The Impact Agenda

In this episode, we sit down with Jodi Linker, the first woman to lead the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California—one of the most storied defender offices in the country. With nearly two decades of experience and a team of over 70 attorneys, Jodi represents people who can’t afford legal counsel in federal court, taking on cases that span drug offenses, immigration, fraud, firearms, and more. She shares how her office navigates the unique challenges of San Francisco, a city grappling with homelessness, inequality, and shifting political winds. We explore the ethics of defense work, what it means to lead with integrity in a high-pressure system, and the limits—and possibilities—of individual advocacy within a deeply flawed structure. Jodi reflects on moments with clients that have reshaped her understanding of justice, and speaks candidly about the future of federal public defense, structural reform, and what it truly means to give back. Whether you're in the legal field or just curious about the intersection of justice, leadership, and impact, this episode offers a powerful look at what it means to fight for fairness when the odds are stacked.

In this episode, we’re joined by Akshaya Dinesh, a self-taught engineer, Thiel Fellow, and two-time exited founder now exploring AI as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Bain Capital Ventures. After dropping out of Stanford, Akshaya went on to found Nova, a Gen Z professional network, and Spellbound, a no-code platform for interactive email experiences—both of which were successfully acquired. She shares the inflection points that shaped her journey, from coding through 45+ hackathons to teaching over 600 girls through Girls Make Apps. We dive into her current obsession with consumer health, her work on a new companion app for women with PCOS, and what excites her most about the intersection of healthcare and AI. Akshaya also reflects on her experience as a scout and angel investor, how young founders should evaluate fellowships and accelerators, and why being in San Francisco still fuels her creativity. Whether you’re just starting out or already building, this episode offers an energizing look into what it means to create with intention—and keep evolving with curiosity.

In this episode, we’re joined by Steven Kelts, a lecturer at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and the Department of Computer Science, where he leads the university’s groundbreaking “Integrated Ethics” program. With a background that spans academia, nonprofit leadership, and tech industry advising, Steven’s work focuses on preparing the next generation of technologists to anticipate the real-world impact of their innovations—and to lead with responsibility and care. We explore the origins of his popular Tech Ethics course, the development of his Agile Ethics framework, and why grounding all students—not just those in STEM—in ethical thinking is more urgent than ever. Steven shares insights on the most pressing dilemmas in AI and emerging technologies, the policy shifts needed to keep pace with innovation, and why students themselves give him hope. Whether you're a technologist, policymaker, or simply tech-curious, this is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring conversation on how we can shape a more ethical future for technology—and for ourselves.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Millstone, a leading expert in educational technology and founder of Copper Wire Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in women-led tech companies shaping the future of learning and work. With over 20 years of experience building edtech products at BrainPOP, Sesame Workshop, and Common Sense Media—as well as years in the classroom—Jessica shares how her background as both an educator and product strategist uniquely informs her investment lens today. We dive into what it means to support mission-driven founders at the pre-seed stage, how Jessica navigates the balance between impact and financial return, and why edtech remains one of the trickiest markets to break into—especially for parents and schools. She offers insights on emerging trends in digital literacy, online safety, and AI in education, and reflects on the founder stories that have most inspired her since launching Copper Wire. If you're curious about the future of learning, building in edtech, or investing in women-led ventures, this episode is packed with thoughtful takeaways.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jaclyn Seow, Senior Advisor and former Executive Director and Head of ESG at Openspace Ventures, a leading Southeast Asian VC firm with over US$800M in committed capital. Before moving into venture capital, Jaclyn spent over a decade in Singapore’s public sector, shaping national policy across the Ministries of Law, Health, and Foreign Affairs. She shares insights from representing Singapore at the United Nations and reflects on the power—and limitations—of policymaking within a high-efficiency government system. We explore Jaclyn’s pivot to venture capital, where she led Openspace’s industry-recognized ESG practice and portfolio operations team. She discusses what it means to pursue a more responsible form of capitalism in Asia, how to balance profit with purpose, and the cultural and market forces that uniquely shape ESG across the region. With experience spanning public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Jaclyn offers a rare, systems-level view of what it takes to drive sustainable impact—and why collaboration across sectors is key to building an inclusive future.

