ResponseABLE with Professor Nikki James

The episode reflects on the podcast’s first 40 episodes, including its launch, setbacks, and early interviews from across the globe. Nikki also discusses motivation, understanding one's strengths and weaknesses through metacognition, and staying in the flow zone. To learn more about ResponseABLE, check out the website www.responseable.org or follow Professor Nikki James on LinkedIn or Instagr...

Isabelle Grenier is a Co-op Advisor at Northeastern University, Licensed Mental Health Practitioner, friend, and lifelong learner. In this episode, Isabelle sits down with Nikki and Nora to reflect on the path that has brought her to where she is today. They explore the guidance Isabelle shares with her co-op students, along with the skills and perspectives that help us find balance and stability...

Sailing teaches you to live with your decisions — and so does entrepreneurship. This week, Professor Nikki James sits down with Alan Freeman, Northeastern University alum, lifelong sailboat racer, entrepreneur, and investor who supports founders through funding and ecosystem-building. Alan shares how a "safe" engineering degree gave way to a career in entrepreneurship, and how Northeaste...

Laura Weimer is a US Army Colonel and Harvard Business School Doctor of Philosophy. While inspiring, her path of service hasn't always been straightforward. In this episode, Laura sits down with Nikki to discuss her Army career, personal identity, and early life, from growing up as an Army brat to West Point ro deployments to academic endeavors. She shares wisdoms about choosing the best path...

Samantha Asprelli is the founder of Give n' Glow, a nonprofit that redirects excess beauty products to women who need them, and a 2026 Northeastern graduate. In the episode, Nikki and Samantha discuss balancing full-time work with leading Give n' Glow, starting an organization while still in college, building partnerships, and searching for a job post-grad.  To follow Samantha's wor...

Minh Mai is a 2026 D'amore McKim grad, early careerist at Citizens Bank, and overall student of life. In this episode, you will hear about the various people, decisions, and perspectives that led Minh to where he is today. He reflects on his background and the recruiting process at Citizens Bank, but also looks back to early childhood and high school years. To stay up to date on Minh's w...

Heatherjean MacNeil is a professor of Organizational Behavior at Northeastern University, founder, sustainability advocate, mother, researcher, and much more. In this episode, Heather and Nikki sit down in Maine to discuss everything from career shifts to the role of intuition in career planning. Heatherjean shares her story of becoming a founder and her path to professorship—she connects her own...

In this episode, Nikki sits down with Grace and Wayne Leroux discuss to their lives in Cape Town, paths to each other, and the steady growth of their venture, Running Late Club . They unpack the realization that more isn't always better and that clear values drive a dream forward.  To become involved with Running Late, check out their Instagram or website . Also, connect with Grace and Wayne...

The Cake Is Big Enough with Donna and Brent James ResponseABLE with Professor Nikki James Episode Summary In this episode, Nikki sits down with Donna and Brent James — married for over 24 years, parents of three, and co-founders of Genesis Travel Solutions in Cape Town, South Africa. Genesis is the company behind the logistics that make Nikki's Northeastern study abroad program possible, and...

Earl-Djehuti is a leader at TSIBA Business School in Cape Town, South Africa and partners with Nikki to facilite the partnership between TSIBA and Northeastern University each year. In the episode you will hear that Earl's leadership skills span far beyond the classroom and into many aspects of life. In the conversation you'll hear Nikki and Earl discuss topics from leadership, to ancest...

Episode Summary In this episode, recorded on the beach in Cape Town during the final days of Nikki's time in South Africa, she sits down with her friend Carmen Levendall — a motor mechanic turned laundromat owner turned community advocate. Carmen shares her winding path from a "lost teenager" in the northern suburbs of Cape Town to becoming one of the few women in South Africa'...

Brianna Holmes is an engineer turned entrepreneur in her 20s, on a mission to demystify the FE exam for engineering students. For engineers and non-engineers, Nikki's chat with Breanna is an empowering reminder of the power that mindset has on every hurdle we face. They discuss the pros and cons of a winding career path, tips for showing up as your best self, and what actually led Breanna to...

