
In this episode, Esther and Mengtian, one of our Power Move Society interns, sit down with Ellen Touchstone, the inaugural Associate Dean for Responsible and Sustainable Business Education at the International Business School Suzhou (XJTLU). We delve into Ellen's passion for sustainability, her journey from the United States to China to trace her grandparents' footsteps from a century ago, and her adaptability to new cultures and environments.
Ellen is a recognized thought leader in inclusive banking, with her research on the linguistic servicescape and multilingual advertising published in the Journal of Business Research and the Journal of Consumer Research. She initiated the carbon reduction project, "Fifteen Ways in Fifteen Weeks," with the Sustainable Future Talents student group, winning the AMBA BGA Best CSR Sustainability Initiative in 2022. In March 2022, she was honored as a “China Super Woman” by Shanghai-based Green Initiatives for her contributions to environmental and gender equity in the Yangtze River Delta.
Ellen shares the factors that led to her life-changing decision to move to China in the early 2010s and reflects on the remarkable growth China has experienced over the past decades. She also discusses her sustainable initiatives and offers insights on how corporations can play a more responsible role in the industry.
Additionally, Ellen provides her interpretation of gender equity and discusses how China’s favorable national policies support women's advancement in academia.
We wrap up the discussion with a deep dive into Ellen’s personal growth and her approach to managing mental health. We also touch on various documentaries and TED Talks featuring Ellen Touchstone. If you are curious about sustainability in academia and Ellen’s inspiring journey, tune in now!
Links to Ellen’s TED Talk and Documentary:
Ellen Touchstone: Passion
A documentary about Professor Touchstone and her ties to Suzhou
#BusinessSchool #Academia #SustainableBusiness #SelfCare #GenderEquity #Innovation #PurposeDriven #Empowerment
May 30, 2024
38 min

In this episode, Shirley and Esther sit down with Erica Lee, a seasoned product management leader with an impressive career spanning roles at Visa, Blend, Better, and now Flow -- a residential rental real-estate company. Flow was founded in 2022 by the former CEO of WeWork, Adam Neumann, and funded by the VC a16z.
Erica, who holds a business degree from Berkeley, shares her journey through the dynamic world of tech and product management. We dive into Erica's upbringing and early influences that shaped her career ambitions, as well as her diverse experiences across startups and large enterprises.
Erica provides insight into the characteristics that define roles in different company environments and recounts pivotal moments in her career, offering invaluable lessons for building a career in tech as a product leader.
Erica also discusses what drew her to her current role leading product on the Flow resident app, and her aspirations for Flow's future.
Balancing career ambition with mental well-being is a crucial topic in our conversation. Erica shares strategies for adapting to the tech industry's fluctuations and maintaining a healthy balance between professional goals, personal growth, and mental health.
For all young professionals aspiring to break into product management, Erica is the big sister we wish we had! This episode is packed with insights and inspiration for anyone looking to navigate a successful career in tech -- tune in now!
#ProductManagement #Tech #CareerGrowth #MentalWellBeing #Startups #Enterprises #Leadership #Innovation #PersonalGrowth #MoveWithPower
May 22, 2024
42 min

In this episode, Esther and Shirley sit down with Callie, the founder and CEO of Waban Impact LLC, and alumna of Wellesley College. We discuss her passion in sustainable impact, her journey from management consultancy to entrepreneurship, and how she builds and taps into her various communities.
Trained as a consultant, Callie has collaborated with diverse entities, from governments and Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits and startups. Her expertise lies in helping organizations scale their social impact work internationally --to create meaningful change that ripples across communities and transcends borders.
Now, in her role as the founder of Waban Impact LLC, Callie partners with like-minded organizations and entrepreneurs. Waban Impact specializes in empowering various entities, including entrepreneurs, non-profits, foundations, and SMEs, to bolster resilience and amplify their impact.
We wrap up the discussion with a deep dive into how Callie supports her own mental health and personal growth while balancing the growing phase of her organization. We learned so much from this conversation!
#NonProfit #Consultancy #CEO #Entrepreneurship #SelfCare #Innovation #PurposeDriven #Empowerment
May 8, 2024
33 min

