Sam Battan, Colorado ’07, joins the Business Edge podcast to chat about the importance of youth leadership and how teens are changing the Denver landscape through his organization, Colorado Youth Congress. To get involved, visit: coyouthcongress.org.

As the founder and CEO of the Colorado Youth Congress, Sam Battan brings together diverse communities of young people to lead the fight to solve our most complex problems. Prior to starting CYC, Sam worked in New Orleans for five years teaching in an alternative high school designed for students who were overage and under-credited. Sam was recognized as the district’s Teacher of the Year and has worked passionately to expand leadership opportunities for youth. In addition to being an educator, Sam is a proud community organizer, recently co-founding Equity Network United for Metro Denver, an advocacy organization, and previously serving as the education chair for the Welcome Table New Orleans, the nation’s first city-sanctioned initiative on racial reconciliation. His advocacy work has been featured on NBC, NOLA.com, the Denver Post, and The Advocate.

As protests continue all over the world, AKPsi alumna Basha Coleman chats with Desiree and Chrissy about the Black experience and workplace discrimination. Basha gives listeners advice on how to enact change in the office and at home, especially for the younger generation who will become our next leaders.

Basha is a creative problem solver in the technology industry. With a keen eye for visual design and storytelling, she bridges her creative expertise with innovative tech solutions. Basha joined Alpha Kappa Psi in 2014 and was initiated into the Zeta Lambda Chapter at the University of Tennessee. She also serves as an advisor for the AKPsi colony at Brown University. In her career, Basha works behind the scenes at Givelify, the maker of the highest-rated mobile and online donation app, as a Search Engine Optimization Strategist. Her role ensures that generous people everywhere can find the simplest and easiest way to do good in the world every time they search for causes they care about. Outside of work, she joins a cohort of distinguished communication practitioners at Purdue University where she earns her master’s degree in communication. When she’s not working or studying, Basha owns and operates The Almenni Company, a design and content agency to help local Indianapolis businesses, especially black-owned businesses, build profitable brands and bring value to the communities they serve.

In today’s bonus episode, Chrissy and Desiree dive into their “new normal” as they adjust to COVID-19, personally and professionally. Previous guests lend their tips as well to give listeners helpful ways to move forward during this time.

Anyone out there looking to start a podcast? Today’s episode is for you! Lindsey Hein turned a small hobby into a huge podcast with more than 2.5 million downloads, and then expanded her business into a production company. Tune in for her secrets to success.

Lindsey Hein is the mother of four boys ages 1, 3, 5 and 7. She is the host of one of the top running podcasts “I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein” and the founder of the podcast network Sandyboy Productions. A distance runner herself, Lindsey has completed 16 marathons and coaches athletes to complete the distance both in person and virtually. 

Psi Upsilon members Jack Harmon and Kolemann Lutz went from brothers to business partners when they co-founded Journey Foundation in 2018. In today’s episode, Jack and Kole walk us through their once-in-a-lifetime motorbike trips through South America and Southeast Asia. As they tried to navigate the roads and find a place to sleep, they also documented their experience online to raise money for causes close to their hearts.

After graduating early with a bachelor’s degree in international business from the University of Mary Washington, Kolemann Lutz embarked on an 8,000 km Journey across 10 countries in Southeast Asia to support nonprofits empowering local youth education. Jack Harmon also graduated from the University of Mary Washington with a degree in economics. In 2015, Jack voyaged through South America while fundraising for depression awareness through the Josh Anderson Foundation.

In transforming a life passion into a life commitment, Kole, Jack and the team at Journey Foundation strive to empower others to begin a volunteer mission that exceeds one’s physical, mental, and philanthropic goals.