Empower Potential podcast

Community Impact & The Need for Male Mentors

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:00:00 GMT

In this episode of the Empower Potential podcast, we sit down with James Vossoughi, a long-time Big Brother to Zacary. Their 12-year match is a testament to the power of consistency, evolving from playground visits to helping Zacary navigate adulthood, bank accounts, and his first job.

James, a leader in affordable housing finance at JP Morgan Chase, discusses why Bay Area professionals have a duty to get involved and why we urgently need more male mentors to serve the boys currently on our waitlist.

🔗 Links & Resources:

Become a Big: volunteer.bayareabigs.org
Support our Mission: bbbsba.org/donate

About BBBSBA: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

#BBBSBA #EmpowerPotential #NonprofitPodcast #MaleMentorship

The Ripple Effects of Mentorship: 10 Years at BBBSBA

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:58:44 GMT

Mentorship isn't just about a one-to-one relationship; it’s about the ripple effect that relationship has on an entire community.

In this episode of the Empower Potential podcast, we sit down with Mary Jacob-Oviatt, Manager of Program Services - Quality at BBBSBA. Mary is a Bay Area native, a first-generation Filipina-American professional, and a first-time mom. She shares her journey of over 10 years with the agency and explains why the ripple effects of mentorship are the core of everything we do.

🔗 Links & Resources:

Become a Big in the Bay Area: bbbsba.org/mentor/

Donate to support more Matches: bbbsba.org/donate/

About BBBSBA: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

#BBBSBA #Mentorship #NonprofitPodcast #HumanConnection #BayAreaCommunity #EmpowerPotential

Making Hiring Human: The Future of Work

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:58:39 GMT

What does the "Future of Work" actually look like for the next generation of leaders?

In this episode of the Empower Potential podcast, we’re talking to Katie Fortunato, Co-Founder and EVP at Hire Innovations and President of The Onward & Upward Charitable Foundation. Katie is an expert in talent acquisition and a champion for women in leadership, with a background that spans from The Wall Street Journal to Hire Innovations.

Join us as we dive into Katie’s journey, the steps that led to her current role, and her advice for young people in today’s job market.

🔗 Links & Resources:

Become a Bay Area mentor: bbbsba.org/mentor.

Talent Market Index (as referenced in the episode): https://talivity.com/talent-market-index/january-2026

Follow Katie Fortunato, Hire Innovations, and Recruitics on LinkedIn: Katie Fortunato: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieclarkfortunato/

Hire Innovations: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hireinnovations/posts/?feedView=all

About BBBSBA: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

#BBBSBA #Jobstream #FutureOfWork

From Classroom to Boardroom: Financial Literacy & The Power of Mentorship

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 19:01:38 GMT

What happens when you combine the power of a mentor with the practical tools of financial literacy? You get a young person ready to take on the world.

Welcome to the season premiere of the Empower Potential podcast by Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area!

In this episode: We are joined by Liz Reidel, National Director of the SIFMA Foundation. Liz oversees the Stock Market Game, a program that has taught millions of students the fundamentals of investing. But her advice goes far beyond the numbers. She shares her personal pivot from elementary education to finance and reveals why "networking" is just another word for "community."

🔗 Links & Resources:

Learn more about becoming a Mentor: https://www.bbbsba.org/mentor

Check out The Stock Market Game channel: @TheStockMarketGameProgram

About BBBSBA: Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth.

#BBBSBA #SIFMA #NonprofitPodcast