Rudy Parra is a Mechatronics & Lab Technician at GridFlow, where he supports the development of next-generation lithium-sulfur flow batteries. He specializes in IoT integration, rapid prototyping, and lab operations, helping bridge the gap between R&D and real-world energy solutions. With a background in robotics and automation, Rudy is passionate about building systems that are efficient, scalable, and safe for the grid of tomorrow. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of t...
Jun 03, 2025•52 min
Dr. David Gruder is a Corporate Counsel who is a 12-award-winning multi-bestselling clinical and organizational psychologist. As an Executive Team Orchestrator and Culture Catalyst, he makes integrity profitable by equipping socially responsible businesses with missing mindsets, skillsets, and procedures to actualize their unique calling in helping humanity’s most elevated future emerge. As President of Integrity Culture Systems™ and director of the Center for Enlightened Self-Sovereignty™, he p...
May 20, 2025•50 min
Former attorney turned space advocate, Bryce Kennedy is the Executive Director of SpaceValley Foundation and Space Connectivity Officer under the International Telecommunication Union and UN. He works with emerging economies to ensure that they have a place in space. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: SpaceValley Foundation site I...
May 13, 2025•54 min
Owen, a former Global Energy Manager at a Fortune 500 company, implemented $60M in clean technology before founding lumeo, a niche ESCO that hit eight figures in three years. After a successful exit, he launched ZNE Capital to decarbonize commercial real estate, acquiring 654 units worth $75M. Frustrated by solar deployment challenges, he founded Shine—now a leading turnkey solar solution for multifamily properties. Shine is set to decarbonize 200,000 apartment units with onsite solar by 2030, a...
Apr 29, 2025•48 min
Sona Khosla, Chief Impact Officer at Benevity, has worked with mission-driven organizations for over 15 years. As Chief Impact Officer, she is responsible for infusing impact into Benevity’s business and culture and overseeing the company’s own impact and inclusion initiatives. At the helm of Benevity Impact Labs, an incubator and resource hub, Sona and her team bring cutting-edge data, research, insights and best practices to help organizations and individuals maximize their impact and authenti...
Apr 22, 2025•51 min
Benjamin Gardner is the Chief Executive Officer of Dekker Designs and a working principal of the D/P/S commercial group, Benjamin is dedicated to improving the built environment using skills acquired from combined backgrounds in architecture, construction, and construction management. Benjamin has been with Dekker/Perich/Sabatini since 2001, and has led multiple project teams through all phases of planning, design, and construction administration. His years with D/P/S have given him a breadth of...
Apr 15, 2025•47 min
Once called a “unicorn” for her entrepreneurial approach, Vicki Apodaca is a seasoned marketer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Vicki has been a founding member of several tech startups (Phalanx, StellarFi, Joust, and Soply), and have also been through two exits (Joust acquired by ZenBusiness, Starship HSA acquired by Optum). Her passion in go-to-market and marketing strategy has led her to now be a Fractional CMO and Advisor across several startups worldwide. A native Burqueña, Vicki co-found...
Apr 08, 2025•49 min
Paul Zelizer is the host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast, the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcast, and has been a Business Coach who specializes in working with social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders for the past 18 years. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Market research episode NMClimate newsletter Four Cor...
Apr 01, 2025•19 min
Manuela Guzmán is the Head of Network at Top Tier Impact (TTI), a global ecosystem of 600+ investors, founders, and corporates dedicated to solving the world’s most pressing challenges. She leads TTI’s network strategy, fostering high-impact connections that drive investments, deal flow, and partnerships across key hubs like London, New York, San Francisco, Paris, Singapore, Bali, and Dubai. A systems thinker with a strategic and creative approach, she excels at simplifying complexity and enabli...
Mar 25, 2025•47 min
David Reiling is the President and CEO of Sunrise Banks, a mission-driven, values-based bank with locations in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. David has worked in the community development banking industry for more than 25 years. He is a social entrepreneur and innovator who strives to forge meaningful partnerships, drive sustainable economic growth and create financial empowerment for all. Sunrise Banks site Social Venture Network site Self Online Credit Builder P...
