The Social Change Career Podcast

This episode features  Hun Taing [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hun-taing-transformationalleader/], an executive leader, innovator, coach, and Cambodian genocide survivor, sharing her extraordinary journey of building a career at the intersection of justice and healing. Drawing from over 20 years in labor rights, public health, civil rights, and organizational transformation, Hun opens up about personal resilience, the power of humanizing conflict, and practical strategies for meaningful impact in turbulent times. Why Take a Listen  * Hun’s story as a Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee—and how her lived experiences instilled a lifelong dedication to equity and healing. * Actionable insights on entering and advancing in social change careers, including labor organizing, conflict transformation, DEI, and public service. * Navigating challenges to equity and inclusion in today’s climate, and strategies for advocating sustainable change in bureaucratic systems. * Hun’s career trajectory from activism and the labor movement (SEIU [https://www.seiu.org/], ACLU [https://www.aclu.org/]) to systems-level inclusion and leadership consulting via Training for Transformation [https://training4transformation.com/]. * The transformative role of mindfulness, art, and community-based programs (like healing gardens for refugee elders) in building resilient organizations and individuals. * Advice for selecting values-aligned advanced education and tips for job seekers managing uncertainty in competitive markets. * Resources on healing, art, and reconciliation, including Hun’s master’s thesis and research in Cambodia. * Practical encouragement for working within, on, or around systems, and tools for sustaining yourself and your community in uncertain times. Featured Resources Mentioned in the Podcast * Memories of Cambodia (Hun’s Story on YouTube) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cytguQksq0] * Training for Transformation, LLC [https://www.t4tsaveslives.com/] * SEIU (Service Employees International Union) [https://www.seiu.org/] * ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) [https://www.aclu.org/] * School for International Training (SIT) [https://www.sit.edu/] * “The Way Out Is In” podcast (Thich Nhat Hanh/Plum Village) [https://plumvillage.org/podcast] * Connect with Hun on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hun-taing-transformationalleader/]   About Hun Taing: Hun Taing [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hun-taing-transformationalleader/] (she/her) is passionate about building healthy and effective organizations to lead meaningful change. For more than twenty years, she has served in executive leadership roles, driving organizational transformation in labor rights, environmental justice, civil rights, and public health. She finds fulfillment in coaching social change leaders to identify and transform behavior patterns that are hindering their goals. Her work centers on aligning policy, people, and practice to build inclusive, mission-driven institutions. She is a Chinese-Cambodian genocide survivor and refugee, married to a Black man from Oakland, and raising three children. Joy comes from mindfulness, gardening, and deep connections with people and nature.   PCDN Resources * Subscribe to the PCDN Career Digest Curated global jobs, funding, and resources for social impact careers https://pcdn.global/subscribe [https://pcdn.global/subscribe] * Listen to More Episodes Conversations with over 180 changemakers in 30+ countries https://pcdn.global/listen [https://pcdn.global/listen] * Subscribe to the AI for Impact Newsletter Tools, jobs, and insights at the intersection of AI and social good https://impactai.beehiiv.com [https://impactai.beehiiv.com/]

This episode of the Social Change Career Podcast features a thoughtful and practical conversation between Craig Zelizer and Brad Smith [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradsmithjunior/], founder of Rootstock Philanthropy [https://www.rootstockphilanthropy.com/] and the Philanthropy Network. Brad’s entry into fundraising was unplanned—driven by financial necessity—but evolved into a decades-long career advising institutions like MIT [http://mit.edu], the Portland Museum of Art, Suffolk University, and the Partnership on AI [https://partnershiponai.org/]. In this episode, Brad shares hard-earned lessons on how to build a meaningful and sustainable career in philanthropy, even amid burnout, changing donor landscapes, and rising ethical questions. What the episode covers: • How to enter the fundraising world without prior experience • Why early-career professionals should prioritize mentorship and learning environments • Behind-the-scenes lessons from major campaigns at institutions like MIT • How to assess nonprofit culture and avoid burnout • Building authentic donor relationships grounded in ethics and gratitude • Clarifying the roles of fundraising, development, and advancement • The limits of philanthropy without systemic public policy change • How AI and tech are shaping (and challenging) the future of fundraising   Resources and links mentioned in the episode: • Rootstock Philanthropy – Brad’s consultancy focused on campaign strategy, coaching, and organizational growth https://www.rootstockphilanthropy.org [https://www.rootstockphilanthropy.org] • The Philanthropy Network (LinkedIn Group) – A free global community of over 120,000 nonprofit and fundraising professionals https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13605390/ [https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13605390/] • The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist – A foundational book on aligning money with purpose and humanity https://soulofmoney.org/books/ [https://soulofmoney.org/books/] • Wealth in Families by Charles Collier – A guide to values-based family