Electric Ladies Podcast

"Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast This Earth Day, we want to share inspiring career advice for women in mid-career who want to make a difference, which I ask every guest for on Electric Ladies Podcast. No matter what's going on in the economy, you have agency. You can control what you think about, focus on and your emotions. Listen to these amazing women from five different industries who were interviewed on Electric Ladies Podcast recently. Let them inspire you and tell us what resonates with you. Post it to us @joanmichelson on social media. You'll hear from: · Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, professor at Texas Tech University and one of the world's foremost climate scientists. · Dominique Browning, Founder/CEO of Mom's Clean Air Force, on how to pressure elected officials on climate and clean energy issues. · Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, on the new nuclear energy industry and innovations bringing clean, reliable power to many · Maura Hodge, head of U.S. Sustainability Practice at global consulting firm KPMG, on why companies believe sustainability creates long-term value. · Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman, of Boston Medical Center, on how healthcare systems can protect the planet while providing top medical care to people. Subscribe to our newsletter - and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Electric Ladies Podcast

"You see corporate procurement of clean energy, predominantly renewable energy, but there's fleet investments, there are efficiency improvements in buildings and on campuses underway….but it was a little different than what we'd seen in recent years. It wasn't just solar and wind. There was an interest in 24/7 reliable clean energy in particular by the tech industries, which won't surprise you, but things like nuclear, geothermal, other integrated technologies like solar and storage…So that's kind of an interesting set of dynamics because it's really diversifying the players in the corporate for procurement space" Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast With the war Trump started in Iran causing gas prices to soar, we wanted to understand where the energy sector really is today, despite economic and geopolitical pressures. Luckily, the new 2026 Energy Factbook just came out with the answers. Listen to Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) talk about the findings in the new energy report they did with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) again in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: How AI is affecting energy markets and sources -- beyond just data centers.How the energy supply chain is at risk, not just the energy sources themselves.How reliable the grid is today and what's being done to strengthen it, including increasing transmission, efficiency, and resiliency in the face of $800 billion in climate events last year.Why she said AI is "inertia breaking" in a good way, forcing breakthroughs that are long overdue. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Reach out, reach out, reach out…We're an expanding sector and so much new innovation, new technology, new focus on us…it's a good time to be in the energy sector …So I think a lot of it's still relationships and putting yourself out there. I think that is key. And certainly I would say to anybody who's listening, don't hesitate to reach out to me.… (and) Be generous with your time." Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: Nuclear Energy is Growing Fast - with Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute The Politics of Progress on Climate and Energy - with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and Air Force veteran Energy Efficiency Saves Money - with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy Critical Minerals 101 - with Abby Wulf, Critical Minerals expert and former head of Critical Minerals in the U.S. Dept. of Energy Why Geothermal is the Next Big Thing - with Marit Brommer, Ph.D., head of the International Geothermal Association Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"If there are people who are willing to talk to you about it, the first thing you got to do is listen….I grew up in a very rural area and it's very conservative also. And when I go home, I don't talk about climate change. I do talk about what's going on with hunting season. 'Oh, there's no deer this year. Why do you think that is? Tell me about the rain'….It is again about that pivoting and you have to understand what's important to the people you're talking to… I might say, 'I just upgraded my mom's generator. It's great because with all the outages we're having out here, now she can get electricity and I know your husband's been sick, that could be something that could be really beneficial for you.' I do not mention climate change…I am putting out ideas that are going to save somebody's life, I'm responding to the situation of the people that I'm speaking with." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast How do we keep people safe and sound in the face of ferocious weather, wildfires and floods, especially when they wince at the words "climate change"? Make it real for their world. How? Listen to Allison Agsten, Director of the Center for Climate Journalism and Communications at the University of Southern California in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also curates art at the intersection of art and climate at the Wrigley Marine Science Center. You'll hear about: How to keep people safe with adaptation strategies without talking about climate change.How art and climate intersect and how it helps people stay safe.How to combat disinformation and misinformation…and so much morePlus, career advice, such as: "When I talk to women who are at some point in their careers and they're thinking of joining our sustainability communicator cohort, they always say to me, I just don't know if my skills are translatable. Yeah, they are. I can help you think about the language…It's scary because I've done it myself. I've made a number of career pivots, but to me, even scarier is not taking that chance and having the opportunity to feel really good about the work you do every day….I sleep well at night because I know that I used the skills that I have to do the thing that I think is most important." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter here -- and Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: How to Talk About Climate in a Polarized Culture - with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy Seek First to Understand - with Jennifer Hough, Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author How Do We Talk About Climate? - with Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, nonprofit producing environmental documentaries and media What's a Tech Humanist? - with Kate O'Neill, Speaker, Tech Humanist, Author The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"What I knew about Carbon Credits having watched them for many years is that they're not always what they seem...So, Calyx Global was founded in 2021 to help companies navigate the space, to really understand….