Mar 18, 2025•51 min
For four decades, Rebecca “Puck” Stair has built teams to tackle complex, high-profile, high-dollar projects. In 2023, she came to the New Mexico state energy office after two decades in the New Mexico film industry, where she worked as a producer and location manager on over a hundred films, television shows, commercials and other media projects, including podcasts and conferences for the Franciscan monk Father Richard Rohr. In 2020, she ran for NM Senate, and subsequently served as a policy an...
Mar 04, 2025•49 min
Paul Zelizer is the host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast, the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcast, and has been a Business Coach who specializes in working with social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders for the past 18 years. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Bloomberg Law article Hiring Hub site Rose Velasquez ...
Feb 25, 2025•27 min
Dana Koller is President and CEO of Kactus Brewery, a highly community active brewing company and the Executive Director of UN-17. UN-17 is on track to be the #1 resource within New Mexico to help guide businesses and governments to accomplishing the 17 goals of sustainable development set by the United Nations. With a proven track record of success and quality business management, Dana is turning his focus to encouraging the largest shift in making New Mexico's private sector the leader in the ...
Feb 18, 2025•53 min
Ben Shultz is a dedicated product/marketing manager at Aqua Membranes, where he combines his background in environmental planning and design with strong relationship-building and event-planning skills to drive innovative water treatment and provide clear messaging to customers and investors alike. Having started as a production technician, Ben quickly demonstrated his ability to adapt and excel, gaining hands-on experience in membrane technology and design that led him to his current role. Today...
Feb 11, 2025•49 min
Kristy Drutman, otherwise known as “Browngirl Green” is a speaker, consultant, media producer, and environmental educator passionate about working at the intersections between media, diversity, and environmentalism. As a young entrepreneur, Kristy has educated hundreds of thousands of people across the globe about modern-day environmental issues through speeches and media content as well as facilitates workshops centered around environmental media and storytelling in cities across the United Sta...
Jan 28, 2025•46 min
Paul Zelizer is the host of the Awarepreneurs Podcast, one of the world’s longest running social entrepreneur podcasts, and has been a Business Coach for social entrepreneurs and climate tech startups for over 17 years. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: NMClimate email signup Work on Climate My Climate Journey Carbon Collective W...
Jan 21, 2025•34 min
As CEO of Mango Automotive, Jesse’s vision is not just to lead but to revolutionize the automotive repair industry. They are ambitiously scaling towards a $100 million empire in the EV repair and maintenance domain, balancing this with their expertise in traditional gasoline-powered vehicles. This journey is fueled by a commitment to sustainable business practices and creating an inclusive environment for their workforce and clientele. Jesse likes to say they are not just fixing cars; they are s...
Jan 14, 2025•50 min
Representative Andrea D. Romero is a daughter of New Mexico. After attending the Santa Fe Public Schools, Andrea graduated from Stanford University with a degree in Political Science and received her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. She has dedicated herself to the growth of Northern New Mexico’s community, economic, and environmental vitality through her small business and volunteer service to various organizations throughout the region. In so doing, Andrea serves as a volu...
Jan 07, 2025•48 min
Welcome to another episode of Awarepreneurs with your host, Paul Zelizer. In today's special solo episode, Paul dives into three critical topics that will shape the landscape for social entrepreneurs and climate tech founders as we head into 2025. We'll explore the game-changing $58 billion New Mexico Permanent Fund and its impact on the state's thriving start-up ecosystem, the anticipated headwinds and challenges for impact-driven businesses in the coming year, and the importance of embracing t...