giving and stewardship https://www.charlescollier.info/book [https://www.charlescollier.info/book] • Winners Take All by Anand Giridharadas – A critique of how elite philanthropy often perpetuates inequality https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781101972670/winnerstakeall [https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781101972670/winnerstakeall] • Trust-Based Philanthropy Project – A resource hub for funders and nonprofits advancing equity and transparency https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/ [https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/] • AFP Global (Association of Fundraising Professionals) – The professional home for fundraisers, offering certifications, trainings, and ethical standards https://afpglobal.org/ [https://afpglobal.org/] • Philanthropy.Network – Brad’s digital platform offering curated content and updates for fundraising leaders https://philanthropy.network [https://philanthropy.network] • Philanthropy Network Academy – Online learning and cohort-based development for fundraisers and nonprofit professionals https://www.philanthropy.network/academy [https://www.philanthropy.network/academy]   About Brad Smith Brad [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradsmithjunior/] is the founder of Rootstock Philanthropy, [https://www.rootstockphilanthropy.com/] a global fundraising and strategy consultancy working with mission-driven organizations. He also leads the Philanthropy Network, a 120,000+ member learning community. His clients include MIT [http://mit.edu], World Horse Welfare, the Portland Museum of Art, and the Partnership on AI [https://partnershiponai.org/]. Whether you're new to fundraising, considering a career shift, or leading within a nonprofit—this episode delivers candid insights and practical tools for building a career with purpose.  PCDN Resources * Subscribe to the PCDN Career Digest Curated global jobs, funding, and resources for social impact careers https://pcdn.global/subscribe [https://pcdn.global/subscribe] * Listen to More Episodes Conversations with over 180 changemakers in 30+ countries https://pcdn.global/listen [https://pcdn.global/listen] * Subscribe to the AI for Impact Newsletter Tools, jobs, and insights at the intersection of AI and social good https://impactai.beehiiv.com [https://impactai.beehiiv.com/]

This episode of The Social Change Career Podcast features Bethany Hull [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyrhull/], a global finance expert with over 15 years of experience across sovereign debt, venture capital, and impact investing. Her career has taken her from rural Missouri to leading projects across Latin America and Asia—working in English, Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese. Bethany’s path challenges conventional ideas of what a finance career looks like and shows how language, agility, and purpose can shape meaningful work. Why Take a Listen * Learn how a career can evolve through unexpected roles and geographic pivots—and how to stay open to the opportunities that follow. * Hear how finance can be used as a tool for inclusive development, not just profit. * Understand core finance concepts—venture capital, blended finance, climate investment—without the jargon. * Explore emerging sectors like employee ownership and agricultural finance, and where new opportunities are growing. * Get concrete advice on selecting graduate programs, building essential financial skills, and navigating careers at the intersection of finance and impact. Resources and Links from the Episode * Bethany Hull on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyhull/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyhull/] * Bethany’s New: Global Finance Jobs https://globalfinancejobs.beehiiv.com/subscribe [https://globalfinancejobs.beehiiv.com/subscribe] * ImpactAlpha – News and trends in impact investing https://impactalpha.com/ [https://impactalpha.com/] * FT Alphaville – Markets and economics analysis https://www.ft.com/alphaville [https://www.ft.com/alphaville] * Bloomberg Odd Lots Podcast https://www.bloomberg.com/odd-lots [https://www.bloomberg.com/oddlots] * Ownership Works – Equity and employee ownership models https://www.ownershipworks.org [https://www.ownershipworks.org] * ICMA – Capital market certifications and training https://www.icmagroup.org [https://www.icmagroup.org] * VC University https://venturecapitaluniversity.com/ [https://venturecapitaluniversity.com/] * Venture Deals Course https://venturedeals [https://venturedeals.techstars.com/courses/venture-deals-spring-course-2025] * Capital Isn’t (Podcast) https://www.capitalisnt.com/ [https://www.capitalisnt.com/] * The Salt Path Trilogy [https://linktr.ee/raynor.winn] (Books by Raynor Winn) *   More from PCDN * Subscribe to the PCDN Career Digest Curated global jobs, funding, and resources for social impact careers https://pcdn.global/subscribe [https://pcdn.global/subscribe] * Listen to More Episodes Conversations with over 180 changemakers in 30+ countries https://pcdn.global/listen [https://pcdn.global/listen] * Subscribe to the AI for Impact Newsletter Tools, jobs, and insights at the intersection of AI and social good https://impactai.beehiiv.com [https://impactai.beehiiv.com] About Bethany Hull Bethany Hull [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bethanyrhull/] is an international finance professional with 15+ years of experience across sovereign debt, early-stage venture capital, and impact investing. She has worked throughout Latin America and Asia, leading cross-functional teams and managing complex initiatives in multilingual, multicultural environments. A graduate of The Fletcher School’s Master’s [https://fletcher.tufts.edu/] in International Business, she is fluent in Mandarin, Spanish, and Portuguese, and is passionate about using finance and entrepreneurship to support inclusive economic growth.

