Welcome to the VERY FIRST episode of It Shouldn’t Be This Hard, where we discuss all things sustainability… because the world ALWAYS needs more of it!

We’re excited to kick things off with a real conversation about career pivots, personal growth, the importance of ethical journalism, and why sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is also the most unexpected.

Meet Kathy Baird Westfall, our amazing guest for this inaugural episode, who's been through the ringer in her career and is now taking a step back to focus on what’s next. And by the way, she’s LOVING being unemployed for the first time since she was fourteen. Yep, you heard that right!

Kathy takes us through her journey, from the whirlwind of agency life to transitioning into corporate at Nike, and how all of that shaped her views on leadership and the changing dynamics in the workplace.

She also gives us her thoughts on why DEI is still such a hot, polarizing topic today. (Spoiler alert: She’s got some strong opinions, and we’re here for it).

Along the way, Kathy talks about her love for lifelong learning and staying grounded in your values.

Finally, Kathy also discusses the importance of local journalism, why it’s under more threat than ever right now, and why news deserts are one of the greatest threats to our democracy right now.

We’re not saying she’s got the secret sauce to life… but we’re kind of saying she does.

Tune in now to learn more about Kathy’s journey, where she’s going, and how she sees the future of journalism.

Key Takeaways:

Introduction (00:00)

On being unemployed for the first time since age 14 (02:45)

How getting recruited by Nike changed Kathy’s life (05:31)

Kathy’s lifelong passion for learning and teaching (06:57)

Transitioning from agency life to corporate culture (08:14)

The challenges facing the press today (13:24)

Helping people understand the information they need (18:19)

What continues to frustrate Kathy (19:37)

Why DEI remains a contentious and polarizing issue (20:48)

What skills will leaders need in the age of AI? (27:33)

Additional Resources:

✨ Get Grounded: https://grounded.world/

🔥 Meet Gaia, our sustainability AI: https://grounded.world/gaia/

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It Shouldn’t Be This Hard is a podcast for businesses striving to grow sustainably while navigating the complexities of doing good.

With expert insights, real-world strategies, and Gaia AI to answer your burning questions, we make building a successful, ethical business feel a little less daunting (and a lot more fun).

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