(i)t's a promise that somebody has reduced methane in that landfill or planted some trees thousands of miles away. So that's what Calyx Global is, we're a Carbon Credit Ratings Agency. But really what we're doing is, for every one of these assets, helping buyers understand what's underneath that, what the quality of that asset is. Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast You've probably heard the words "carbon credits" banted about. But what are they exactly and how do they work? Listen to Donna Lee, CEO & Cofounder of Calyx Global (and former climate policy negotiator at the UN and U.S. State Dept.) in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● What carbon credits are, how they're measured and verified, because they are not all equal. ● Where policies and regulations provide stability (or uncertainty) ● Why companies buy and trade carbon credits – the business case. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "One is, follow your passion always. If you are passionate about making a difference, find a job where you make a difference. Don't settle for less and you will succeed more if you feel really strongly and you love what you're doing…The other thing, just being sort of a woman in late career and only maybe in some ways only finding my footing now as a co-founder is, don't underestimate your abilities….What's more important, competence or confidence? It is both in equal measure. Women always underestimate their abilities, right? Men always overestimate and women always underestimate. And so women double down on confidence…You can be authentic and confident and don't undersell yourself… Lean in on the things that come naturally to you." Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here and read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Carbon Accounting 101: with Alyssa Zucker, Senior Industry Principal in Carbon at Workiva – aka The Carbon Lady · Carbon Credits 101: with Lucy Hargreaves at Patch (now at Build Canada) · How to Get To Carbon Zero, with Melissa Lott, Ph.D. at Columbia University Center for Global Energy Policy featured in the "Chasing Carbon Zero" documentary. · A Biography of Carbon: with documentary filmmaker, writer and producer, Danielle Ortega of the Australian Film Commission on her extraordinary film "Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography · Using Captured Carbon To Make Energy: with Bjork Kristjansdottir, of Carbon Recycling International Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Number one reason that people get denied and they didn't read the eligibility criteria. So yeah, very, very important …If you don't have the qualifications or something for something, you partner with somebody who does and you guys go after it together.… If you don't know something, that gives you a reason to call the vendor and start that conversation and get that personal relationship with them.…Relationships, relationships, relationships. It really is the key to grants. It's really not about what you write, it's about who you're speaking to ahead of time." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Nonprofits and mission focused small businesses are facing historic funding threats at the moment due mostly to massive cuts in federal funding under the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress and related political pressures. The good news is that this crisis is also an opportunity for these nonprofits and mission-focused businesses to think differently about how they fund their operations and their goals. How? Listen to Megan Pater, CEO/Founder of Fund Nation and ECE Solutions on how to find and secure grants in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also happens to be a member of the Native American Osage Nation. You'll hear about: ● How you don't have to be a nonprofit -- even if the grant criteria requires one. ● How relationships, partnerships and creative strategic thinking are key. ● The magic of Megan's database to help small businesses and nonprofits secure grants ● Plus, career advice, such as: "Relationships. If you are seeking to move even laterally in your career, just making some type of change, you need to know what you're getting into, speak to somebody who's been there, reach out for help.… There's so many programs that are government-funded or city- or county-funded that you can enter into and they will raise you up…There's no reason for you not to feel supported.…But there's so many resources out there that are free and available that we already pay for with our taxes, and if you're not utilizing them, you are hurting yourself….We've already paid for them when we pay our taxes and people don't utilize them enough." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Creative Leverage for Good -- Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet · You Can Make A Difference Where You Are -- Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative · Scaling Women Climate Entrepreneurs -- Zainab Salbi, Daughters for Earth · Connecting With Curiosity -- with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor · Corporate Philanthropy At America's Largest Bottler – with Ann Canela, Head of Corporate Giving at Niagara Water and Niagara Cares, It's Philanthropic Arm · New Venture Capital Models For Women and CleanTech – with Cecile Blilious, Veteran Venture Capital investor and Co-Founder, Venture ESG Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Healthcare Without Harm is more of an advocacy organization that works with clinicians and other healthcare workers to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and pollution as well as climate impacts. And then Practice Greenhealth advises hospitals on how to get there and they do this awards process…(which is) about having people aware of all these different metrics that impact your operational sustainability…(and) raise awareness among the people who are running the hospital and leadership about how they're using water, food waste, where they're buying their food from, their waste hauling costs and the type of waste they're throwing away, their…carbon emissions…and guides." Dr. Anna Goldman on Electric Ladies Podcast "The climate crisis poses a critical threat to health systems and populations globally with projections of 14.5 million preventable deaths and 1.1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050," the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine said. How can hospitals care for patients and staff 24/7 every day while also reducing its own carbon footprint and stay safe in extreme weather events? Listen to Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman of Boston Medical Center in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● Their creative initiatives and systems to reduce food waste, feed patients and staff better, and reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste. ● How state policies directly affect hospitals and communities and can support systems change, even regardless of federal policies. ● What Practice Greenhealth is and how it's helping BMC and other medical centers manage their unique challenges and reduce their environmental impact and costs. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "You can do it all, but you don't have to do it all at once.…Enjoy each chapter. There are parts where I've absolutely receded based on what matters most. Recently when my father was ill and dying, I needed to step away from some of my career pulls to say, this is what matters to me….Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's Electric Ladies Podcast newsletter here to receive podcasts, career advice, events and articles in your inbox weekly. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · How Hospitals Can Juggle 24/7 Care & Climate Impacts - with Carol Gomes, CEO/COO of Stony Brook University Hospital · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir · Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova) Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"I've been in this industry for 40 years and we have never been at a moment like we are today. …About 10 years ago, a little bit more than that, the narrative at that time was we were closing down plants…. Now the narrative today is, Hey, you know what? Some of those plants you shut down, we've changed our mind. How hard would it be to restart that?... All of these hyperscalers (Google, Amazon, e.g.) are figuring out partnerships and marriages, if you will, with nuclear and trying to help nuclear be brought to the marketplace….I mean, the demand is off the charts, and that's really the biggest game changer." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast We need massive amounts of clean energy to power our electricity-hungry economy while also reducing global warming to keep the ravages of climate events at bay. Solar and wind are great but intermittent. Between new innovations and super-high energy demands, nuclear power is back in vogue. But what are the dangers? Listen to Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute and a 40-year veteran of the industry in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She even operated nuclear reactors. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: How nuclear plants actually work, and why she calls them "essentially a power plant."Why she says nuclear plants are so much safer today than ever before.Why nuclear power is having a renaissance, with demand "off the charts" and 40-60-year lifecycles. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Honestly, I would say get into nuclear power. Nuclear power is …at a threshold for incredible growth. And the value of that is it really doesn't matter what your background is. You could be an accountant, you could be an HR person, you could be an engineer, you could be a chemist. We need people with four year degrees, no degrees… We're not just building that here, we're building it around the world. Some people might want to do some more travel as part of their job. There's going to be room for that…. There's all kinds of opportunities. You've got startup companies and you have established companies that have been in business for 50 years." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Jana Gerber, President, Microgrids, Schneider Electric Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"We, the people we can definitely keep the pressure on, not only on our lawmakers, our governors, our mayors, our senators, our Congress people. We have to keep reminding them that we care about these issues…There's a real key also to the future reimagining, asking companies to reimagine themselves as energy companies, not oil companies or gas companies, but energy companies. So all of these pressure points are incredibly important. We all have favorite stores, favorite brands that we shop on. If you love Walmart writing to the customer services and to the president of Walmart saying, 'Hey, get those solar panels on all of our Walmart stores. We want to do our part. They care. They care about consumer response. It's important to say that you care. You want them to care." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women's History Month 2026, it's critical that all our elected officials at all levels know that we care about climate change, clean air, clean water and protecting the environment. That pressure is what makes them pass legislation that addresses these issues. How? Listen to Dominique Browning, Founder and head of Mom's Clean Air Force, who is also a Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How to pressure your Mayor, Senators, Congresspeople, state legislators, governors, the head of the EPA, the president, and even your School Board members to pass legislation to address the climate crisis and protect our clean air, clean water and environment. ● How states and cities are leveraging Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure Act funding and incentives, still, for a range of clean energy and climate solutions, such as electric school buses and solar panels. ● How important it is to show gratitude when elected officials do the right thing. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "Just say yes, say yes to everybody who wanted you to do a project or consult on something or talk about something, meet, brainstorm, et cetera. And slowly but surely, I started building up a network of people who were interested in the same things I was interested in…Another piece of advice I got …(was) 'you got to go with the love.'…Over time, I began to see that what she was talking about was think about what you love, what you're passionate about, and what you can do… And that's very motivating, especially when things are difficult." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's weekly newsletter here to stay abreast of episodes, trends, career advice, and events where Joan is speaking. You'll also like: · How to Talk About Climate In A Polarized Culture -- with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Chief Science Officer at The Nature Conservancy & Professor, Texas Tech University · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · How to Rebuild Cities After Disaster – with Majora Carter, Urban Development Expert · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities – Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · Unique Practical Climate Solutions For Cities – Joan's panel at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blogs, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"I believe in the power of people wishing to volunteer for initiatives rather than assignment of duties and responsibilities and having people feel as though it's a chore… (They) serve as champions in their areas to educate their fellow peers on what it means to be sustainable, what they can do that's in their power to contribute to the outcomes….And then as we started to become more mature…we formed structured committees, we leveraged those champions on the units to participate. We made it enjoyable in terms of participating. We actually have contests… (I)t just breeds excitement about sustainability and I think it just allows for a culture where people become engaged and part of the process." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Healthcare is a huge 18% of the economy and uniquely has to be caring well for patients and staff 24/7 every day while also vulnerable to extreme weather events itself. How do they do that, how do they cover those costs, and what can we all learn from them? Listen to Carol Gomes (pronounced like "homes"), CEO and COO of Stony Brook University Hospital in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● Their initiatives and systems to reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, waste and manage the significant hazardous waste a hospital generates. How "quality" is a mantra. ● How they have engaged their people, building a unique culture, to embrace sustainability. ● What Practice Green Health is and what other industries can learn from their data, analyses and sharing of best practices. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "I would say use your voice sooner than later. And if you see something, say something. If you wish to express yourself and you have an opinion and you're sitting at a table, express it and don't be shy… I think also leveraging networking opportunities is really important and volunteering for a committee or stretching yourself a little more than you normally would, and exploring areas where you may feel you're not as strong and don't be fearful of that… building relationships is not text messaging. It's not leaving voice messages. It's talking face-to-face, getting to know people, what's important to them." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir · Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova) Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

How Utilities Are Changing While Keeping The Lights On – Nicole Pearson & Brad Johnson of Bentley Systems "The really great thing about electric utilities is that they maintain a singular focus almost regardless of what's going on around them. It's safety, reliability, resilience. So they'll adapt and flex…They're not going to take a risk that sacrifices safety, that sacrifices your light coming on….The difference now that I've noticed is their willingness to move forward with technology and change decades, long processes and workflows and legacy built systems……. because they see how they can still maintain and maintain more efficiently, safety, reliability, resiliency." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast Utilities are being transformed even as they keep the lights on. They have to become more resilient to the effects of climate changes and be responsive to new energy sources and technologies and even invent new business models while also regulated – all without dropping a moment of power. How? Listen to Nicole Pearson, Director of Marketing for Energy and Brad Johnson, Industry head of Energy Systems at Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference. You'll hear about: ● How utilities have evolved and are evolving without risking service, safety, reliability and under the regulatory microscope. ● How Bentley Systems' software is reducing risk and increasing resilience of utilities. ● How utilities are leveraging A.I. while monitoring for cyberattacks and hallucinations to keep systems, workers and consumers safe. ● Utilities have to plan decades ahead, even 30+ years ahead, yet technologies evolve so fast. How can they plan that far ahead? ● Plus, career advice, such as: "The first one is own it. Own it. What is it? Your career. And when I say own it, I'm constantly, even today having meetings with people that I don't know, requesting mentorship, reaching out through LinkedIn, going to events. I try to stay very connected and not just people in my close industry or even work type …Every single person you meet is a connection and could have an impact on your life and vice versa….When you meet somebody, keep the conversation going. …So one day if they need something or you need something, you have a connection….My second piece of advice is… you should always have a list of things that you want to accomplish, that you want to put on your résumé. And regardless of what's going on around you in your job, focus on those things." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · 88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Using Software, AI To Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems "For example, if we have a concrete pile, we can change the parameters and use AI to suggest actually a more optimal design with regards to how much concrete is going to be used. So we quite often, as engineers, we are risk averse. So sometimes you can over design to make sure consequences in construction and infrastructure are real. We do need to be precise, but we can use AI to ensure that we have a reduced amount of carbon and concrete in that pile, but still meeting the outcomes that we set out to achieve." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast Infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as buildings today need to be built with strong climate resilience, as well as reduced carbon footprint. Innovative software systems are leveraging AI to increase performance. How? Listen to Lydia Walpole, Senior Director of Global Performance and Chris Bradshaw, Chief Sustainability Officer both of Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference. You'll hear about: ● How Bentley Systems' digital twin technology is reducing risk, waste and CO2 and improving performance. ● How sustainability and climate resilience shift the approach to infrastructure builds from "reactive to predictive," as Chris said, as extreme weather increases. ● How their technologies are transforming infrastructure builds across the globe. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "I often hear about imposter syndrome, and I know it's easy to say, but I've worked in a male dominated environment my whole career, and I've never felt like I shouldn't be here. And it is easy to say, don't feel that, but you deserve to be where you are. You've worked hard and recognize that. …Secondly, be curious and remain curious, and make sure you are continuing to learn and educate yourself every day….Keep abreast of new technologies." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast And Chris Bradshaw added: "My biggest piece of advice would be to be bold. Don't be shy. Diverse groups make better decisions, always…. You are bringing a different point of view." Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 · 88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"There is value in being able to articulate the qualitative value of sustainability…And yes, obviously revenues can be attached to that, but obviously just the opportunity to open up new markets more broadly and innovate…There's the risk and compliance component, which tend to be more easy to actually quantify. And then there's the brand reputation…So you can make the case qualitatively in any of those three areas…There's this movement from morality to materiality now that CFOs are involved…We actually take that all the way to the financial statements, to the balance sheet, to the profit and loss statement, and identify those specific line items where there could be savings or synergies or increases." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Companies have to focus on long-term value and returns, and a recent report by KPMG found that 88% of them say sustainability creates both. They also see it as a competitive advantage. Why? Listen to Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer of global management consulting and accounting firm KPMG in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ● How companies see sustainability as a competitive advantage. ● How sustainability and ESG initiatives drive return on investment and long-term value. ● Why CFO's are on board with ESG, as both a risk mitigation and revenue driver. ● What companies can do to make progress themselves. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "My experience has been looking for those opportunities of new area growth, innovation. Of course, there's risk. There's going to be risk when you move into those areas…I actually pivoted and started working with venture capital backed life sciences companies…then I got to come back to sustainability after that. …I think keeping your eyes open, keeping your ears open, developing your network, and being willing to make those changes and taking those pivots in your career will pay off….(And) the way that you get ahead is actually sometimes by taking two steps back. And so, it's more of a step up, plateau, then maybe take a step down and then start moving up again. And that's how you kind of break into the next level." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article on Maura's panel at the Workiva conference here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap – Joan's panel at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025 with four top business leaders. · Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director, NYU Stern School of Sustainable Business. · Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · 6 Ways Sustainability Can Help Businesses Navigate Tough Times and Drive Growth – From Workiva, KPMG and NYU Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"What is a microgrid?...There's a lot of challenges that folks are dealing with around the grid infrastructure, with weather related challenges and load growth and other elements. And so what a microgrid does is help those customers become not only consumers of energy, but also producers of energy. So we like to call that a prosumer….So a microgrid helps to create that bridge between the building and the big grid…So if the grid's no longer there (e.g., an outage), they can act independently of the grid. It also helps with deploying more renewables on their sites, as well as really energy costs." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Our hearts go out to the many people who are out of power in the current massive winter storm. We wish they had access to a microgrid to give them power when the grid is down, like during this ferocious storm. How does a microgrid work? Can you get one for your home? Listen to Jana Gerber, President of Microgrids at Schneider Electric in this helpful and engaging conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson, live at the Schneider Electric U.S. Innovation Summit a couple of months ago. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: What a microgrid is, how it works and how to use it.How microgrids can serve communities in disaster situations – and are doing so in real time.How facilities as different as military bases to airports to EV charging are using microgrids to keep the power on.How microgrids are powered by renewables and batteries…and so much more Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "I think having purpose in what we do really drives that passion. And so continue to find what your North star is and where your passion aligns with that and keep going at it. So I think that's the important thing….I've had multiple different roles across different elements of the (SE) business and really getting to understand the perspectives and everybody wants to provide value and what they're doing. And so helping to find ways that you can pull folks in to help them bring their value to your customers or through other means is really critical." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"We have to begin our conversations with what really matters to the person or people we're speaking with. And if we don't know what that is, we have to get to know them and build a relationship and then start the conversation where they're at…The second common misconception I see is that we have to load up our wheelbarrow with the biggest load of scary facts we can possibly find and just dump it on people because not enough people are worried about this.…But if we haven't connected the head to the heart, my life, the places I love, the people I love, the things I love my home, the price of my groceries, the price of my insurance, the quality of the air I'm breathing, or my child's breathing, if we haven't made the head to heart connection, people still see this issue as being distant and remote from them." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast Signs of climate change are all around us, from ferocious and more frequent hurricanes, and in unexpected places, to massive wildfires and floods, as well as cracking roads and bridges. But many still don't believe it or don't want to take steps to avoid it or become more resilient. So, how can we reach them, especially in the very polarized culture we have today? Listen to Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. acclaimed climate scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. Katharine is also the author of several books, including "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World." You'll hear about: ● How to talk about climate issues even without even talking about climate. ● What we can learn from the faith-based community about talking about the climate crisis. ● What is happening to the vitally important climate science data that was defunded and taken offline by the Trump administration…and so much more ● Plus, career advice, such as: "(W)hat am I uniquely good at? So there's certain things that I'm a lot better at than other people. So that's the filter that we should apply. But then my favorite's the last filter, which is what genuinely gives me joy, what charges my battery rather than depleting it. Now, of course, don't get me wrong, we all have to do things that deplete our battery every day. But if our work does not give us joy or if it gave us joy at some time in the past but is no longer doing so now, that's a sign to us to think differently about what we're doing….(And invest) in making our own lives sustainable is so important. It's something I feel like we often neglect and it falls by the wayside in our focus on everything else that needs to be sustainable. But really I think it starts with US." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Unique Urban Climate Actions – Joan's panel at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona with three top urban leaders from around the world. · How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory · Critical Minerals 101 – with Abby Wulf, Former Head of Critical Minerals at the Dept. Of Energy, & Center for Critical Minerals Strategy · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · Climate Is A Security Emergency – Svitlana Krakovska, top Climate Scientist from Ukraine and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter International and the Center for Sustainable Development with Joan Michelson at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Critical minerals and materials…are essential for key economic and national security technologies that help to fuel great sectors in the United States and around the world…We're at a very interesting point in the United States for critical minerals and materials because the US Geological Survey… just released their draft version of their newly updated critical minerals list…(But) they're very difficult to come by. And for a lot of these materials, they are mined as byproducts and co-products. They're used in incredibly low volumes, and so it's very difficult for companies to sort of make money on producing them, which in the United States, of course, to get anybody to do anything they need to be able to make a profit…China has been able to dominate this space and establish a stranglehold over many of these types of supply chains for these different commodities." Abby Wulf on Electric Ladies Podcast Critical minerals are foundational to all our technologies, from computers to automobiles, weaponry and national security, among others, but they are also scarce and difficult to procure, especially in the volumes needed. So, what are they and what can we do? Listen to Abby Wulf, a top critical minerals expert who recently left the Department of Energy as head of Critical Minerals in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. Abby previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Critical Minerals at the nonprofit SAFE. You'll hear about: ● What critical minerals are, what makes them "critical," and where they come from. ● How critical mineral supplies, and therefore the technologies that we rely on every day, are procured and affected by geopolitical dynamics, including Ukraine and China. ● U.S. sources of these minerals and the financial incentives that were in the Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Act that helped grow the sector….and so much more. ● Plus, career advice, such as: "I think that there doesn't necessarily have to be a trade-off between making money and making a difference….I've just been trying to say yes, to every opportunity that has come my way. …There are going to be different fits and starts and seasons to your career. But the one thing that's sort of driven me more than salary even I would say, are really just experiences… There are so many different things to learn…so I've let my curiosity sort of drive where my next career move has gone…. There's no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone." Abby Wulf on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · What We Can Learn From Canada's Energy Policies – with Claire Seaborn, energy attorney and former Chief of Staff to the Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources · Reducing The IT Sector's Carbon Footprint – with Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer of HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprises) · Making Computers Sustainably – with Page Motes, Chief Sustainability Officer at Dell Technologies · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · How GM Is Going All Electric – with Chief Sustainability Officer, Kristen Siemen Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"People care about the diversity because diversity makes teams stronger. And, and this is research based. And so they can say what they want, but those who know that there is strength in diversity, they'll continue on in spite of the, you know, the outcry on the other end….There's research that shows that when the lives of billions of women are improved, here's what happens. Number one, there's better female leadership. Number two, there's stronger education and more equality with women and girls. There's healthier national economies. There's research. …There's stronger families and my friends, there's greater peace." Paula Noble Fellingham on Electric Ladies Podcast To start off the year, we're talking with an expert who has been mobilizing people all over the globe for decades, especially women. Women can make a huge impact right now, if we leverage our strengths and influence. How? Listen to Paula Noble Fellingham talk about her suggestions in this engaging discussion with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: How women can leverage their influence much more effectively, building campaigns.How to make the case for diversity, and specifically for elevating women to leadership roles.How more women leaders advance the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Kick up your ask, because so many women need to be more confident and they need to ask