In this episode, Craig Zelizer talks with Ilco van der Linde [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilcovanderlinde/], a Dutch social entrepreneur, storyteller, and founder of multiple global movements including Dance for Life, MasterPeace [http://masterpeace.org], and Ocean Love [https://oceanlove.news/]. From organizing some of the largest public festivals in the Netherlands to driving emotional, community-rooted innovation for ocean protection, Ilco shares what it takes to build movements that not only spark change but sustain it. This conversation explores personal and planetary transformation, how movements scale, and why love—and not fear—is often the most powerful catalyst for action. Whether you're leading a social enterprise, working in climate, or figuring out how to live with purpose, this episode offers hard-earned wisdom, strategy, and inspiration. Why take a listen * Ocean Love Innovation Awards: What it means to build the most inclusive global initiative to spark solutions for our oceans—open to individuals and teams from any background, anywhere in the world * Turning pain into purpose: How Ilco's experience as a diver witnessing coral bleaching and plastic-filled oceans led him to launch a new global platform * Sustainable change requires systems thinking: From individual behavior to corporate accountability and government policy, what levers really shift the needle * Practical optimism: How to lead without burning out, stay grounded in values, and work in ways that regenerate both the planet and yourself * Building social movements with soul: Reflections on 40 years of activism and organizing—from HIV prevention to global peacebuilding to climate * Advice for impact careers: Ilco shares tips for launching bold projects, building teams, attracting funding, and learning to live with financial and emotional uncertainty Resources from the podcast Ocean Love Innovation Award Open to applicants worldwide until September 30, 2025. Seeking creative, actionable ideas that protect oceans, rivers, biodiversity, or marine life. More info and to apply: https://oceanlove.news [https://www.oceanloveawards.com/] Ocean Love on Instagram For visual stories, campaign updates, and community calls: https://www.instagram.com/oceanlovenews [https://www.instagram.com/oceanlovenews] Mandela House, Amsterdam A hub for social change, community, and cultural programming built on the values of Ubuntu. Visitors welcome. Website: https://mandelahuisje.nl [https://mandelahuisje.nl] Dance for Life Global youth movement using music and dance to promote sexual and reproductive health. https://www.dance4life.com [https://www.dance4life.com] MasterPeace Creative peacebuilding movement in over 50 countries connecting young people through music, art, and dialogue. https://masterpeace.org [https://masterpeace.org] WaterBear Network Free streaming platform focused on environmental films and documentaries. https://waterbear.com [https://waterbear.com] Sea Shepherd Mentioned during the episode as a partner in ocean protection and direct action. https://seashepherd.org [https://seashepherd.org] Project Drawdown Cited as a source for climate solution frameworks. https://drawdown.org [https://drawdown.org] Carbon Collective Example of climate-aligned investing referenced in the conversation. https://www.carboncollective.co [https://www.carboncollective.co] Global Alliance for Banking on Values For those interested in ethical banking and investment. https://www.gabv.org [https://www.gabv.org] More from PCDN Subscribe to the PCDN Career Digest Daily or weekly, human-curated global opportunities—jobs, fellowships, events, funding, and more for social impact professionals. https://pcdn.global/subscribe [https://pcdn.global/subscribe] Listen to the Social Change Career Podcast Over 180 episodes with social entrepreneurs, changemakers, and innovators from 30+ countries. https://pcdn.global/listen [https://pcdn.global/listen] Subscribe to the AI for Impact Newsletter Explore ethical AI tools, impact jobs, funding, and stories at the intersection of tech and purpose. https://impactai.beehiiv.com [https://impactai.beehiiv.com] BIO Ilco van der Linde [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilcovanderlinde/] is a Dutch social entrepreneur, storyteller, and movement builder. He is the founder of the Bevrijdingsfestivals (Liberation Day Festivals), which attract over 1 million annual visitors in the Netherlands. He co-founded dance4life [https://rutgers.nl/dance4life/], active in 30 countries, and MasterPeace [http://masterpeace.org], a global peacebuilding initiative in 50 countries He also founded the Mandela House in Amsterdam, a hub for community and social impact; authored Be a Nelson (Lemniscaat); and writes for The Optimist magazine [https://theoptimist.nl/] and National Geographic Travel [https://www.nationalgeographic.nl/reizen/a60717639/magische-duikplekken]. His latest initiative, OceanLove, along with the OceanLove Innovation Award, is a global platform mobilizing emotional connection and action to protect the ocean. The work is rooted in one core belief: people protect what they love—and lasting change starts from the heart.

