Lift Every Voice

Mentorship helps individuals develop professional fluency by learning from others who mastered it long before joining the team. Without this support, even hardworking individuals may feel they lack a clear, unwritten guide.    In this episode, Jess Thornton, an Industrial and Organizational Psychology practitioner, discusses how mentorship builds confidence, expands access to professional norms, a...

Many careers are built not through perfectly planned paths, but through relationships, persistence, and a willingness to ask for help. In complex, people-centered systems like healthcare and public policy, mentorship plays a critical role in navigating uncertainty and building long-term impact.   In this episode, Jack Barry, former American Hospital Association leader and seasoned healthcare advoc...

Mentorship often begins informally, through everyday interactions, encouragement, and exposure to new opportunities. However, access to mentorship can remain uneven across organizations.   In this episode, Wendy Price, Director of Workforce Development at Sound Transit, discusses how mentorship expands access to information, strengthens career pathways, and supports both individual growth and orga...

Mentorship without intentional design becomes inconsistent, unclear, and difficult to scale across organizations.   In this episode, Ryan Rosiello, Leadership Development Specialist, discusses how mentorship programs can be strengthened through clear structure, defined roles, and a focus on measurable skill development.   In this episode, we discuss: •      Why mentorship programs require both str...

Many communities offer mentorship, but few design it as a core component of workforce systems. In public-sector environments, mentorship is often treated as supplemental rather than as a driver of long-term impact.   In this episode, Glenn McCray, K–12 Programs Advisor at the Seattle Department of Education and Early Learning, discusses how mentorship is embedded within public investment strategie...

Mentorship is often described as a relationship, but this season has shown that it is also a structure, a practice, and a pathway for making opportunity easier to navigate. At the midpoint of  Lift Every Voice , this episode pauses to reflect on what the first two arcs revealed about mentorship as both a personal support system and an organizational design strategy. In this episode, Melvin Smith r...

Learners favor positions in which they are active participants in shaping their professional pathways because autonomy can enhance relevance and relatability. In this episode, Genevieve Clayton of the Longmont Area Chamber of Commerce discusses the Chamber Student Network (CSN). This student-led initiative that connects learners with local businesses through mentorship, community engagement, and e...

Entering a new industry can be difficult, and without proper guidance, many newcomers struggle to grasp its terminology, specialized areas of expertise, and potential career paths. In this episode, Jen Garcia of HIMSS Washington discusses how association-based mentorship programs can create clearer entry points into careers. We discuss⁠: How curiosity and mentorship shaped a career pivot Why newco...

Mentorship is often treated as a program. But what happens when organizations treat it as infrastructure for workforce development? In this episode, learning and performance expert Wendi Braun explores how mentorship connects adult learning, leadership development, and organizational systems. Wendi shares how mentorship programs can improve employee outcomes, organizational performance, and even f...

Many professionals start their careers with mentorship from those around them, influencing their development at critical moments. In this episode, Dr. Brandon Erby shares how mentorship guided his journey from his community in Michigan to academic pursuits across the eastern United States, and how these experiences strengthened his resolve to serve as a bridge for others in similar paths.   In thi...

Many creative professionals begin their careers without mentors to guide them on the right pathways. In rapidly changing fields like podcasting, this can lead to feelings of isolation, slow progress, and missed opportunities to develop sustainable careers. In this episode, Nancy Sanchez, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Podcast Academy, talks about how they are redefining mentorship by foster...

Many first-generation learners arrive on campus without visibility into the systems that shape their academic success and contribute to their career goals. When mentorship pathways are unclear, learners may isolate, disengage, or leave before discovering the support available to them. In this episode, Dr. Kendall Laster, Director of Student Success at Central Alabama Community College, discusses h...

Mentorship is often described as encouragement, guidance, or professional support. Yet in many workforce conversations, it is treated as optional or informal rather than as essential to how people access, navigate, and succeed within institutions, organizations, or teams. In this opening episode, Melvin Smith, founder of Linked Innovations and host of Lift Every Voice, introduces the season's...

Hey, Interested in learning what the show is about? Start here for an overview. Or better yet, click here to listen to our pilot episode. Like what you hear? Subscribe, and leave a rating and review. They are appreciated. Until next time! Best, Melvin

In this conversation, Melvin sits down with Chris Sullivan, Interim Vice President of Instruction at Seattle Central College, who offers a reflection on the institution’s approach to workforce education. Rooted in equity and social justice, Chris outlines a reverse-design approach that prioritizes the needs of marginalized learners over industry demands. He emphasizes the importance of mission-ali...