Ebb and Flow

The ethical will: Filling in the “why”

On this edition of Ebb and Flow, we address a common and dangerous gap in estate plans of all shapes and sizes. With all the focus on the legal and financial aspect of trusts and estate—or the how of wealth transfer—many forget to consider the all important why. Our guest, Susan Turnbull, is the founder and Principal of Personal Legacy Advisors and an authority on the ethical will and its remarkably effective role as a non-binding complement to the overall estate plan. Turnbull explains the concept and the process of this 1000 year old approach to intentionally communicating one’s values, lessons, and thanks to the ultimate recipients of your wealth and to those tasked with overseeing it.

Empowering girls everywhere

We speak with Rebel Girls CEO Jes Wolfe about her company's work to help young women navigate an ever more challenging world in which a well-documented confidence gap between girls and boys has been compounded by the pandemic, cyber-bullying, and many other factors. Beyond Jes and team’s mission to “revolutionize girlhood through courage and confidence,” we also discuss the business model of this certified B-Corp and women owned business, the current climate in the world of start ups, and the evolving ways young people are engaging with great content today.

A century of perspective: The remarkable story of Paul Ignatius

If you’ve wondered how to get your name on the back of a navy destroyer, you’ll want to listen carefully to this edition of Ebb and flow. Our guest Paul Ignatius has indeed checked that box, and while we speak to him about that experience we also focus on the fascinating life journey that has taken this 102 year young son of Armenian immigrants from a childhood in Glendale, CA, to Harvard Business School, to the pacific theater in WWII, to the most senior levels of US government where he served in roles including Secretary of the Navy and Assistant Secretary of Defense. And while many might rest on those laurels, Secretary Ignatius went on to become President of the Washington Post. We cover all of this and also hear this remarkable man’s take on the current world order and his hopes and expectations for the future.

The tale of two architects

We speak with two accomplished architects about their fascinating, complex, and essential profession. Weezie Smith and Jennifer DuHamel both attended the same storied architecture School in New Haven, CT… but then took very different paths on their way to successful careers on opposite coasts. In a captivating conversation, Smith and Duhamel share their perspective on what first drove them to architecture, what advice they’d give those considering this career, the influences on their work, the dynamics of good and bad client relationships, and how the industry has evolved over time. And because I couldn’t resist, I asked our guests to name their favorite three architects of all time. The answers may surprise you!

The power of the community foundation

This month, we explore the concept of the Community Foundation and how these organizations can help the charitably inclined put their resources to work for the benefit of communities around the country. Our guests are Jay Williams and Deborah Rothstein, the President and Vice President for Development for the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, one of the oldest and largest community foundations in America. We ask Jay and Deborah to explain what makes the community foundation model so impactful, what draws individual donors, family foundations, and corporations to this approach, and what progress organizations like HFPG are making toward addressing major issues like structural racism in the Hartford community and beyond.