In this episode, we sit down with Shahd Asaly, a sociologist, writer, and founder of Blue Meets Blue, a humanitarian fashion label employing refugee women and preserving Syrian textile heritage. Shahd’s work sits at the intersection of fashion activism, trauma research, and cultural preservation. A PhD candidate studying collective trauma and displacement, she shares how her academic research and personal experiences—growing up Syrian-American post-9/11—shaped her vision to create a brand rooted in healing, dignity, and storytelling. Shahd opens up about the early days of building Blue Meets Blue through refugee resettlement centers, the deep influence of Syrian identity and Islamic heritage on her work, and how art, design, and employment can become tools for recovery after trauma. We explore her reflections on the recent fall of the Assad regime, her new consultancy Sawt Corp, and what’s next for Blue Meets Blue as it prepares for a 2026 relaunch. From humanitarian fashion to academic research to children’s books, Shahd invites us to imagine a future where we respond to pain not with fear, but with justice, creativity, and care.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Ackerman, a serial entrepreneur turned early-stage investor who’s backed over 70 startups and led innovation efforts across industries. Andrew is currently Strategic Advisor and Head of REACH Labs at Second Century Ventures, and has held roles ranging from Managing Director at Dreamit Ventures—where he launched edtech and urbantech accelerators—to COO of a summer camp platform and Head of Product at Kaplan. He shares how he’s navigated a dynamic career, made smart pivots, and leveraged each opportunity to grow his impact across entrepreneurship, education, and investment. We dive into his work with Dreamit Access and Dreamit Athena supporting underrepresented founders, demystify the angel investing landscape, and explore the practical wisdom behind his newly published book The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey—a startup manual wrapped in a novel. Andrew also reflects on the lessons he’s learned about capital raising, technical and financial skills, and using writing as a tool to drive change in the innovation ecosystem. If you’re curious about building, investing, or simply making bold career moves, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, we’re joined by Fiona Wilson, CEO of Earthwatch Australia, an environmental NGO that brings people and science together to protect and restore nature. Fiona leads a team delivering award-winning programs like ClimateWatch, MangroveWatch, Kids Teaching Kids, and Bush Blitz across Australia and the Pacific. With a background in higher education and philanthropy, she brings a unique lens to climate leadership—building partnerships that unite Indigenous Rangers, scientists, corporate leaders, and young people to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change through research-based, community-led action. Fiona shares stories from the field, including a recent expedition to Burketown with Indigenous Rangers from Australia, Alaska, and New Zealand. We dive into the realities of leading in the NGO space, and how to navigate the balance between purpose and burnout. Whether you’re passionate about climate action, curious about careers in the nonprofit sector, or looking for hope and direction in uncertain times, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

In Season 5, we had conversations that took us from the frontlines of aerospace innovation to the boardrooms of VC firms, healthtech startups, and African entrepreneurship hubs. In today’s recap, we’re revisiting some of our favorite moments. 00:44 Sassie Duggleby, CEO and Co-Founder of Venus Aerospace 04:47 Irene Ochem, CEO and Founder of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum 08:19 Lu Zhang, Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund 11:29 Karen Tay, Founder of Inherent 16:09 Maria Salamanca, General Partner of Ulu Ventures 20:09 Brendan Hellwig and Cherie Chung, Co-founders of Holly 25:10 Christina LaMontagne, CEO and Co-Founder of Clarity Pediatrics 28:26 Paige Hendrix Buckner, CEO of All Raise

In this episode, we’re joined by Sassie Duggleby, the CEO and Co-Founder of Venus Aerospace, a groundbreaking deep-tech startup developing reusable hypersonic aircraft for revolutionary one-hour global transport. With Venus’s innovative technologies like the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE), Sassie is leading the charge in making one-hour global transport a reality. Under her leadership, Venus has raised over $60M in venture capital, and she’s earned a spot on Inc.’s Female Founders 200 list. Sassie shares her journey of founding Venus Aerospace, the unique challenges of the deep-tech space, and how she’s navigating the capital-intensive world of aerospace innovation. We also chat about Sassie’s work in empowering women in aerospace through her network, "Bada$$ Women in Aerospace," and balancing her ambitious career with having a family. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and shaping the future of global transportation. Join us as Sassie shares her bold vision for the future of aerospace, how she’s shattering industry norms by empowering women from the ground up.

In this episode, we're joined by Lu Zhang, a powerhouse in Silicon Valley’s venture capital scene. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Fusion Fund, Lu has dedicated herself to empowering early-stage startups that are overcoming technology barriers. With investments spanning industries like AI, robotics, digital health, and network technologies, Lu’s expertise is reshaping the landscape for the next generation of high-impact companies. Lu shares insights from her entrepreneurial journey, what it takes to stand out as a VC, and her technical investing strategy. We’ll chat with Lu about her background in materials science and serial entrepreneurship, the unique qualities she looks for in startups, and her thoughts on the current state of venture capital. She also opens up about her role in co-leading Orbifold AI’s recent $5M seed round and what made the company’s approach to transforming raw data so compelling. Finally, we chat about what it takes to enter the VC space early in one's career and how to make an impact once you’re there.

