I So Appreciate You!
Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation
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I So Appreciate You! is an honest, raw, funny, and uniquely insightful account of two women sharing behind-the-scenes work conversations happening as events unfold that impact our communities.
But this isn’t just office talk. Get inspired by guests from a variety of backgrounds and sectors as I So Appreciate You! explores the challenges and triumphs of people shaking up our community for the better — discussing how these leaders got to where they are today and how they continue to move us forward.
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Available episodes
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Mar 13, 2023
Healing the Harms of Cultural Appropriation
In this episode of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation with Anishinaabe artist, advocate and cultural educator Adrienne M. Benjamin. In addition to Adrienne, they also take time to discuss this complex topic with another surprise guest, Dr. Eric Jolly, president & CEO of the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
As Reconciliation Advisor for Minnetonka, Adrienne is working to bridge the gap between the Indigenous community and a white-owned business by internally shifting its culture.
As a result of her work, the company is creating opportunities for Indigenous artists among several other restorative actions.
Links
Adrienne Benjamin’s Website
Follow Adrienne on Instagram
Follow Adrienne on Facebook
Minnetonka Website
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Feb 13, 2023
Changing Dominant Media Narratives
In a time when the information we consume is often curated or reinforced by what we like on social media or the news outlets we follow, Mukhtar Ibrahim is working to shift the narrative by giving immigrants and communities of color the kind of committed, responsive news coverage that we all deserve.
In this episode of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert explore the complexities of journalism and the importance of intentionally changing the dominant narrative with the publisher and CEO of the Sahan Journal.
“The way you shape and frame a story really matters. And who tells the story matters. That’s why I founded the Sahan Journal, so we won’t have to have that tension or questioning of how we put together a story, because as long as we’re following the basic journalistic skills and principles, everything will just move on.” - Mukhtar Ibrahim
Links
Sahan Journal website
Sahan Journal on Facebook
Sahan Journal on Twitter
Sahan Journal on Instagram
Mukhtar Ibrahim on LinkedIn
Mukhtar Ibrahim on Twitter
Mukhtar Ibrahim on Instagram
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Jan 9, 2023
Finding Balance with Social Media
In season 2, episode 5 of I So Appreciate You!, we discuss the value social media has as a tool for connection while also having implications on private life. Our special guest is Sarah Edwards, CEO of Some Great People and co-founder/CEO of Fashion Week Minnesota.
Sarah is obsessed with the word “sonder” – the profound feeling of realizing that everyone has a life as vivid and complex as one’s own – and it makes sense given that she loves community and bringing people together. As a connector, a creative, a storyteller, an influencer and a self-described empath, Sarah uses her skills to bridge people together. She views social media as her main tool to stay connected, all while sharing her life — the good and the bad — with countless followers. But making herself so approachable and accessible has its drawbacks.
In this episode, Sarah and co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss the pros and cons of being a public figure on social media, the lure of connection and even the power that fashion has to start conversations.
Links
Follow Sarah on Instagram
Some Great People website
Follow Some Great People on Instagram
Fashion Week MN website
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Dec 12, 2022
The Genius of Black-led Change
Lulete Mola’s passion for activism and social justice stems from her love of her family and community. Before co-founding the Black Collective Foundation MN as a result of the pandemic and social uprising in Minnesota, Lulete started her own youth-led organization, worked for the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota and participated on many boards including Minnesota Council of Foundations and the VoteRunLead National Advisory.
In episode 4 of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert chat with this special guest and Facing Race Award recipient about her roles as an activist, organizer and philanthropic leader in the community.
With the Black Collective Foundation MN, Lulete and fellow founders Chanda Smith Baker and Repa Meka are shifting the landscape of philanthropy by creating a space for Black-led change.
“The reality is that when Black people lead, all people benefit,” said Lulete. “There is nothing that reassures me more than the work Black folks have done across this globe, time and time and time again. And if someone asks me what is my theory of change, my theory of change is the brilliance of Black people.”
Links
Black Collective Foundation MN
Facing Race Awards
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Nov 14, 2022
Using Technology for Social Change
What makes a brilliant app? Is it entertainment value, offering a critical service or something that has social impact? For Andre Creighton, co-founder and chief financial officer of the groundbreaking app TurnSignl, it’s providing drivers with real-time legal guidance from an attorney during traffic stops while a camera records the interaction.
Co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss entrepreneurship and the importance of using technology for social change with the co-founder and Chief Financial Officer Andre Creighton.
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Oct 10, 2022
Intentional Leadership Transitions
Many times, leadership transitions are unexpected, and if a succession plan is in place, the process is handled behind closed doors. In contrast, Jamie Millard, executive director of Pollen Midwest, is leading her own transition out of the organization she has been leading for the last nine years with a years-long, transparent and participatory transition process that can offer many organizations a new way to think about leadership transition.
