is a Baldrige Fellow and received the Baldrige Leadership Award. In 2019 and 2021 Fortune named her “One of the World’s 50 Greatest Leaders.” /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33913322

Bonnie Wan on Being a Misfit, a Vandal, and a Wise Beginner 11/04/2024

Bonnie Wan on Being a Misfit, a Vandal, and a Wise Beginner This week, CSO, leadership coach, and author Bonnie Wan shares with Kavitha a moment of crisis that changed her life. Back in 2010, Bonnie found herself devoted to work and saying “yes” to everyone but her husband, her children, and herself. Out of a feverish night of writing, the Life Brief was born: an approach to self-examination, a lifestyle, and, most recently, the title of Bonnie’s bestselling 2024 book. Join this week’s conversation to hear how Bonnie’s rise as a strategist led to her being named CSO of the Year, how she strives to “make the room smarter,” and what it means to “climb the second mountain” of your life purpose and career. Together, Bonnie and Kavitha explore what it means to take time with loved ones, engage in continual self-reflection, and pursue our deepest truths in response to the question, “What do I want?” Transcript Links and Resources Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: by Bonnie Wan in advertising in 2023 by David Brooks by Marshall Ganz by Rick Rubin Where to Find Bonnie: on Instagram About Today’s Guest Bonnie Wan, Author and Creator of The Life Brief Partner, Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners Bonnie is creator and author of The Life Brief, a simple and profound action-driving practice that helps people navigate life’s biggest and trickiest decisions with clarity, creativity and courage. The Life Brief applies the art and science of brand strategy to how we live our lives, helping people get clear, take meaningful action, and live with greater intention and imagination. As Partner and Head of Brand Strategy at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners (GS&P), Wan leads strategy for Fortune 500 companies including Blackstone, BMW, Comcast/Xfinity, Frito-Lay, and Kraft-Heinz. She also harnesses strategy to create powerful, provocative, award- winning campaigns fighting racial injustice, child sex trafficking, cyberbullying, college campus rape, and gender inequality. Wan has been named an Advertising Icon, an Ad Age Leading Woman, and Chief Strategy Officer of the Year. The Life Brief has evolved from an agency talk to keynotes, workshops and now a best-selling book. The Life Brief: A Playbook for No Regrets Living is the essential tool for aligning your daily actions with your ambition and values. As a Brand Strategist turned Life Strategist, Wan not only helps companies innovate from a place of purpose, but also guides everyday people who seek to realize their potential. Wan has taught The Life Brief at Accenture, AirBnB, Apple, Change.org, Chief, Google, SXSW, and World 50 Group as well as for Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, and Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit. Wan appears in Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein’s Masterclass on Advertising and Creativity and is featured in the documentary film, The Big Flip, chronicling the lives of four women breadwinners and their families. She has also been interviewed on Katie Couric’s Katie show and HuffPost Live. Her articles have been featured by Fast Company, Campaign Magazine, AdAge, and Adweek. /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33768702

Stephanie Dunson on Writing Your Way to Collaborative Discovery 10/28/2024

Stephanie Dunson on Writing Your Way to Collaborative Discovery If you’ve ever caught yourself about to correct a spelling mistake on a grocery list, this week's guest has advice for you: Stop! And reflect: Why? Yale School of Management Lecturer and reflective writing practitioner Stephanie Dunson joins Kavitha in the studio for a discussion about how the power of process writing moves us from inward reflection to outward, purposeful action. Stephanie encourages her students—of all ages—to let go of everything they’ve been taught about “right and wrong” in writing and embrace the metacognitive journey of pursuing uncertainty: What’s missing from their writing? Why did they choose a particular word or structure? How can they move from fixation on the product to a generative emphasis on process? This mindset shift, Stephanie believes, can help writers break through static individual beliefs and powerfully activate group thinking. Join this week’s conversation to learn why Stephanie sees unfinished writing as the perfect, porous entry point into another’s internal experience, and how to share your writing in a way that prioritizes vulnerability over exposure. Transcript Links and Resources Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: , Peter Elbow , John Dewey , Jack Mezirow and Edward Taylor , Robert Kegan , Norman Maclean , Sarah Ruhl More Featuring Stephanie: on Dr. Heidi Brooks’ Learning Through Experience podcast Stephanie’s podcast, Academic Writers Make... And How to Fix Them About Today’s Guest Stephanie Dunson, Yale SOM Lecturer in Reflective Writing Stephanie Dunson is an award-winning scholar and a collaborative process specialist whose experience spans the academic and business worlds. Over her thirty-year career, she’s gained an international reputation as a writing process expert, leading workshops at major universities, speaking at leading colleges, and coaching faculty from top programs. Her development as a team thinking expert is grounded in her work as a consultant for the Bard College Institute for Writing and Thinking and continued within academia through her tenure as Director of Writing Programs at Williams College. As a corporate consultant, she leads writing workshops designed to help groups collaborate critically on complex problems, make meaningful use of diverse viewpoints, and build communities of inquiry, support, and respect. At Yale SOM, she's a Lecturer on Reflective Writing and an Executive Education affiliate. /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33649042

