“LET’S TALK IMPACT” PODCAST
Welcome to Let's Talk Impact, a podcast series hosted by Justyna Kedra and co-produced by The New School's Impact Entrepreneurship Initiative x WERULE. We bring together a diverse range of changemakers—government officials, entrepreneurs, activists, and local leaders—to explore the ever-evolving meaning of impactful work in today's world.
Beyond profit margins and ROI, our conversations delve into the motivations and journeys of those who are actively shaping a better future. Our podcast (according to Spotify Wrapped) was in the top 5% of most shared podcasts globally in 2023.
Impact can mean a million different things & we’re here to inspire you to find ways to make impact in your careers, businesses and lives. What does “impact“ mean to you?
EZINMA
Meredith Ezinma Ramsay, professionally known as Ezinma [Eh-zeen-mah], is a film composer, violinist and advocate for music education. As a performer, Ramsay has worked with renowned artists including Beyonce, Rihanna, Stevie Wonder, Kendrick Lamar, Khalid, Joshua Bell, Yo Yo Ma and Clean Bandit, to name a few. As a composer, Meredith scored the Oscar nominated documentary short, “Stranger At The Gate” (2022), HBO Sport’s three-part docuseries “Angel City” (2023). She worked with LG, Google, Lexus and Essentia Water. She has composed music for documentaries, short films, and was even part of the "Black Panther" (2018) soundtrack. In addition, Meredith is an advocate for music education. In 2021, she launched Strings By Heart— a youth development program in NYC for children K-5 committed to bringing quality music instruction, workshops, and outreach to children from underserved communities.
ARTIS STEVENS
Artis Stevens is the CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a leading youth mentoring organization. As the first Black CEO, he's focused on expanding mentorship programs and fundraising efforts. Under his leadership, BBBSA has achieved record-breaking donations and provided millions of mentorship opportunities. Previously, he worked at National 4-H Council and is a frequent speaker on media platforms.
Artis is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Valdosta State University. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He resides in Atlanta, GA, with his wife, Erica and daughters, Aubrey and Alyse actively engaging in community service."
Under his leadership, BBBSA achieved a record-breaking fundraising year in 2022, in part due to the largest-ever single donation in the organization’s history – $122.6 million from MacKenzie Scott. As a result, BBBSA provided millions of mentorship opportunities across 5,000 communities.
YASEEN ELDIK
Yaseen is an educator and diversity practitioner whose influence extends from public television to higher education to global luxury brands. Formerly a corporate attorney at the law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Yaseen now leads DE&I programs and initiatives with numerous organizations and companies. He is Co-Chair of the Gucci Changemakers Council, where he leads the company's effort to promote diversity in the fashion industry. Yaseen is a graduate of Harvard Law School, where he worked on the Pan-Harvard LGBTQ Conference and received the David Westfall Memorial Award for Community Leadership for his work supporting community and diversity. Prior to law school, Yaseen studied at Stony Brook University, where he received the Harry S. Truman Scholarship, and worked in the Obama Administration's White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Yaseen is a video op-ed contributor to The New York Times Opinion section. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Stanford Journal of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, the Harvard Negotiation Law Review Online, and the White House blog.