for the promotion. However, they need to be qualified for the promotion…. (S)ay, 'this is what I've done in the last year. This is the how I've helped the ROI of this company. This is what I can do in the future,' and have it written and say it in a way, and this is so important. Say it in a way that doesn't create an adversarial relationship, but invites them. So here's a beautiful way to say it. I invite you to consider the possibility of this because I am qualified…I am qualified because of the things I've done, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and the things I know I can do, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to help this company move forward." Paula Fellingham on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: · Career Advice for Women During Difficult Times: Here is valuable career advice from five extraordinary women at this tumultuous time. It's a good way to start the year too. · Women's Trillions Will Change Everything: Listen to Silvia Bastante de Unverhau of LGT Private Bank on how women gaining over 50% of global wealth through "the great wealth transfer" going on will have a profound effect on all economies. · Are You A 'Tech Humanist'?: Listen to Kate O'Neill, author of "Tech Humanist," speaker and corporate strategist on what that means, and how to maximize the intersection of technology and humanity. · Technology And Design Improving Urban Environments: Listen to Nikki Greenberg, architect and expert in urban design talk about improving where and how we live in cities with design as well as technology. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"1% for the planet…the way it works is that we have businesses who are our members, and they're actually supporting environmental partners at the level of 1% of revenues….You invest in the things that matter and the planet matters.…(to) drive impact at scale. And so, in terms of that scale, last year we certified US$100million of support going from these companies to environmental partners….When a company joins, they pay a dues fee to us, but then the rest of their 1%, they will give directly to environmental partners….And then at the end of each year, we certify that giving." ate Williams on Electric Ladies Podcast This time of year we are likely making donations, but this episode is about a creative way to make a bigger difference – and all year long with the normal stuff you buy. You'll hear about businesses, partnering with nonprofits, leveraging each other's strengths and networks to have a much larger impact. We sure need to have a much larger impact right now. So, how do we scale donations and impact? Listen to Kate Williams, CEO of 1% For The Planet on how they help companies of all sizes and shapes leverage and certify their donations strategically in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: How 1% For The Planet works – and why they certify their members' donations.How their Planet Impact Fund works – and the four areas they focus on.Stories of donations that made a big difference, and creative ways they did itTrends they have seen I the corporate donations over the past 10 years. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "A couple things. One is, step forward and step up before you think you might be ready.… Becoming a CEO or C-suite can be one way that you progress, but you can also just become really deeply knowledgeable in a particular area.… Sometimes as women and just as humans, we can maybe hold ourselves back. So, I would say like, step up before you're ready.…(S)upport appears when once I've taken the step….The other thing is stay open to serendipity…We may forget that serendipity is sometimes how the opportunities that we get to step into are shown to us…. So, stay open." Kate Williams on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: · Zainab Salbi, Cofounder of Daughters for Earth, one of the partners in One Earth – and Founder of Women to Women International and its former CEO · Rosemary Atieno, Women Climate Centers International – on how they are helping women in rural Kenya grow their economies and address climate change at the same time. · Justin Winter, Cofounder, One Earth, on "philanthro-activism". · Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative on making a difference from where you are. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"(B)efore we're even thinking about AI, it's actually thinking about how are we using our technology effectively and is it part of our processes? Does it complicate things or does it simplify things? And the advice that I always give them is like, before you start bringing in new technology and new processes and having to train people and doing their job in a different way and adding complication first, look at what you're doing and…pair back the stuff that doesn't need to be there anymore. And then think about technology." Nikki Greenberg on Electric Ladies Podcast Cities are in transformation mode – between affordability and housing challenges, the need to be resilient to climate's impacts, and yet maintain the vibrancy that draws billions of people to cities. How can they do that? What role does technology play – and does AI change everything? Listen to architect and urban designer, Nikki Greenberg, CEO of Real Estate of the Future and an advisor on urban innovation, in this fascinating conversation Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson had with her at the 2025 Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. You'll hear about: ● How cities can be hubs of "soft diplomacy" as city leaders across the globe share best practices, tips and strategies to make their cities better, more affordable and more climate-resilient. ● First things first: The first things she counsels city leaders to do before thinking about technology, including A.I. ● How climate change has affected city building codes: From the type of energy systems to have to where to locate them, to designing flexibility into building structures. ● Plus, insightful career advice: "You can't stop learning and you can't be complacent. And yes, you might have time constraints. Yes, you might have disadvantages. Yes, you may have been in your career and been very good at it for a very long time, but it doesn't mean that you can sit still and stop learning.