In this episode, we sit down with Karen Tay, founder of Inherent, a leadership coaching firm dedicated to helping executives navigate change and adversities in their professional journeys. With an impressive background spanning government, tech, and consulting, Karen has worked with global organizations like Google, Airbnb, and OpenAI. She has also contributed to Singapore’s transformation into a tech hub, and played a pivotal role in scaling a computer vision start-up. Now, through Inherent, Karen helps leaders unlock their potential with research-backed coaching programs, collaborating with Princeton University on workplace-first aid for women facing professional adversity. Karen shares insights from her unique career journey, offering valuable advice on leadership, workplace transformation, and empowering women to succeed at the top. She discusses her approach to coaching, the challenges women face in leadership, and the importance of designing career paths based on women’s life cycles. With a passion for helping women reclaim power in the workplace, Karen explores how women can redefine strength and create high-impact, flexible career opportunities. Join us as we hone in on long-term career advancement for women!

In this episode, we’re joined by Maria Salamanca, General Partner at Ulu Ventures, the largest Latina-led venture fund in the U.S. With an impressive background in both venture capital and public policy, Maria has spent her career supporting underrepresented founders and advocating for systemic change. As the former Partner at Unshackled Ventures, Maria focused on empowering immigrant entrepreneurs, funding teams that often get overlooked in traditional VC. Maria was named Forbes 30 Under 30 in Venture Capital and has been recognized as one of the 2022 NVCA Venture Forward Rising Stars for her impact in the industry. We’ll chat about Maria’s work with SomosVC, an organization she founded to increase Latino representation in venture capital, and her role as an elected board member in Orange County Public Schools. Maria opens up about how she drives impact, the challenges immigrant founders face, and how she sees venture capital as a powerful tool for social advocacy. She also shares her vision for a more inclusive future in the venture capital ecosystem and offers advice for those looking to make an impact across multiple sectors at once.

In this episode, we’re joined by Irene Ochem, the Founder and CEO of Africa Women Innovation and Entrepreneurship Forum (AWIEF), an organization dedicated to advancing women’s economic inclusion through entrepreneurial support. With over 30 years of experience in international development and gender equity, Irene has led AWIEF in supporting over 5,000 businesses across Africa. She’s also behind the AWIEF Conference, Africa’s largest platform for women entrepreneurs. Irene shares her journey from academia and consulting to founding AWIEF, and how empowering women entrepreneurs can create ripple effects that go beyond business, impacting social and political change across Africa. Irene discusses the challenges facing female entrepreneurs in Africa, especially those in the informal sector, and how AWIEF’s programs, like the Growth Accelerator and Academy for Women Entrepreneurs, help break down barriers. She also explores how entrepreneurship can drive sustainable development in Africa, addressing key issues like poverty, education, and gender equality. Finally, Irene offers valuable advice for young women looking to make an impact through entrepreneurship, and gives us a glimpse into the future of AWIEF’s work and its role in shaping Africa’s entrepreneurial landscape.

In this episode, we’re joined by Brendan and Cherie, the dynamic co-founders of Holly, a startup leveraging AI to help local governments recruit the workforce of tomorrow. Holly is tackling public sector hiring at its core, aiming to reduce the $86bn overtime costs and lengthy average hiring time of 135 days. Brendan and Sherry met while doing joint degrees at Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School, and co-founded Holly in 2023, driven by their shared experiences in public service. Brendan’s career started as a data scientist in the Baltimore Mayor’s Office and Sherry began her career in Venture for America before joining Propel, where she played a key role in launching the app serving five million Americans using government benefits. Fast forward to Holly, Sherry and Brendan are focused on streamlining the hiring process for the 24 million public sector positions. Holly has raised $2.2M in pre-seed funding and is already live in Long Beach, California, with more public sector clients on the horizon. Join us for our conversation focused on applying transformative tech to the public sector!