Sinethemba Dangazele is an entrepreneur, leader, and lifelong learner based in Cape Town, South Africa. Both fortunate enough to work with TSIBA Business School, Sinethemba sits down with Nikki to discuss his path from not even using the word "entrepreneur," to building a business, to teaching others about the path to entrepreneurship. His commitment to his dreams and genuine effort to m...

This episode marks the six-month milestone of ResponsABLE. Nikki hops on the mic today to reflect on her podcasting journey. She shares the evolution of ResponABLE's mission and vision and as well as her key learnings so far.  As mentioned in the episode, learn more about Systems Theory and Actor-Network Theory in the attached links. To learn more about ResponseABLE, check out the website www...

Natasha and Ian Miller are the founders of Siyazana , an organization which empowers young people in South Africa with education, mentorship, and resources. While Siyazna does a variety of work, their goal is to “cultivate agents of change who will challenge prevailing socio-economic norms and inspire subsequent generations.” In this episode, you’ll hear about how Siyazana began, along with Ian an...

Clayton Jardine is young leader, community builder, and social impact worker based in Cape Town, South Africa. In this episode, Nikki and Clayton sit down to Clayton's journey from being a student to working in social impact. From the way he's made the most of challenging moments, to his creative problem solving in both personal and professional life, listeners are sure to take something...

Marisa Moloto's path led her path from speech therapy, to public health , to consulting to social entrepreneurship, and to eventually founding Lefika Foundation in 2018, a social innovation consultancy that specializes in transformative social cohesion. In this episode. Maurisa and Nikki discuss everything from Maurisa's winding path, to the blossoming of their friendship, to how they bo...

Yolisa Palesa Tsoaeli is a photographer, storyteller, and UX designer, but she is also so much more. At her core, Yolisa has a passion for people which is revealed in all of the work that she does. In this episode, Yolisa and Nikki sit down in Cape Town to discuss Yolisa's journey so far, her reflections on being two years post-grad, and her hopes for the future. Yolisa's vivacious spiri...

Barry Lewis is an architect from London turned social-entrepreneur based in Cape Town, South Africa. He is the founder of UBU Homes, an organization which creates fireproof, bullet-resistant, thermally efficient homes and spaces of belonging. In their conversation, Nikki and Barry discuss Barry's switch from commercial work to impact work in architecture and Barry shares how he found himself...

Liana Christy is a Massachusetts native and distinguished professional in the dental sales industry. In this episode, Nikki and Liana sit down to discuss how Liana knew this was the right path for her and the steps that led her to success. Mentorship, trust, and building confidence one day at a time all emerge as themes in Liana's story.  To stay connected with Liana and learn more about her...

This week Nikki has on a former student (Aishu) as well as her employer (Robin), who is also a great friend of Nikki's. Robin and Aishu both work for the New England Employee Benefits Council ( NEEBC ), a non-profit that educates, supports, and even sponsors employees and employers across the region.  The conversation highlights both sides of the hiring journey an is especially valuable given...

Teona Zak is an LA-based singer-songwriter who graduated from Boston's Berklee College of music in 2023. Her story involves grace, grit, and a decision to be in the right place at the right time. In this episode, Nikki and Teona chat about life on the East and West coast, unpacking how there is a purpose for both. They also discuss what it's been like for Teona to experience  the music i...

Neeraj is a Northeastern Alumni who now works at Bloomberg in New York City. With experience from financial services, to tech, to social innovation, Neeraj offers insightful and actionable job search tips, many of which led him to where he is today.  In this episode Nikki and Neeraj sit down to talk about post-grad life, takeaways from co-op experiences, the job search process, and how to make the...

Jessie Wang is a former student of Nikki's who graduated from Northeastern in 2024. During her last year at Northeastern she decided to bet on herself and apply to grad school. She ended up getting her Masters Degree and studying across the world through NYU.  In this episode Nikki and Jessie discuss the limits that we put on ourselves and the mindset it takes to overcome them. Jessie shares...

Shauna Orandi is a recent Northeastern graduate, a former student of Nikki's, and an all around rockstar in academics, work, and as a advocate for sustainability. In the conversation today, Nikki and Shauna celebrate Earth Day by chatting outdoors and enjoying the LA sunshine. Shauna discusses her post-grad journey, aspirations for the future, and many insightful lessons she's learned al...