Dec 03, 2024•22 min
Rose Velasquez is the CEO of Hiring Hub, an executive recruitment firm specializing in helping high-performing companies find top talent. With over a decade of experience, Rose is passionate about matching individuals with roles that align with their true strengths. She believes the right job can transform lives and drive organizational success. A native of Arizona, Rose relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2002 and built her career around empowering job seekers and employers. Her commitment ...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min
Tony Onwuchekwa aka Tony Doe is an Audio Content Strategist, with years of experience on-air, in production and management for multi-format radio stations, most recently at 93.7 FM, Onitsha, where he led a team of on-air talents as Programmes’ Manager to top 3 status in the region, growing the audience share by 75% in 3 months. He currently curates, produces and hosts the informative hybrid newsletter-podcast, ‘Into The Podverse’, which explores challenges and opportunities for podcasters from a...
Nov 19, 2024•53 min
Paul Zelizer is a business coach and consultant that has specialized in supporting social entrepreneurs for the past 17 years. And, he's the host of the Awarepreneurs podcast - which is now one of the longest running social entrepreneur podcasts in the world. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Paul's coaching site Era92 Creative s...
Nov 12, 2024•25 min
Dan Barker is the President and CEO of Halcyon, an incubator and investor in early-stage, impact-driven startups from around the globe. Dan joined Halcyon from the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth where he was vice president focused on supporting cutting-edge research on financial inclusion and entrepreneurship. Prior to Mastercard, Dan was vice president for social impact at BlackRock. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session...
Nov 05, 2024•49 min
Achyuta Adhvaryu is a Tata Chancellor's Endowed Professor of Economics, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Co-founder and CEO of the Good Business Lab. Good Business Lab uses rigorous research to find a common ground between worker wellbeing and business interests. They have positively impacted the lives of 200K+ workers in 30 ongoing projects around the world. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you c...
Oct 29, 2024•50 min
Brando Crespi is the Founder and Executive Chair of Global Biochar Inc, a company focused on the deployment of biochar and green charcoal as the most effective way to mitigate our climate crisis while also addressing food security, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and global health issues. He also focuses on philanthropic and advisory work. As the co-founder in 1985, and still executive vice-chair of the Brazilian-born NGO Pro Natura International (PNI), for more than three decades, Crespi has ...
Oct 22, 2024•54 min
Paul Zelizer is a business coach and consultant that has specialized in supporting social entrepreneurs for the past 17 years. And, he's the host of the Awarepreneurs podcast - which is now one of the longest running social entrepreneur podcasts in the world. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: Paul's coaching site Era92 Creative s...
Oct 08, 2024•21 min
Wendy Gonzales is the CEO of Sama, a global leader in data annotation, supervised fine-tuning, and model evaluation for computer vision and generative AI applications. Driven by a mission to expand opportunities through the digital economy, their social business model has helped over 65,000 people lift themselves out of poverty. Sama has worked with companies like Google, Ford, eBay, and Microsoft. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy S...
Oct 01, 2024•50 min
Carlos Parea is the CEO & Co-founder of Terra Vera, a company dedicated to making it easier for farmers to grow valuable crops without the use of synthetic pesticides that are often linked to major environmental damage and health issues in your food. Their solutions are people, plant, pollinator and planet friendly and can unlock significant profitability. Carlos is particularly excited about the work they are doing to help save honeybees. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of...
Sep 17, 2024•52 min
Levar Jackson is the Founder and CEO of the Yogh Group, a sustainable and impactful hotel development and management group. Yogh Group is making great strides to be the vanguard of hospitality and sustainability as society transitions to an interconnected, intelligent, and low carbon world. This episode is sponsored by the coaching company of the host, Paul Zelizer. Consider a Strategy Session if you can use support growing your impact business. Resources mentioned in this episode include: The Y...
Sep 10, 2024•48 min
David Gaines is the CEO and Chief Visionary for La Terza Coffee and the author of the newly released book Radical Business, The Root of Your Work and How It Can Change the World. I'm also honored to say David interviewed me in October of last year for the Social Enterprise Alliance podcast where he has just recently stepped down from being Board Chair after a long term there, and we also got to connect in person when David was recently here in Albuquerque for an event called Creating a Community...
Sep 03, 2024•54 min