Michael Swiatek on Why This Is the Golden Age of Accessibility and Life 10/22/2024

Michael Swiatek on Why This Is the Golden Age of Accessibility and Life This week’s guest, Michael Swiatek, is a longtime airline executive and strategist. He also identifies as a blind, low vision individual, and is pioneering new ways to make flying accessible and comfortable to all travelers. Mike joins Kavitha to explain how he went from despising the airline industry to embracing it as a vocation, and why he’s excited, at age 61, to boldly step into a dual role as Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Accessibility Officer for Abra Group. Listen to take part in discussions of Mike’s incredible international experiences, what he’s seen change in the 30 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted, and what makes him call this era “the golden age of not only accessibility, but life.” Transcript Links and Resources Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: : an EEOC message from July 2020 by Marc Freedman by David Brooks , a monologue from Shakespeare’s As You Like It by Carol S. Dweck : How the New Science of Mindset Can Transform Individuals, Teams, and Organizations by Mary C. Murphy by David S. Tatel by Thomas Petzinger, Jr. by Mitch Albom by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz More Featuring Mike: feature on Mike of Mike’s accessibility efforts while at Avianca of Mike on why he sees this as a golden age of accessibility with Mike About Today’s Guest Michael Swiatek, Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Accessibility Officer, Abra Group Michael Swiatek is on a mission to uplift the lives of the world’s largest minority—people with disabilities—especially those who are legally blind or have low vision, by enhancing their travel experiences. He is not only a senior executive with real-world success in the airline industry but is also legally blind himself. His unique life experiences have shaped his outlook and career journey. With a distinguished aviation career, Michael Swiatek has excelled in senior executive roles at prominent global airlines. Currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer & Chief Accessibility Officer at Abra Group, the parent company of Avianca and GOL Airlines, he shapes the strategic direction of these airlines, driving profitability and competitiveness in the Americas market. Prior to his current role at Abra Group, Swiatek held the position of Chief Strategy & Planning Officer at Avianca, transforming the airline’s positioning through alliance formation, network expansion, and corporate planning. He also championed inclusivity as Co-chair of Culture Transformation, Accessibility, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, solidifying Avianca’s reputation as a socially responsible airline. Previously, Michael has held senior roles at several global airlines, including Chief Planning Officer at IndiGo Airlines, the largest airline in India, Qatar Airways as Chief Planning Officer, and Air New Zealand where he served as Director of Strategic Planning. Throughout his career, Michael Swiatek’s strategic acumen and leadership have left an indelible mark on the aviation industry, propelling organizations to new heights. /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33556192