Co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss the importance of having intentional conversations about leadership transitions, trust and transparency in the workplace with special guest Jamie Millard. Links
Executive Transition Models - Harvard Business Review
Article referencing the quote from Jeanne Bell: What does an equitable executive leadership transition look like? - Race to Lead
Trading the Glass Ceilings for Glass Cliffs: A Race to Lead Report on Nonprofit Executives of Color - Building Movement Project
A Reading List on Nonprofit Executive Transition - Pollen
Pollen Midwest
Follow Pollen on Instagram or Twitter
Follow Jamie on Twitter
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Sep 12, 2022
Lessons in Heart-based Philanthropy
Episode 1 opens up with an introduction of new co-host, Chief Marketing Officer Melanie Hoffert, before she and co-host Nadege Souvenir dive into the episode’s topic. This week they discuss the importance of a heart-based approach to giving, with special guest Margaret Wurtele.
Margaret Wurtele has been giving and raising money for the arts for years. Her parents were also supporters of the arts. Margaret has worked for Walker Art Center, the Saint Paul United Arts Fund and Dayton Hudson Foundation (now the Target Corporation). She was a co-founder of Hungry Mind Press (now Ruminator Press). As a volunteer, she has served on many boards.
Margaret is also a vineyard owner and author. She wrote two memoirs: Touching the Edge: A Mother’s Path from Loss to Life and Taking Root: a Spiritual Memoir, as well as a novel, The Golden Hour.
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Aug 22, 2022
Season 2 Preview
Nadege Souvenir welcomes new co-host Melanie Hoffert to I So Appreciate You! with a few this or that questions revealing Melanie’s love of black licorice. The pair openly talk about their friendship, Melanie’s writing career and how they are forever bonded by Melanie’s new kitten Lucy Lake. Listen to learn the dual meaning behind Lucy Lake’s name (hint: it also has a connection to Melanie’s new book).
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Jan 31, 2022
Bonus: Season 1 Wrap & What’s Ahead
In this bonus episode to close season 1 of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Pahoua Yang Hoffman reflect on the season and discuss Pahoua’s upcoming career transition as she leaves the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
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Follow us on Twitter
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Jan 24, 2022
Inclusive Workplaces: How Do We Really Get There?
I So Appreciate You! co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua, along with special guest Christophe Beck, President and CEO of Ecolab, explain the concepts of “mirroring” and “bridging” and discuss how leaders, particularly white leaders, can create more inclusive workplaces.
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Jan 10, 2022
Creating Space for BIPOC Leaders
I So Appreciate You! co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua explore what happens when organizations transition from white leaders to leaders of color in a thoughtful dialogue with special guest Duchesne Drew, President of Minnesota Public Radio.
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Dec 27, 2021
Cultivating Your Career Path
In this week’s episode, ISAY co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua discuss the importance of intentionally creating learning opportunities and pathways that allow people to build knowledge and skills for roles that haven't been accessible to everyone. They are joined by Meredith Leigh Moore and Brandon Williams, who share their career journeys and discuss how people can own their career narrative and gain experience to ladder up into new roles.
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Dec 13, 2021
Creating Workplaces that Value Age
ISAY co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua, along with special guest Philomena Morrissey Satre, Director of Diversity & Inclusion and External Strategic Partnerships at Land O'Lakes, explore aging in the workplace and how this unaddressed diversity and inclusion issue affects employees.
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Nov 29, 2021
Reimagining The Workplace
Alex West Steinman, Co-founder and CEO of The Coven, and Melissa Muro LaMere, Partner at Maslon LLP, join ISAY co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua to discuss their respective evolving workplaces during the pandemic, some unexpected silver linings, and how showing up as yourself at work is a game-changer.
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Nov 15, 2021
Work + Caregiving: A Balancing Act
Co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua share personal experiences with giving and receiving care, including Nadege’s recent experience with breast cancer. Special guest Liwanag Ojala, former CEO of CaringBridge, joins to discuss the emotional weight of being a caregiver and what employers can do to better support their employees.
Episode References:
Managing the Future of Work, Harvard Business School
Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande
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Nov 1, 2021
The Unspoken Rules of Professionalism
Co-hosts Nadege and Pahoua discuss professionalism and its unwritten rules on dress code, hygiene, hairstyles, and why it doesn’t matter that you are wearing sweatpants under your desk right now.
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Oct 26, 2021
Season 1 Trailer
Introducing I So Appreciate You!, an honest, raw and sometimes funny podcast about work, community, life and more. Meet co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Pahoua Yang Hoffman.
Nadege and Pahoua, both transplants to Minnesota, were colleagues at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation from 2020-2022. Whether connecting on a work issue, comparing notes on a new restaurant or discussing pressing issues in our community, they found that they always closed their conversations with, "I so appreciate you." This is the sentiment they extend to their listeners and guests as they together explore important topics about work, culture and life in this podcast.
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