In this episode, we sit down with Oluwakemi "Kemi" Oritsejafor, the organizer behind MYCO, a three-day Earth Day summit event on Apr 19th-21st at Brooklyn Commons — an exploration of the climate and environmental justice movement and its intersections with racial, gender, and queer liberation -- and a moment for pause, inspiration, and restoration. (Note: link to MYCO's EventBrite below!)
Kemi's multifaceted prowess as an entrepreneur, creative, climate leader, and more, is a true source of inspiration for all of us on the journey to pursue an authentic life and career, aligned with our passions and values. In addition to her work as a climate organizer, Kemi is also the founder of SOLA Market, a buy, sell, and trade art materials marketplace with the mission of making art production more accessible, and the special projects manager at B Lab US & Canada, the organization behind B Corp certifications.
Kemi's journey toward entrepreneurship, creative expression, and climate justice began with their upbringing, shaping their unwavering commitment and sense of responsibility to make a difference. Through their work at B Lab, Kemi is able to strategically focus on areas that align with their passion, seamlessly blending professional endeavors with personal mission. Their leadership extends beyond the workplace as the organizer of MYCO, a transformative 3-day event dedicated to fostering collaboration and innovation for climate justice.
Throughout the conversation, Kemi shares insights into her entrepreneurial journey as well as self-care practices, essential for navigating the demands of her various endeavors. The episode offers invaluable advice for individuals seeking to align their passions with their careers, emphasizing the power of perseverance and purpose-driven action.
Join us as we explore Kemi's perspective on what it means to "move with power" in today's world. Their resilience and dedication serve as a beacon of inspiration for anyone striving to create positive change.
--
And... join Kemi, Shirley, and Esther in-person this weekend at MYCO -- details and tickets below!
MYCO is NYC’s newest collective gathering ground for climate leaders, and the professionals, artists, and activists seeking to nurture their commitment to combating the climate crisis through intersectionality with global movements.
Join our network of climate and environmental justice leaders, professionals, activists, and artists for THREE days of impact-building, art-making, and restoration:
MYCOgrow--MYCOmake--MYCOrest
Exploring the climate and environmental justice movement and its intersections with racial, gender, and queer liberation, this event features:
Panel discussions
Networking sessions
Sustainable art market
Professional and art-making workshops
Meditation, conversation, and play
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/myco-nyc-tickets-872179531457?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
#ClimateJustice #Sustainability #EarthDay #Leadership #SelfCare #Innovation #PurposeDriven #Empowerment
Apr 15, 2024
38 min

In this episode of the "Move with Power" podcast, hosts Shirley and Esther sit down with the remarkable Scout Brisson, CEO of De Soi, a consumer beverage brand of non-alcoholic apéritifs made with natural adaptogens founded by Katy Perry and Morgan McLachlan.
Scout shares her background as a middle child and a crew athlete in school, to graduating from MIT and her foray into management consulting at McKinsey. After her experience in early-stage venture and founding her own better-for-you food brand, Scout joined De Soi as the General Manager in the brand’s infancy, and later stepped into the CEO role.
Scout’s entrepreneurial spirit takes the spotlight as she reveals her unwavering passion and deep knowledge for consumer brands, illuminating the impactful journey she is charting for De Soi. With her genuine and approachable energy, Scout offers listeners a glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of building a disruptive early-stage brand.
Throughout the episode, we also explore the personal side of leadership: how Scout continues to practice her growth mindset as CEO, and how she brings value to leading her team with diverse backgrounds and expertise.
Tune in as Scout shares invaluable insights gleaned along her incredible and fast-paced journey. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or seeking inspiration to fuel your ambitions, this episode aims to leave you feeling empowered and motivated to unleash your full potential!
#PersonalGrowth #Leadership #CEO #Entrepreneur #ConsumerBrands #Marketing #Growth #Motivation #PowerMove
Apr 10, 2024
42 min

Building Enterprise AI from Scratch: VectorShift COO Albert Mao’s Founding Journey from Y Combinator
In this week’s episode, hosts Shirley and Esther unfold Y Combinator S23 founder Albert Mao’s launch into the realm of LLM / AI and establishing his company VectorShift.
Albert Mao, an enthusiast for data-driven solutions and AI applications, explored automation solutions for enterprises with his buddy/co-founder from college until landing on and launching VectorShift. Post graduation, Albert embarked on his career as a management consultant and upon getting accepted to join the YC S23 batch, Albert went to the West Coast and participated in the intensive YC bootcamp. At the bootcamp, he fully developed the idea, grew sales, and matured into a start up that has raised millions from investors.
The episode also delves into the challenges Albert had to overcome, and the lessons he learned throughout the pivotal moments of his journey with VectorShift. He openly shares the barriers confronted, and discusses how he manages his wellbeing and mental health along the way.
If you enjoyed this episode: subscribe on Spotify, follow us on TikTok (@powermoveorg), and join our growing base of members at www.powermove.org to stay connected with the latest and greatest of Power Move! #largelanguagemodel #managementconsulting #artificialintelligence #startup #mentalhealth #leadership
Mar 22, 2024
40 min

