AI-Driven Assistive Technology: A Path to Empowerment for People with Disabilities with Tiffani Martin
In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Tiffani Martin, Founder and CEO of VisioTech, a social tech company with a mission of harnessing the power of human ingenuity and AI to create a more inclusive and accessible world. Tiffani shares her remarkable personal story, which includes losing her eyesight at the age of 28 due to diabetic retinopathy. Choosing to focus on what she wanted to achieve instead of the obstacles in her path, Tiffani embraced AI-driven assistive technology, and fearlessly forged a new path forward. Tiffani shares the various assistive technologies that empower her to perform tasks and excel at work. She also discusses some of the services that VisioTech provides, and how it is partnering with other organizations to educate marginalized communities about cybersecurity, data privacy, and accessibility.
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1:12:31
Hope Is Not Silent: Forging the Path to a Trans-Inclusive Workplace with Jess Skaare
In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica is joined by Jess Skaare, who describes her experience transitioning and coming out as trans while working at the New York headquarters of a large corporation. Jess first shares her personal experience grappling with her gender identity, including many years of feeling like a secondary character in her own life. She then discusses various elements of a trans-inclusive workplace culture, including LGBTQ+ representation in senior leadership roles; a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community to connect and share experiences; policies that respect the dignity of trans colleagues and make them feel like they can bring their whole selves to work; and gender diversity education and training. Jess also proposes specific actions that senior leaders, managers, and colleagues can take to help create a trans-inclusive workplace. For a supplemental background track that provides more information about Jess's personal story, please visit the ReImagining the Workplace website at reimaginingtheworkplace.net.
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1:11:01
Sparkle On! The Prospector Theater Turns Passions Into Professions for People with Disabilities with Valerie Jensen
In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Valerie (Val) Jensen, the Founder of the Prospector Theater, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to providing competitive and inclusive employment to people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater. Val sets out the wide array of roles that employees - called prospects - perform at both the Prospector Theater and Val's Gemstone Farm. She also describes how she and her team tap into prospects' strengths and passions - which they call "sparkle" - empowering them to shine. Val also discusses the Prospector Theater's educational initiatives, including their service learning programs, which are custom-designed programs for businesses, schools, and other groups that educate participants about people with disabilities and showcase the vast talent that exists within this population. Jessica also has conversations with four prospects - Ali Wood, Joe Gillotti, Sam Furniss, and Rachel Wise - who describe the impact of meaningful employment on their lives.
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1:09:51
Transformation at the Intersection of Leadership, Well-Being & DEI with Rudhir Krishtel
In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Rudhir Krishtel, founder of Krishtel. Through keynotes, workshops, and coaching, Rudhir and his team ignite transformational change in our workplaces by opening the door to collective dialogues about issues that arise at the intersection of leadership, well-being, and diversity, equity and inclusion. A former practicing attorney who wore stress as a badge of honor, Rudhir shares the wake-up call that changed his perspective, the meaningful conversation that gave him permission to take a pause from his busy life, and how spiritual practices such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness, inform his work. Renowned for his ability to seamlessly navigate difficult conversations, Rudhir shares several stories that illustrate how he creates the safe spaces that are the cornerstone of transformational work.
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1:03:01
Ditch the Script: Harnessing the Power of Art & Improvisation to Spread Joy, Reduce Fear and Deliver Better Results with Gary Hirsch
In this episode of ReImagining the Workplace, Jessica Cherry is joined by Gary Hirsch, Co-founder of On Your Feet, which uses storytelling and improvisation to help companies pursue their business objectives. Gary is also the founder of Botjoy, a global art movement designed to spread joy throughout the world using tiny robots painted on the back of dominos. Whether creating robots through his Botjoy initiative, or delivering innovative training programs through On Your Feet, Gary is passionate about bringing people together and creating experiences that are playful, interactive, and engaging, and that ultimately lead to better results. Gary shares the heartwarming personal story that was the catalyst for his drawing and ultimately his Botjoy initiative, and sets out how he uses the tenets of improv to design and facilitate training programs that teach valuable skills, while igniting joy.
About ReImagining the Workplace with Jessica Cherry
Join Jessica Cherry as she speaks with leaders who are successfully transforming our workplaces so that everyone can live up to their full potential and thrive. From corporate executives, to mental health professionals, to owners of small businesses, there are bold individuals all around us who are challenging the status quo and transforming the world of work. Join Jessica as she probes these leaders for their insights on what it takes to catalyze positive change at work and why, now more than ever, this is so crucial.
Canada - english