Join us for an insightful conversation with Christina, CEO and Co-Founder of Clarity Pediatrics, a company that’s re-imagining pediatric chronic care. Christina is an accomplished digital health executive with a track record of growing two venture-backed start-ups—Pill Club and NerdWallet—each reaching over $100M in annual recurring revenue and profitability. She’s also an active angel investor and advisor to more than fifteen health technology startups, including Curology and Kit (acquired by Ro). Christina’s extensive background includes leading digital M&A at Johnson & Johnson and earning an MBA from Harvard, a BA from Dartmouth, and a Fulbright Scholarship in China. In this episode, Christina shares her inspiring journey from public health and venture capital to launching Clarity Pediatrics. She discusses the unique challenges in pediatric chronic care, particularly around ADHD, and the mission behind Clarity’s tech-enabled clinical model. We’ll also learn about her experiences in the healthcare and tech industries, what excites her about the future of healthtech, and her advice for early-stage founders eager to make an impact in healthcare.

In this episode, we’re joined by Paige Hendrix Buckner, the CEO of All Raise, a nonprofit organization dedicated to propelling the success of female and non-binary venture capitalists by changing the culture and composition of the venture capital ecosystem. Prior to leading All Raise, Paige served as the COO of Founder Gym, the largest online program training underrepresented founders on how to raise venture capital. Paige has been featured in top publications such as Bloomberg, Forbes, Fortune, and TechCrunch, where she shares her insights on the state of venture capital & diversity in tech. All Raise supports over 22,000 members and represents more than 200 VC firms globally. Paige shares her experiences as Chief of Staff and current CEO and offers advice on how women can break into leadership roles in the founder, operator, and investment roles. We’ll chat about what’s next for All Raise and how women can get involved in shaping the future of VC. Don’t miss this insightful conversation with one of the most influential leaders in the intersection of entrepreneurship, diversity, and venture capital.

As we wrap up another incredible season, we’re reflecting on the powerful conversations that shaped Season 4 of the Impact Agenda Podcast. From groundbreaking innovation to social entrepreneurship and personal resilience, here are the top 8 takeaways from our inspiring guests: 🎙️ 0:17 Jackie Carmel – Managing Director at Endeavor Catalyst, on funding high-impact entrepreneurs globally. 🎙️ 1:30 Wendy Kopp – Founder of Teach For America & Teach For All, on building movements that transform education systems worldwide. 🎙️ 2:50 Angela Sheffield – Director at SAIC, on leveraging technology for mission-critical solutions in national security. 🎙️ 3:55 Ben Hoffman & Robert Ravanshenas – Founder of House Numbers and Investment Partner at Maven Ventures, on scaling early-stage startups for success. 🎙️ 4:48 Yvette Kong – Hong Kong Olympic Swimmer and Performance Psychologist, on mental health and achieving peak performance. 🎙️ 6:00 Ilaria Chan – Chairperson of Tech for Good Institute, on harnessing technology for sustainable impact in Asia. 🎙️ 6:54 Chris Greig – Senior Research Scientist at Princeton’s Andlinger Center, on advancing clean energy and tackling climate change. 🎙️ 7:56 Marcus D. Stroud – Co-Founder of TXV Partners, on investing in the next generation of diverse founders.

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Angela Sheffield, the Director of the DoD Digital and Artificial Intelligence Portfolio at Science Applications International Corporation. In her role, Angela leads the charge in delivering cutting-edge platform, data, and AI services to the DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence office. With a robust background that includes serving as Senior Program Manager for AI at the Department of Energy’s Office of Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation Research and Development, Angela has been at the forefront of advancing AI science to mitigate nuclear threats. Angela shares how her journey into AI and defense began, her views on the evolving landscape of AI within the defense sector, and the crucial role AI plays as a decision technology. We’ll also explore the future of AI innovations in the DoD, the importance of prioritizing defense capabilities, and the ethical considerations that must guide responsible AI use in defense technology.

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Wendy Kopp, CEO and Co-founder of Teach For All, and the visionary behind Teach For America. Wendy's journey began with her senior thesis at Princeton University, which led to the creation of Teach For America, a movement that has transformed education in the U.S. and sparked a global network dedicated to ensuring all children have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. Recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, Wendy's insights on leadership, purpose, and impact are invaluable. In this discussion, Wendy will share how she turned uncertainty into action, the importance of focusing deeply on meaningful work, and her perspective on the evolving role of corporations in delivering true impact. She'll also offer advice for those considering joining Teach For All, highlighting the skills and opportunities it provides, and what makes TFA unique among service-oriented organizations. Whether you're passionate about education, leadership, or making a difference in the world, this conversation with Wendy is truly one that gets you thinking!