Solve for X: Solutions that Spark Change

Welcome back to Solve for X! In this episode, Margarita is sitting down to chat with South Pole's director of sustainable finance, Rebecca Self. With COP26 having just wrapped up, this discussion revolves around reflections from this conference as well deviations from the status quo that can expedite change.  Looking back at COP26, Rebecca notes an interesting divide between attendees at the conference: professional figures involved in formal negotiations, and laypeople involved in informal activism. The differing groups bring about another question of individual sovereignty: do we really need someone to give us permission to start creating change? While conferences such as COP26 are necessary to raise awareness and make "official" decisions regarding climate change, there are also many things we as individuals can do to spark change and create a ripple effect. Whether it's secondhand shopping to contribute to circular economy, research on the sustainability and ethics of different companies, or voting for politicians that prioritize the environment as much as the economy,  our collective individual actions can be just as important and influential as formal negotiations. For more takeaways from COP26 and an economic perspective on climate change, tune into this episode now! ++++++++++ Connect with Margarita on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita... Connect with Rebecca Self on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-self-40ab9416/ More on South Pole here: https://www.southpole.com More on COP26: https://unfccc.int/conference/glasgow-climate-change-conference-october-november-2021 More information about the who, what, when, and how you can get involved here: https://www.peaceX.com/ Don't miss a beat, follow us on social too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/peaceXventures Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceXventures Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceXVentures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peac... Podcast: https://solveforx.carrd.co ----------- Filming + Content: Margarita Quihuis Video Editing + Production: Raaghav Seth Description & Content: Elisa Selamaj Social Media: Elisa Selamaj Creative Direction: Eman Zabi, Nicole Elzer

Welcome back to Solve for X! We're back and hitting the ground running with a very important episode featuring CommonPeople's conversion design consultant & content strategist, Matt Hall! In this episode, Matt and Margarita discuss one of the most pressing issues in our rapidly changing, technology-driven present-day: ethics. A need for morality and ethics in product design are amplified by an increasing need for empathy, though these concepts often get muddled in the world of business where money-making is the game. Matt discusses the importance of being in touch with one's own morality and allowing yourself to deter from the status quo in order to create a business that simultaneously benefits your business *and* your consumers in a sustainable way. The bottom line is that business should not be extractive, but rather collaborative and beneficial to those that it is serving. But...what if your business or company is leading your product down an ethically-gray road? Well, that's where Matt's 3 tips for ethical appeal come in. *Spoiler*, only one of those tips directly involves appealing to ethics...the other two are a call to bravery and your own drive to do good. If you're a creator, entrepreneur or visionary who wants to do the right thing, tune in for more on creating this shift towards making ethical businesses the default with Matt Hall! ++++++++++ Connect with Margarita on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaritaquihuis/ Connect with Matt Hall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-hall-372b4645/# More on CommonPeople here: https://www.commonpeople.co More on the Principles of Ethical Design here: https://99designs.com/blog/tips/ethical-design/ and here https://www.toptal.com/designers/design-director/design-ethics More information about the PeaceX who, what, when, and how you can get involved here: https://www.peaceX.com/ Don't miss a beat, follow us on social too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/peaceXventures Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceXventures Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceXVentures LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peac... Podcast: https://solveforx.carrd.co

Welcome back to the PeaceX series! We sure do have a treat for you this week: a candid conversation on the intersectionality of climate justice with the one and only, Solitaire Townsend. Solitaire is a green entrepreneur and co-founder of sustainable strategy agency, Futerra. Inspired by a nuclear dump in her area, teenage Solitaire became a climate justice activist with big dreams and nothing to lose. Little did she know that her optimistic endeavors would lead her to co-founding Futerra and being a published author decades later.  In this episode, Solitaire and Margarita touch on many things under the umbrella of justice, the intersectional solution to climate and social issues. They discuss everything from cookstove pollution to small-scale solar energy to public transportation and even to gender equality. Tune into this episode for a moving take on the possibilities of multi-dimensional solutions and what you can do starting Monday morning to make a change. +++++ Connect with Margarita on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/margaritaquihuis/ Connect with Solitaire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solitairetownsend/ And Twitter: https://twitter.com/GreenSolitaire More on Futerra here: https://www.wearefuterra.com More on The Happy Hero here: https://www.thehappyhero.org

Welcome back to the PeaceX series! This week we're catching up with Margarita's long-time friend and former partner-in-crime, Dustin Haisler, to reminisce about how a 19 year old kicked off a gov tech revolution in an itty bitty town in Texas and how a chance meeting at SXSW started a powerful collaboration. Dustin is currently the Chief Innovation Officer of e.Republic, the nations leading state and local government media and research firm. Dustin was formerly the Chief Information Officer and assistant city manager for the city of Manor, Texas. Dustin and Manor Labs were recognized by the White House Office of Innovation within the first 6 months of its launch—Manor Labs put Dustin and city of Manor on the map! In this episode, Dustin and Margarita discuss the necessity of gov tech for innovative problem solving in state and local governments. Dustin specifically touches on how government agencies are struggling with change management during a time where remote work has become increasingly abundant. Covid-19 has changed the playing field of previously face-to-face services, especially in the realm of government services.  They also dive into how we can create a government system that is open to experimenting for innovation. In Dustin's words, "innovation, when done right, isn't one person's job; it's everyone's job." For more on on incentivizing tech as a utilities infrastructure, the challenges of creating smart cities, innovation in the public sector, venture studios and so much more, tune into this enlightening episode! Check out Dustin's work here: https://www.dustinhaisler.com Connect with Dustin here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhaisler/ https://twitter.com/dustinhaisler Check out e.Republic here: https://www.erepublic.com More on gov tech here: https://www.govtech.com https://www.governing.com

Welcome back to the PeaceX series! If you're looking for some inspiring and positive vibes this week, you've come to the right place. In this discussion, Margarita sits down with EncourageX founder and chief encouragement officer, James Brown. EncourageX is a service that enables people to actively and intentionally improve their relationships through acts of encouragement. In this episode, JB gives us a bit of a high school anecdote that led him on the path of encouragement, the fear, uncertainty and doubt that can cloud our perspectives, and how we can act with intentionality in our relationships and every day life. For more on the power of running for freshman class president, using emotional training wheels, and going to school with Brad Pitt, tune in to this touching discussion with James Brown! ++++++++++ Check out EncourageX here: https://encouragex.com/encourage​ Connect with James Brown here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesebro...​ More information about the who, what, when, and how you can get involved here: https://www.peaceinnovation.com/​ Add yourself to the Peace Innovation Network Bootcamp Waitlist Here: https://learn.peaceinnovation.com/boo​... Don't miss a beat, follow us on social too: Twitter: https://twitter.com/peaceinnovation​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/peaceinnova​... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peaceinnovat​... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peac​... Podcast: https://solveforx.carrd.co​