What drives innovation? Andrew Bialecki, CEO and president of Klaviyo, says it’s people willing to take chances and “embrace the willingness to be wrong.”

“If you surround yourself with a lot of other ambitious, thoughtful people, you're just naturally going to want to try things,” says Bialecki, one of the company’s co-founders. “At Klaviyo, we're not afraid to take risks.”

In this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, Bialecki not only details the history and philosophy of Klaviyo – a tech company providing an automation platform for email and SMS marketing – but shares a pivotal piece of career advice.

If you're not good at something yet,” he says, “just get your foot in that door, crack it open an inch and then don't ever let somebody stop you from opening it all the way.”

Listen to the episode to hear more from Bialecki about:

• Two milestones not celebrated at Klaviyo (11:15)
• What he finds interesting about AI (16:10)
• His career aspiration as a child (22:43)
• The hobby he pursues in his spare time (24:42)

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The Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund’s goal, says Dr. Makeeba McCreary, is to raise $100 million to support nonprofit leaders of color.

In this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, McCreary, president of the fund, delves into how the organization is disrupting the philanthropy sector.

McCreary, born and raised in Boston’s South End, launched her career in service to others, which included working in shelters, and theatrical performances before moving to “education policy.”

“I really wanted to be a part of solutions around systems issues that I thought could have made a real difference for some of my friends who I grew up with that didn't have as many successes, I guess you could say, as I did,” McCreary says.

Listen to the episode to hear more from McCreary about:

• Her guiding principle (12:01)
• Advice to her younger self (13:26)
• What she finds troubling (15:06)
• Why impatience is necessary (22:10)

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The New England Aquarium, says president and CEO Vikki Spruill, is far more than a tourist attraction.

In this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, Spruill details the scope and significance of the 54-year-old institution’s contributions – research, education and advocacy, among others – to Boston and far beyond the city limits.

As the leader of a marine-based nonprofit with a workforce of 290 and two campuses, Spruill is passionate about climate resiliency, ocean conservation and the role the aquarium plays in furthering those objectives.

The aquarium’s mission is working “for a vital and vibrant ocean for all,” Spruill says. “We hope to inspire everyone to form a deeper connection with the ocean and take action to protect it.”

Listen to the episode to hear more from Spruill on:

• The aquarium’s plastic-free gift shop (6:04)
• “Working at the speed of trust” (9:39)
• The job of a leader (16:56)
• Her wish for Boston (26:21)

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Robert Lewis Jr. will never forget Boston’s desegregation busing crisis in the 1970s – an intensely volatile period during which his home was firebombed.

In this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, Lewis, now Nicholas President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and a longtime community leader, reveals how the unrest became the genesis for his purpose. Lewis, who was 16 when his East Boston home was targeted, vowed “to do work that's about bringing people together, about bringing communities together."

A member of the Boys & Girls Clubs during his childhood, Lewis now helms an organization with eight locations, whose future, he says, is “around academics, workforce readiness, and health and wellness.

“We want the Boys & Girls Clubs to be the place that our teens are excited about,” he says.

Listen to the episode to hear more from Lewis on:

• What he does when he’s not working (9:16)
• “Passion points” providing access to opportunities for young people (20:07)
• His life-threatening battle with Covid (21:37)
• What’s on his bucket list (31:37)

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As president and CEO of Meet Boston, Martha Sheridan’s job is to position Boston “as one of the premier destinations in the world.”

On this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, Sheridan details how she and her 501(c)(6) organization – that markets the Boston area as a destination for meetings, conventions and leisure visits – accomplishes that goal.

“if we don't invite them, they're not going to come back, so our work is incredibly valuable,” Sheridan says.

Meet Boston’s efforts are bolstered by its commitments to boosting workforce development in the hospitality sector and showcasing nontraditional visitor destinations, like Dorchester, East Boston and Roxbury.

Listen to the episode to hear more from Sheridan on:

• Her former job as a tour director on motor coaches. (3:23)
• Engaging and retaining Meet Boston’s team through hybrid work. (10:34)
• Avoiding the mistake of “burning a bridge.” (20:59)
• The most overlooked spot in Boston. (23:50)

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Perhaps there’s no one better to lead the academic institution ranked No. 1 in entrepreneurship by U.S. News & World Report than a serial entrepreneur who developed a small Utah business into a national franchise brand.

On this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast, Stephen Spinelli, Ph.D., details “the intersection between business” and Babson College, where he is president. Spinelli’s entrepreneurial journey began right out of college when he and several partners crafted a plan to buy a quick-service oil change business they eventually rebranded as Jiffy Lube International.

After a slow start, Spinelli thought, “Boy, I’m either not good enough or I’m not educated enough. And so I made the decision. If I wasn’t educated enough, I could try to get some (entrepreneurial) education.” That led him to Babson, where he earned an MBA and, later, a doctorate in economics from the University of London.

Spinelli was named Babson’s 14th president in 2019.

“I think the education system, and in particular, the colleges and universities (in Massachusetts) are an exceptional network of intellectual, human, sociological, spiritual capital that is rare in the history of the world,” Spinelli says.

Listen to the episode to hear more from Spinelli on:

• His first job as a health care administrator. (2:08)
• “Hard lessons” learned about failure. (13:42)
• One thing people don’t know about him. (22:00)
• His wish for Boston. (24:32)

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For Sarah Iselin, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts, being raised by parents who led “lives of service” has had a huge impact on her career choices – including her current executive role with a mission-driven, not-for-profit health care plan.

“Our new mission is to show up for everyone like they're the only one,” says Iselin on this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast. “And our core values are (to) be the example, do what's right, not what's easy, be kind, act with humility and heart, be courageous, ask questions, seek diverse perspectives, bring bold ideas and make them happen and be community focused, always.”

Listen to the episode to hear more from Iselin about:

• De-stigmatizing mental health. (9:44)
• How the company uses AI to provide care. (13:25)
• Her advice for career novices. (19:09)
• What’s driving her company’s commitment to DEI. (23:08)

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The arts’ contribution to the state’s GDP is significant, says Michael Bobbitt, executive director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The sector in Massachusetts is a $27.2 billion industry, Bobbitt says on this episode of the PNC C-Speak podcast. That’s based on a 2021 U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis report.

“We know that arts are great for supporting people's health needs and their education needs, but also great for business,” says Bobbitt. “The more we can build those relationships with our sector and those sectors, the more everyone will benefit from having this deep infusion of arts and culture.”

The council’s statewide initiatives range from providing grants for individuals, organizations and groups statewide to building relationships with industries and sectors to help support its activities.

Listen to the episode to hear more from Bobbitt about:

• His entry into the arts. [3:07]
• Past and current musicals he’s written. [4:47]
• The council’s Culture Rx arts “prescription.” [8:31]
• Why public support for the arts is important. [14:04]

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