Joanna Lohman on Why She’s Refiring, Not Retiring 10/15/2024

Joanna Lohman on Why She’s Refiring, Not Retiring This week, Kavitha is joined by legendary pro-soccer player-turned keynote speaker and human rights activist Joanna Lohman. Together they discuss why Joanna says that she has “refired” rather than retired from professional sports, and why, as a Yale ELI Advisory Board member and upcoming cohort participant, she would encourage other ELI Fellows to do the same. Join us to learn about Joanna’s journey from a celebrated career with the Washington Spirit and the U.S. National Women’s soccer team to her “second act” pivot into her current roles as a performance coach, sport diplomat, and author. In addition, Joanna shares why it takes a risk-embracing mindset to enact change, what it means to embrace transformation as a “human superpower,” and how she has embraced her identity as a lesbian athlete and public persona to serve as a courageous role model to others. Transcript Links and Resources Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode: with Dr. Michael Gervais, who recently released episode 466: “” featuring ELI instructor Emma Seppälä , James Clear’s 2018 book on refining your focus and forming better habits Nelson Mandela , when he uttered the famous line, “Sport has the power to change the world.” More Featuring Joanna: , Joanna’s 2021 book “,” Joanna’s keynote speech from July 2024 “,” Joanna’s talk at TEDxBeacon Street featured on the news for Pride Month in June 2023 About Today’s Guest Joanna Lohman - Global Keynote Speaker, Authenticity Activator, Performance Igniter Joanna Lohman is a global keynote speaker, former pro soccer player, and performance coach who excels at unlocking human potential and authentic excellence. A member of the U.S. Women's National Team and Washington Spirit's first jersey retiree, Joanna has a rich background in leadership and social impact. She authored "Raising Tomorrow's Champions" and serves as a human rights activist and Sport Diplomat with the U.S. Department of State, using sports to address critical global issues. With 20 years of experience applying elite sports lessons to business, Joanna helps organizations excel through transformational leadership and resilience. She has worked with top companies like Qualcomm and the Minnesota Vikings and has appeared on CNN and Sirius XM. A Silver Spring native and Penn State standout, Joanna is a Springbrook High School and Montgomery County Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Known for her blonde mohawk and authentic leadership, she is also a wife to Melodie, a parent to Luna, and a dog mom to Dewey. /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33449827

Marc Freedman on Seeking Curiosity and Purpose in Midlife Transitions 10/08/2024

Marc Freedman on Seeking Curiosity and Purpose in Midlife Transitions In our first-ever episode of Long Life Learning, host Kavitha Bindra (Executive Director, Yale SOM Executive Education) is joined by Marc Freedman, Founder and Co-CEO of CoGenerate. Marc is dedicated to championing intergenerational projects for the greater good, and will serve as Faculty Director for the forthcoming Experienced Leaders Initiative (ELI) provided by Executive Education at the Yale School of Management. Together, Marc and Kavitha lay the groundwork for a dynamic first season, untangling myths around aging and celebrating the joy of embracing the second half of life. Join us as Marc and Kavitha unpack questions like: Why are so many professionals who are nearing or new to retirement now seeking adventure and a re-examination of what brings them meaning? What are the ways we can nurture connection and purpose amidst personal milestones and professional transitions? And why is it more urgent than ever that we actively work to build collaborative relationships across generational lines? Links and Resources For More Information on ELI and Yale SOM Executive Education: For Resources Mentioned in today’s Episode: , today run by the AARP to supply California food banks with fresh produce (formerly ElderHostel), founded by Yale alum William Berkeley voter registration program , by Rick Rubin , by Rhaina Cohen , author of The Perennials author of Strength to Strength For More of Marc’s Work: in which Marc makes the case for “Encore Careers” (Feb. 2024) segment showcasing Marc’s multi-generational work (March 2023) “,” a Yale SOM Exec Ed webinar (Aug. 2024) Marc’s book, About Today’s Guest Marc Freedman, Yale SOM ‘84 Founder and Co-CEO of CoGenerate; Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management Marc Freedman is the founder and Co-CEO of CoGenerate and Lecturer in the Practice of Management at the Yale School of Management, where heis Faculty Director of Yale’s new Experienced Leaders Initiative (ELI). Freedman is one of the nation’s leading experts on our increasingly multigenerational future and the author of five books. The Wall Street Journal named his most recent book — How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations — one of the year’s best books on aging well. Originator of the encore career idea linking second acts to the greater good, Freedman spearheaded creation of Experience Corps, the Purpose Prize, and Encore Fellowships. He has been honored with numerous awards and fellowships, including the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship and the Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Schwab Foundation/World Economic Forum. A high honors graduate of Swarthmore College, Freedman holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management. He resides in the San Francisco Bay area with his wife, Leslie Gray, and their three sons. Transcript /episode/index/show/fa85f15f-ed5f-4240-bbe7-6483f3295b8c/id/33370592

Welcome to Long Life Learning! 09/27/2024

Long Life Learning

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