In this episode, Dr. Craig Zelizer speaks with Dr. Soraya Caro Vargas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/soraya-caro-vargas-phd-125ba6b3/], a leader in industrial policy, gender equity, and international cooperation. From serving as Colombia’s Vice Minister of Business Development to designing the country’s first industrial policy in two decades, Soraya brings a rich, cross-sectoral perspective on how to build more inclusive and sustainable economies in the Global South. Based in Bogotá, with academic roots in Colombia, Italy, and India, Soraya shares how her experiences in government, academia, and diplomacy have shaped her career—and her deep commitment to bringing policy closer to people and territory. Why Listen * Industrial policy in practice: What it takes to design and implement a national policy aligned with energy transition, health, defense, and bioeconomy goals * Leadership as a woman in male-dominated fields: How Soraya navigates power, gender dynamics, and systemic barriers while staying grounded in ethics * The unexpected PhD journey: Doing a doctorate at Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) [http://ignou.ac.in/] as a diplomat’s spouse—and why it's not just about the title, but about building knowledge * Why territory matters in policy: “You cannot govern from the desk in Bogotá” — how she helped shift Colombia’s national policy toward more localized and inclusive processes * Skills for impact: Communication, negotiation, working across sectors, and how to learn them through practice, not just theory Featured in the Episode * UNAD - Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia [https://www.unad.edu.co/]: Colombia’s National Open University, leading virtual and hybrid education for over 300,000 learners * Colombia’s Reindustrialization Policy [https://www.mincit.gov.co/prensa/noticias/industria/gobierno-nacional-presenta-la-politica-nacional-de-r]: A national strategy centered on energy transition, health innovation, bioeconomy, and defense * ACOPI - Asociación Colombiana de las Micro, Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas [https://acopi.org.co/]: Represents Colombia's small and medium-sized businesses and played a key role during the FTA negotiations * Latin American Women Leaders Network (private initiative): A high-level network of 600+ women shaping policy, enterprise, and academia * OECD Work on Informality [https://www.oecd.org/employment/informality-and-development.htm]: Referenced in Soraya’s experience with informality in policy contexts * ProColombia [https://procolombia.co/]: Colombia’s national trade, tourism, and investment promotion agency   More from PCDN Make your inbox amazing with our new Career Digest subscription option [https://pcdnglobal.beehiiv.com/c/career-campus]—for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per month. * Delivered 5–6 days a week, you’ll get over 200 human-curated opportunities every month—including jobs, fellowships, funding options, impact news, socent opps, trainings, remote roles and more. * Whether you're just starting or looking to advance, this digest provides the world’s best human-curated impact opportunities to fuel your career. * Interested in subscribing for a group or organization? Get in contact [https://pcdn.global/contact/]. Other Terrific PCDN Resources * Social Change Career Podcast: Access over 180 episodes featuring changemakers worldwide. https://pcdn.global/listen [https://pcdn.global/listen] * AI for Impact Newsletter: Sign up to get jobs, funding, consultancies, tools, tips, and ethical insights around AI + impact. https://impactai.beehiiv.com/ [https://impactai.beehiiv.com/] * PCDN Free Weekly Impact Newsletter: Explore global social impact jobs, funding, and opportunities. https://pcdn.global/subscribe [https://pcdn.global/subscribe]