The IVY Podcast

#34: How to Reform The Criminal Justice System with Baz Dreisinger

Baz Dreisinger is the Founding Academic Director of John Jay's Prison-to-College Pipeline program. The program offers college courses and reentry planning to incarcerated men at Otisville Correctional Facility, and more broadly works to increase access to higher education for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Professor Dreisinger moonlights as a journalist and critic, writing about Caribbean culture, race-related issues, travel, music, and pop culture, for outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and The Wall Street Journal. She has also produced on-air segments about music and global culture for NPR. Professor Dreisinger has authored two books focused on criminal justice reform; Incarceration Nations: A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World, and Near Black: White-to-Black Passing in American Culture. In this compelling conversation with IVY’s co-founder, Beri Meric, Baz illuminates the history of mass incarceration in the United States, and draws on her experience at the forefront of the movement towards restorative justice to reveal how we can fix a broken prison system and generate new opportunities for reform. Please enjoy our conversation with Baz Dreisinger. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.

#33: How to Create Media in the Digital Age with Former CEO of The Boston Globe, Michael Sheehan

How are the traditional titans of print journalism adapting to the brave new world of online news? At this crucial turning point in the history of media, Mike Sheehan, the former CEO of The Boston Globe & Hill Holiday, is ready to apply the lessons of the past to the challenges of the future. Sheehan joined Boston Globe Media Partners a few months after its acquisition from the New York Times and helped the company navigate through some of the most challenging years in the history of print news. Mike's belief that world-class journalism can attract a sizable, premium audience, is validated by the Globe's digital subscription numbers -- the Globe has the most paid digital readers of any major metro daily in America, and during Mike's tenure, the Globe newsroom and editorial pages were awarded four Pulitzer Prizes. Prior to being named CEO of the Globe, Mike worked for 20 years at Hill Holiday, where he served as Executive Creative Director, President, CEO, and Chairman. In that period, he led the agency's transition from a traditional advertising agency to a digitally focused communications firm. Beyond his professional pursuits, Sheehan also took a lead role in creating One Fund Boston to support victims of the Marathon bombings. The fund has already raised over $81 million, which has directly benefited over 250 survivors. At an IVY Ideas Night in Boston, Mike shared stories and insights from his days leading one of the most prolific news outlets in the nation and predicted what lies ahead for both traditional and digital publishers, and how that might impact media producers in every industry. Please enjoy our conversation with Mike Sheehan. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.

#32: How to Maintain a Work-Life Balance with the former CEO of Clif Bar, Sheryl O’Laughlin

Sheryl O’Loughlin is the former CEO of Clif Bar and has experienced both the highs and the lows of the startup world. Sheryl’s other career highlights include being the co-founder and CEO of Plum Organics, Executive Director at the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and is currently CEO of REBBL super herb beverages. Her latest book, Killing It: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Keeping Your Head Without Losing Your Heart, offers insights into how to grow a company without sacrificing your personal growth. In this illuminating discussion, Sheryl shared insights from her 25-year career as a serial entrepreneur and operational leader, illuminating the tools entrepreneurs need to start their own game-changing enterprises and thrive—both in the office and at home. Please enjoy our conversation, with Sheryl O’Loughlin. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.

#31: How to Produce Films in the 21st Century with Hollywood Producer, Kevin Turen

As an independent producer, and more recently as President of Phantom Four, Kevin Turen has brought to life a number of enthralling films, including Arbitrage, 99 Homes and All Is Lost. He’s now working on several new projects, including Miles, Assassination Nation, and the long-anticipated adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman. Turen discussed the dynamic nature of dealmaking in Hollywood, the primacy of passion in filmmaking, and the under-appreciated power of listening. He also shared insights from his production work with legendary greats such as Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and Robert Redford, revealing the artistic tools needed to make a successful film in a notoriously competitive landscape. Please enjoy our conversation with Kevin Turen. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.

#30: How to Shape the Future with Nicolas Berggruen, Founder of The Berggruen Institute

A longtime investor and operational leader, Nicolas Berggruen was inspired to embark on a mission to transform the philanthropic landscape and the world of think tanks. Founded in 2010, The Berggruen Institute’s mission is to develop foundational ideas and, through them, shape political and social institutions for the 21st Century. In 2015, Mr. Berggruen launched of the Berggruen Philosophy and Culture Center, which is dedicated to encouraging new ideas and fresh thinking across culture and disciplines. Mr. Berggruen is also highly involved in supporting the arts, and spearheads numerous charitable causes. He is the head of the Board of the Berggruen Museum in Berlin, a member of the Los Angeles County Museum, the International Councils of the Tate Gallery in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York At an IVY Entrepreneur Night, Nicolas shared unparalleled insights about starting a premier philanthropic organization in the age of globalization and technology, while revealing the most crucial global problems for rising leaders to tackle and the necessary tools needed to combat the most pressing issues.

#29: A New Approach Towards Higher Education with Adam Braun, Founder of MissionU & Pencils of Promise

Adam Braun is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and philanthropist. Adam’s latest project, MissionU, looks to redefine the higher education industry with a one-year program that gives young professionals the skills and experience they need to kickstart their careers. He is also the founder of Pencils of Promise, a non-profit organization that builds schools and increases access to education for children in the developing world. His book, The Promise of a Pencil: How an Ordinary Person Can Create Extraordinary Change debuted at #2 on the New York Times Bestseller list in 2014. In this discussion with IVY’s co-founder Beri Meric, hear about Adam’s experience in building over 400 schools across the globe, and how it helped inspire his mission to fix our education system back home. Please enjoy our conversation with Adam Braun. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions. Live from Blender Workspace!