…The advantage that you have is that you have experience, you have professional networks, you know how to hold down a job….But you have to get behind the new technology and learn how to use it because that's the tools that we're using moving forward." Nikki Greenberg on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Urban Climate Actions at the 2025 Smart City Expo World Congress: Listen to Joan's panel with three extraordinary urban women leaders from across the globe who are using creative strategies to address climate issues. · Using Climate Modelling – with Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., UK National Physical Laboratory, on how climate modelling works and how best to use it most effectively · How Cities Can Thrive Through Polycrises – With Lauren Sorkin, Resilient Cities Network, on the range of crises cities are facing all at once today and how to manage them, at Smart City Expo World Congress 2024. · How to Rebuild After Disaster – With Majora Carter, Urban Revitalization Expert and CEO of the Majora Carter Group · Predicting Climate Impacts In Neighborhoods – with Jessica Filante Farrington, AT&T's Director of Global Sustainability Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"One of the other important things about tech humanism to me is that the three-way relationship between business humans and tech is primarily about the relationship between business objectives and human outcomes and using technological capability to amplify that alignment, as opposed to using technology to amplify only the business objective side of that relationship. So really trying to think about how does a business meet the humans that it serves, and then how can technology be part of making that more effective and more successful so the business can succeed and the humans can have a better experience on the other side of that success." Kate O'Neill on Electric Ladies Podcast Technology has infiltrated every aspect of our lives, yet do we really understand its relationship with humans? Everybody's talking about and wrestling with understanding artificial intelligence – AI – in their business, governments and lives, but not everyone understands the intersection between technology and the human experience. How can we maximize it? Listen to self-described "tech humanist" Kate O'Neill, CEO of KO Insights and an advisor on these issues, including to the United Nations AI Advisory Board, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson at the 2025 Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. You'll hear about: ● Why humans are at the core of everything: "You're never more than a degree away from people downstream of the decisions that you're making." ● Questions matter: What are the questions boards and leaders should be asking instead of just collecting data and making decisions as if humans are not affected? ● How can we leverage AI to address climate change? It's about a range of factors, both impact of the technology itself and how it can be leveraged to help humans. ● Plus, insightful career advice: "It's anybody's guess, on some level, what the next set of jobs that AI implementations will displace are going to be. But what I think we can feel fairly confident about for the time being is that soft skills, the soft skills that we've all been told are those we need to cultivate. Like context intelligence, emotional intelligence, good judgment, communication, those kinds of things are incredibly important no matter what. And the great thing about this for the question that you ask, is that women have been socialized to be stronger in those skills in general. So we already have an advantage when it comes to that." Kate O'Neill on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Urban Climate Actions at the 2025 Smart City Expo World Congress: Listen to Joan's panel with three extraordinary urban women leaders from across the globe who are using creative strategies to address climate issues. · "Technology is Not Neutral": with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., author of "Technology is Not Neutral," Researcher and BBC Broadcaster · Leveraging A.I. For Sustainability: with Mandi McReynolds, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workiva, software infrastructure company · Using Climate Modelling – with Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., UK National Physical Laboratory, on how climate modelling works and how best to use it most effectively · Predicting Climate Impacts In Neighborhoods – with Jessica Filante Farrington, AT&T's Director of Global Sustainability Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

The World Bank reports that, "today, more than half of the world's population – over 4 billion people – lives in cities." It also estimates that this shift is going to continue, in fact to DOUBLE to nearly 70% – or 7 out of every 10 people will live in cities by 2050. That's only 25 years away. At the same time, extreme weather events are increasingly devastating cities – we have all witnesses how Hurricane Melissa decimated Jamaica last week, for example, destroying home and businesses, schools, houses of worship, government buildings, everything. So what can, should and ARE cities doing to keep their people and economies safe and climate resilient? What's working and what can we learn from them? Today we're going to find out from four extraordinary women from across the globe." Joan Michelson's Introduction to the Panel at Smart City Expo 2025 We need to share what works in cities across the globe, and that's exactly what my esteemed panel did recently at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in Barcelona, Spain. Here is the recording of Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson's panel which includes three women from three countries: Japan, Bolivia and Argentina, as well as Joan from the U.S. Listen to hear fascinating ideas and stories from these women: You'll hear from: ● Nidya Pesántez is UN Women for the Americas and the CaribbeanRepresentative in Bolivia, where she also coordinates the Environmental Strategy for a Just Transition in Latin America and the Caribbean. ● Sofía María Galnares Giagnorio Cámara is Provincial Deputy of Santa Fe Deputy, Argentina, and the youngest elected provincial deputy in Santa Fe province. She also serves as President of the Commission on Environment and Natural Resources in the Legislature. ● Asuka Ito is an international advisor to the Government of Japan's Cabinet Office on the Cross-ministerial Strategic Innovation Promotion Program (SIP). She serves on the International Advisory Board for the Phase-3 "Smart Mobility Platform" initiative in Japan. ● Plus, questions from the audience Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: · Predicting Climate Impacts In Neighborhoods – with Jessica Filante Farrington, AT&T's Director of Global Sustainability · The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus · AI and Climate Solutions – with Stephanie Hare, Ph.D., Researcher, Author of "Technology Is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster · Climate Policy & the Economy – with Gina McCarthy, White House National Climate Advisor, Biden Administration, and former EPA Administrator under President Obama Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson