On this episode of I So Appreciate You, Melanie and Nadege reflect on the season and celebrate Nadege as she shares the news of her departure from the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation and prepares to take on her new role as CEO of the San Antonio Area Foundation.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk to Sheletta Brundidge about why showing up as your authentic self matters.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk to Bethany Lacktorin about the opportunities and challenges of managing an arts organization in a rural town.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk to special guests, Carmen Giménez and Ruby Oluoch, about the dos and don’ts of succession planning.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk to special guest, Rammy Mohamed, about how her fashion brand bridges her communities together.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk to special guest Andrea Yoch about how Aurora FC is paving the way for inclusivity in sports.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert chat with Seena Hodges about why it’s not enough to be an ally and how we can transform into equity accomplices, both in the workplace and in our communities.

On this episode of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss mission-based investing and the values of a diverse team in the investments industry with Chief Investment Officer for the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, Shannon O’Leary.  In her role, Shannon and her staff help steward the Foundation’s $1.7 billion in assets, ensuring that those dollars aren’t invested and/or supporting any issues or causes that may detour our grantmaking work. Shannon is one of few women spearheading an investment team in a predominantly white male-dominated industry.  As a result of this lack of diversity, Shannon has made it her mission to meet with managers in the industry and advocate for change.  “One of the most dangerous things in this industry that leads to problems and leads to additional risk is the lack of diversity on these teams leading to group think,” she says.  In addition to her work advocating for change in the investments space, Shannon also pens a bi-weekly newsletter to share her experiences working in a male-dominated industry and sharing advice for readers wanting to create change themselves.

In the first episode of Season 3 of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert chat with Allison Hohn, executive director of Naturally Minnesota, about what it takes to establish a thriving and equitable ecosystem for food-based entrepreneurs in our state. Naturally Minnesota is an initiative to support and accelerate Minnesota's ecosystem for food and agriculture entrepreneurship and innovation. Through her work, Allison provides venues for new food and agriculture business owners to connect with like-minded people, find support for their ventures, and learn how to access resources like investment capital. When establishing a product for distribution, Allison says food entrepreneurs must keep the following things in mind. “Your product has to taste good, you have to have a good brand and you have to have a point of differentiation.”  Allison also shares her insights on creating greater access and equitable opportunities for entrepreneurs in the food and agriculture space, what she hopes is here to stay after the pandemic shook up the industry, and how someone can take their product from idea to shelf. Links Naturally Minnesota

I So Appreciate You! is back for its third season starting September 19. Listen along as co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert continue their sometimes raw, sometimes funny and always uniquely insightful discussions with some of today’s changemakers.

Co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert take a Seinfeld approach to their final episode of the season by unwinding and talking about nothing; well, nothing in particular and “doing” nothing.  Instead of tackling sometimes tough and complex issues that arise in the workplace and philanthropy, they take time to address the commonalities their guests had this season. One theme that emerged is the pressing need for creative people to create time to rest and decompress.

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

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

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

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

In episode 3 of I So Appreciate You!, co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert talk about mobile apps, entrepreneurship and healthy work and personal life boundaries with special guest Andre Creighton, co-founder and chief financial officer of TurnSignl. What makes for the perfect mobile app? Our co-hosts discuss the most valuable apps on their phones and then dig in with Andre about why he and his co-founders were moved to create TurnSignl. After the murder of close family friend Philando Castile during a traffic stop, Andre was inspired to make a difference but didn’t have the capital to start a business. Flash forward to 2020 and the murder of George Floyd; Andre knew it was time to use his skills in finance, he partnered with childhood friends Jazz Hampton, an attorney, and Myke Frelix in tech sales., The three friends combined their talents to provide people with real-time access to video and legal advice when in a car crash or pulled over by police. The goal of the app is to provide both individuals and police with a sense of security during traffic stops, as well as finding a new way to break down the injustices of our judicial system. TurnSignl is currently in nine U.S. states with plans to expand in 2023. “We feel that this app creates accountability on both sides,” said Andre. “We know that when that officer pulls up to a car or pulls a car over, they’re going to see that TurnSignl bumper sticker and they’re going to feel safer in that interaction because they know that there’s going to be an attorney on the phone that’s protecting their rights, but also protecting the driver’s rights and making sure that everyone gets home safe at the end of the day.”

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.

Co-hosts Nadege Souvenir and Melanie Hoffert discuss the importance of a heart-based approach to philanthropy, as well as their value of the arts, creativity and finding your passions with writer, philanthropist and arts supporter Margaret Wurtele.

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).

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.