#28: How to Lead an Extraordinary Life with featuring the former President of Gatorade and Equinox, Sarah Robb O’Hagan

Sarah Robb O’Hagan is described by the media as everything from “Superwoman undercover” to the “Queen of the Jocks.”  Named among Forbes “Most Powerful Women in Sports” and as one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business”, Sarah is an internationally recognized re-inventor of brands. Sarah’s career includes leadership roles at some of the world’s most iconic brands – including Virgin, Nike, Gatorade, and Equinox, whereas President she led the transformation of the brick-and-mortar health club to an “always on” fitness lifestyle partner. Prior to Equinox Sarah served as Global President of Gatorade where she was widely known for transforming the business from a declining sports drink into a sports performance innovation company serving nutrition solutions to athletes of all levels.  Sarah’s latest book, Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat, addresses how she’s had the courage to step up and lead, and how she’s coped with the many challenges of managing an international company. In this compelling discussion, Sarah shared life-changing advice on how to work up the corporate ladder, achieve great success in business and life, and how to lead an extraordinary life.   Please enjoy our conversation with Sarah Robb O'Hagan. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.  

#27: How to Build a Mission-Driven Business featuring Christopher Gavigan, Co-founder of The Honest Company

Christopher Gavigan joined forces with Jessica Alba to start The Honest Company, which provides effective, safe, eco-friendly, and affordable household products. Before founding The Honest Company with his business partner Jessica Alba, Christopher spent decades working to improve the health of children around the world. He worked as the CEO of Healthy Child Healthy World, a nonprofit dedicated to empowering parents and protecting children from toxic risks.    Christopher is the also the author of the best-selling book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home and frequently blogged for The Huffington Post.   During an exciting discussion in LA, Christopher shared his story and his insights on how to build a powerhouse brand with a meaningful mission.    Please enjoy our conversation with Christopher Gavigan. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institutions.  

#25: CHANEL’s former CEO Maureen Chiquet: How to Be An Exceptional Leader, Entrepreneur & Executive

Maureen Chiquet is the former CEO of Chanel. Portfolio magazine credited Chiquet with transforming Chanel into “the single most valuable fashion brand,” which grew to a reported value of $6.2 billion under her leadership. During an IVY Ideas Night in New York City, Ms. Chiquet shared insights from her journey to success in the entrepreneurial and fashion worlds, revealing how to harness hard work and passion to create a career you love, accomplish your goals, and grow a company at the level of Chanel. She also discussed her new book, Beyond The Label: Women, Leadership, and Success on Our Own Terms. Please enjoy our conversation with Maureen Chiquet. And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institution   -- This episode of the IVY Podcast is brought to you by Verst.  What if WordPress, Google Analytics, and Medium had a baby? That baby would be Verst — the first and only website platform built for the unique needs of professional publishers. Hailed by TechCrunch as the “blogging platform with all the optimization tools you need,” Verst makes it easy for you to design, manage, and optimize your website - no plugins, coding, or professional help needed. You can even harness the power of machine learning to help you get more signups, purchases, or whatever your business relies on. Anyone can try Verst free for 30 days, and IVY Podcast listeners get an extra 20% off their first 2 months with code IVY. Additionally, the first 10 IVY listeners to sign up for a paid membership will also get a personal design consultation with Verst.

#24: The Real Life MBA, featuring Jack Welch, Legendary Former CEO of General Electric & Suzy Welch, Former Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Business Re...

Jack & Suzy Welch are two of the leading strategic minds in business today. Jack Welch is the legendary former CEO of General Electric. Under his leadership, GE’s market value increased from $12 billion in 1981 to $280 billion in 2001. Suzy Welch is well-known for being the editor of Harvard Business Review. Her book 10-10-10: A Life Transforming Idea is a New York Times Bestseller. This power couple co-authored two international New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling business books, titled, respectively, Winning and The Real Life MBA. At an IVY Ideas Night in New York City, they sat down with members to share  famous insights on management, growing a business, and dominating the competition. During their talk, Jack and Suzy went above and beyond to emphasize the importance of collaboration. They believe that a team has to work together—and positively—in order to achieve truly great success. Please enjoy our conversation with Jack & Suzy Welch.  And remember to visit IVY.com to enjoy access to a lifetime of learning, growth, and impact through in-person collaborations with world-class leaders, thinkers, and institution   -- This episode of the IVY Podcast is brought to you by Verst.  What if WordPress, Google Analytics, and Medium had a baby? That baby would be Verst — the first and only website platform built for the unique needs of professional publishers. Hailed by TechCrunch as the “blogging platform with all the optimization tools you need,” Verst makes it easy for you to design, manage, and optimize your website - no plugins, coding, or professional help needed. You can even harness the power of machine learning to help you get more signups, purchases, or whatever your business relies on. Anyone can try Verst free for 30 days, and IVY Podcast listeners get an extra 20% off their first 2 months with code IVY. Additionally, the first 10 IVY listeners to sign up for a paid membership will also get a personal design consultation with Verst.