In this week’s episode, hosts Shirley and Esther delve into the Yanni Li’s journey establishing herself in the realm of academia and transitioning into the corporate world.
Passionate about bridging communities and fostering mutual understandings on international relations perspectives, Yanni founded and lead the US-China Better Relations Coalition during Covid, building an organization across North America and Asia. We explore how Yanni’s upbringing moving across countries fueled her curiosity for the various cultures and people encountered during her journey. We also learned how her interests in Art History and East Asian Studies at Wellesley and Stanford shaped her worldview.
As we hit a pivotal moment of Yanni’s life, transitioning from academia to the corporate world, we discussed the important lessons learned and future outlooks.
Lastly, we learn about how she manages wellbeing and mental health through out her journey which hopes to provide practical advice for listeners in school or starting their careers.
If you enjoyed this episode: subscribe on Spotify, follow us on TikTok (@powermoveorg), and join our growing base of members at www.powermove.org to stay connected with the latest and greatest of Power Move! #academic #managementconsulting #internationalrelations #mentalhealth #women #leadership
Mar 12, 2024
51 min

Shirley and Esther are back -- this time with a introspective episode on their personal lessons in life and work at the quarter life mark.
In this episode, we're getting raw and real about the ah-ha moments navigating our evolving professional careers as twenty-somethings -- from realizing our true priorities, to shedding perfectionism, to taking ownership and finding your voice, to being present and living in the now, and more.
The journey of self growth and discovery is messy but ultimately rewarding -- so join us as we explore the highs, lows, and invaluable lessons learned at the quarter-life mark!
If you enjoyed this episode: subscribe on Spotify, follow us on TikTok (@powermoveorg), and join our growing base of members at www.powermoveorg.com/subscribe to stay connected with the latest and greatest of Power Move Society!
#careers #mentalhealth #women #leadership #personalgrowth #selfdiscovery
Feb 21, 2024
28 min

In this week’s episode, hosts Shirley and Esther delve into the dynamic career of Jessie Xiao — transitioning from private equity at Macquarie to becoming a trailblazer in the crypto space — from her co-founding of BubbleDAO, a venture that aims to increase inclusivity in the world of crypto, to her current role as Chief Business Development Officer of Match Chain.
We explore how Jessie's background in finance and government relations has helped prepare her for her current role in the crypto industry. We also gain a deeper understanding of her transition from working in a large corporate environment to now wearing multiple hats at a dynamic startup with a globally based team. Lastly, we learn about how she manages wellbeing and mental health through out her journey which hopes to provide practical advice for listeners navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.
If you enjoyed this episode: subscribe on Spotify, follow us on TikTok (@powermoveorg), and join our growing base of members at www.powermove.org to stay connected with the latest and greatest of Power Move!
#crypto #tech #entrepreneur #mentalhealth #women #leadership
Jan 24, 2024
56 min
![Igniting the World of Design, with Yuhan Liao, Founder of Mono Space [Mandarin Episode]](https://cdn-images.podbay.fm/eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2QzdDNvemZ0bWRtaDNpLmNsb3VkZnJvbnQubmV0L3N0YWdpbmcvcG9kY2FzdF91cGxvYWRlZF9ub2xvZ28vMzg3MDkxNTMvMzg3MDkxNTMtMTY5MzE2OTM1NjY2OC1iMDBlYjIzZjM0NWRlLmpwZyIsImZhbGxiYWNrIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9pczEtc3NsLm16c3RhdGljLmNvbS9pbWFnZS90aHVtYi9Qb2RjYXN0czIyMS92NC9hMC82ZS9jOS9hMDZlYzk1NC1kMDJjLTgzYzItMDIyZS01MDRlNWNlOTZhYmQvbXphXzc1NDk2OTgxNTY5MTIyODc3MDMuanBnLzYwMHg2MDBiYi5qcGcifQ.UsI74W_4dt3ppcr3T-R9f96QQJPZFtJjwawqWuJUNY4.jpg?width=200&height=200)
In this week’s episode, Esther sits down with guest Yuhan Liao (Wendy) and explore her journey to entrepreneurship in the products design space. We delve into the motivations behind Yuhan’s passion for arts and designs, as well as the impact of her parents, who have been active in the creative industry for decades. We also explore mental health practices for stress reduction as a founder in New York City. This will be our first episode in Mandarin, as we are dedicated to broadening diversity and language on this podcast through our collective efforts!
Our guest, Yuhan Liao, was born in Beijing and immigrated to Vancouver at a young age. After transferring to an art-oriented school, Yuhan began concentrating her efforts for the pursuance of arts and design. After studying product design at Parsons School of Design, she pursued a master’s in graphic design at the Pratt Institute, further enhancing her knowledge in the design space. Prior to starting Mono Space, Yuhan worked at an advertisement company, New Media, and founded the company’s creative design department. After graduating Pratt, she decided to embark on the founder’s journey and started her design company serving various types of clients in New York City.
If you enjoyed this episode: subscribe on Spotify, follow us on TikTok (@powermoveorg), and join our growing base of members at www.powermove.org to stay connected with the latest and greatest of Power Move!
#design #entrepreneur #founder #startups #careers #mentalhealth #women #leadership
Jan 7, 2024
54 min
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