JobMakers

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JobMakers is a weekly podcast, produced by Pioneer Institute and the Immigrant Learning Center, in which Denzil Mohammed explores the world of risk-taking immigrants, who create new products, services and jobs in New England and across the United States.

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    • Nov 30, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 164 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from JobMakers

    E81. Navigating Labor Shortages: The Role of Immigrants and the Untapped Potential of Schedule A

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Lindsay Milliken. Milliken underscores the current unprecedented combination of low unemployment and high job openings, particularly in sectors like hospitality, healthcare, and education. She addresses the vital role immigrants play in the workforce, and advocates for leveraging Schedule A, a regulation that expedites the green card process... Source

    Navigating Labor Shortages: The Role of Immigrants and the Untapped Potential of Schedule A

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 25:16


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Lindsay Milliken. Milliken underscores the current unprecedented combination of low unemployment and high job openings, particularly in sectors like hospitality, healthcare, and education. She addresses the vital role immigrants play in the workforce, and advocates for leveraging Schedule A, a regulation that expedites the green card process for occupations facing high labor demand. Milliken co-authored an op-ed in the Salt Lake Tribune that proposes updating Schedule A to reflect contemporary demands and streamline the immigration process, pointing to Utah as a positive example of state-level immigrant integration.

    E80. Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Natalia Frois’ Journey to Success in Building Business Networks on Cape Cod

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023


    This week on Jobmakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Natalia Frois, a Brazilian immigrant and CEO of International Business Relations in Massachusetts. She discusses how she supports immigrants and Hispanic entrepreneurs by offering classes, resources, and English education, drawing on her trilingual skills and personal experience. Frois shares how her mission aids business success and... Source

    Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs: Natalia Frois' Journey to Success in Building Business Networks on Cape Cod

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 17:59


    This week on Jobmakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Natalia Frois, a Brazilian immigrant and CEO of International Business Relations in Massachusetts. She discusses how she supports immigrants and Hispanic entrepreneurs by offering classes, resources, and English education, drawing on her trilingual skills and personal experience. Frois shares how her mission aids business success and community integration.

    E79. Rising Dough: The Blue Frog Bakery Journey, Immigration, and Community Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023


    This week on Jobmakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Brad Brown, owner of Blue Frog Bakery in Jamaica Plain. Mr. Brown, an immigrant entrepreneur, discusses his arrival in the U.S., the founding and growth of Blue Frog Bakery, favorite products, community engagement, and the broader impact of immigration in their neighborhood and beyond. Source

    Rising Dough: The Blue Frog Bakery Journey, Immigration, and Community Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 20:30


    This week on Jobmakers, host Denzil Mohammed interviews Brad Brown, owner of Blue Frog Bakery in Jamaica Plain. Mr. Brown, an immigrant entrepreneur, discusses his arrival in the U.S., the founding and growth of Blue Frog Bakery, favorite products, community engagement, and the broader impact of immigration in their neighborhood and beyond.

    E78. Adam Ozimek: Immigration Policy Is Innovation Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023


    The United States is built on all kinds of immigrants with all kinds of skills and experiences. While politicians might have us believe immigration is a divisive issue, the fact is Americans across the political spectrum agree at least on this: High-skilled immigrants are good for the country, and we need more of them. For Dr. Adam Ozimek, formerly of Moody’s Analytics and now Chief Economist at... Source

    Adam Ozimek: Immigration Policy Is Innovation Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2023 22:07


    The United States is built on all kinds of immigrants with all kinds of skills and experiences. While politicians might have us believe immigration is a divisive issue, the fact is Americans across the political spectrum agree at least on this: High-skilled immigrants are good for the country, and we need more of them. For Dr. Adam Ozimek, formerly of Moody's Analytics and now Chief Economist at the Economic Innovation Group, a bipartisan public policy group in Washington D.C. working toward a more dynamic and inclusive economy, not only is immigration economic development itself, but immigration policy is also innovation policy.

    E77. Sebastian Corbat Brings Us Healthy Foods ‘From the South’

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023


    Immigrants move for many reasons, and sometimes it can be a matter of life or death if they don’t uproot. But no matter where they’re from, they enrich the cultural landscape of this country while enjoying the freedom and protection the U.S. offers. Sebastian Corbat came to the U.S. for life-saving treatment, and post-op therapy gave him both a new lease on life and a business idea: We should all... Source

    Sebastian Corbat Brings Us Healthy Foods 'From the South'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2023 20:47


    Immigrants move for many reasons, and sometimes it can be a matter of life or death if they don't uproot. But no matter where they're from, they enrich the cultural landscape of this country while enjoying the freedom and protection the U.S. offers. Sebastian Corbat came to the U.S. for life-saving treatment, and post-op therapy gave him both a new lease on life and a business idea: We should all have access to healthy, organic and tasty foods. So Sebastian went about helping his communities eat healthily with the empanadas he grew up preparing in his mother's kitchen.

    E150. Benjamin F.Jones Shows How Immigrants Are a Boon for the U.S.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023


    The premise of this podcast is that immigrants are job makers. But does this bear out in the data? Prof. Benjamin F. Jones, former economic advisor in the U.S. Treasury and the White House and now Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the Kellog School of Management at Northwestern University, shows that not only do the data show that immigrants are far more likely to start a business in... Source

    Benjamin F.Jones Shows How Immigrants Are a Boon for the U.S.

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2023 22:20


    The premise of this podcast is that immigrants are job makers. But does this bear out in the data? Prof. Benjamin F. Jones, former economic advisor in the U.S. Treasury and the White House and now Professor of Entrepreneurship and Strategy at the Kellog School of Management at Northwestern University, shows that not only do the data show that immigrants are far more likely to start a business in the U.S., they are also innovating at a higher rate that benefits the nation.

    Duker Cultivates Nourishing Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023


    This week on JobMakers Denzil interviews Chening Duker, founder of GoodPluck, a farm-to-table delivery serivice that is transforming the lives of Michiganders and is enriched by Duker’s personal heritage and global perspective on organic agriculture. Source

    Duker Cultivates Nourishing Solutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 22:01


    This week on JobMakers Denzil interviews Chening Duker, founder of GoodPluck, a farm-to-table delivery service that is transforming the lives of Michiganders and is enriched by Duker's personal heritage and global perspective on organic agriculture.

    Miriam Kattumuri Keeps Us Healthy and Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 15:59


    Immigrants are adept at innovation: creating products and services that make life better for all Americans, and bringing their own cultures and practices to enrich their new homeland. For Miriam Kattumuri, immigrant from India and founder of Miriam's Earthen Cookware, which manufactures 100 percent non-toxic, cookware made entirely of clay and entirely in the U.S., her innovation conserves the environment while taking on the most basic tool to get food in our bodies: our pots and pans. Miriam Kattumuri is the founder of Miriams Earthen Cookware, a pioneering all-American company that produces all-natural, 100% non-toxic cookware that is designed to enhance the flavor, nutrients, and health benefits of food. With over 12 years of experience in this industry, Miriam is dedicated to creating products that are not only safe and healthy, but also durable and long-lasting. She is passionate about helping people improve their cooking experience and overall well-being using her innovative cookware. She graduated and majored in human psychology in college and is a recipient of the Streetwise MBA program sponsored by the City of Boston. She is also the founder of the "Full Body Nourishment Cooking" Program (launching soon), with trained brand ambassadors in all states who teach healthy cooking for a naturally thriving body.

    E74. Miriam Kattumuri Keeps Us Healthy and Green

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023


    Immigrants are adept at innovation: creating products and services that make life better for all Americans, and bringing their own cultures and practices to enrich their new homeland. For Miriam Kattumuri, immigrant from India and founder of Miriam’s Earthen Cookware, her innovation is a way to prevent cancers and other diseases, as well as conserve the environment by taking on the most basic tool... Source

    E73. Erick Widman, Esq.: Immigrants Can Ease Worker Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 22:29


    The immigration system in the United States is complex, to say the least. Visa categories for nearly every letter of the alphabet, exemptions, restrictions, rule changes with every new federal administration. We need more workers, innovators and entrepreneurs in an increasingly competitive world and amid an historic worker shortage and cash-strapped social safety systems due to a greying workforce. Source

    Erick Widman, Esq.: Immigrants Can Ease Worker Shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2023 22:30


    The immigration system in the United States is complex, to say the least. Visa categories for nearly every letter of the alphabet, exemptions, restrictions, rule changes with every new federal administration. We need more workers, innovators and entrepreneurs in an increasingly competitive world and amid an historic worker shortage and cash-strapped social safety systems due to a greying workforce. Source

    E72. Julianne Zimmerman on the Inventive Legacies of Immigrants

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 22:49


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Julianne Zimmerman, managing director at Reinventure Capital, lecturer on Social Entrepreneurship at Tufts University (and named to Forbes’ 2022 “50 Over 50” list). Julianne sees first-hand how immigrants collaborate with the U.S.-born to create meaningful inventions that solve real problems – but how rhetoric, policy, and an outdated system... Source

    Julianne Zimmerman on the Inventive Legacies of Immigrants

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 22:51


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Julianne Zimmerman, managing director at Reinventure Capital, lecturer on Social Entrepreneurship at Tufts University (and named to Forbes' 2022 “50 Over 50” list). Julianne sees first-hand how immigrants collaborate with the U.S.-born to create meaningful inventions that solve real problems – but how rhetoric, policy, and an outdated system... Source

    Joséphine Erni on Bringing Swiss Innovation to the U.S. Market

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 21:28


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Joséphine Erni, Innovation Lead at Swissnex in Boston and New York, and immigrant from Switzerland. She explains how building collaborations between the highly entrepreneurial Swiss and the world's biggest market, the U.S., gives rise to incredible innovations that benefit the world. She shares how Swissnex, the world's first “science... Source

    E71. Joséphine Erni on Bringing Swiss Innovation to the U.S. Market

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 21:26


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Joséphine Erni, Innovation Lead at Swissnex in Boston and New York, and immigrant from Switzerland. She explains how building collaborations between the highly entrepreneurial Swiss and the world’s biggest market, the U.S., gives rise to incredible innovations that benefit the world. She shares how Swissnex, the world’s first “science... Source

    E70. Josh Bedi on How Immigrants Boost Native Entrepreneurship

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 21:42


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Joshua Bedi, child of an immigrant and postdoctoral researcher in entrepreneurship in the Department of Strategy and Innovation at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. He is the son of an immigrant who relocated from India to Jackson, Mississippi, and started a business. It was a simple neighborhood gas station, but also a symbol of... Source

    Josh Bedi on How Immigrants Boost Native Entrepreneurship

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 21:43


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Joshua Bedi, child of an immigrant and postdoctoral researcher in entrepreneurship in the Department of Strategy and Innovation at Copenhagen Business School in Denmark. He is the son of an immigrant who relocated from India to Jackson, Mississippi, and started a business. It was a simple neighborhood gas station, but also a symbol of... Source

    Steve Tobocman and Mamba Hamissi on How Refugees Are Revitalizing Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 22:45


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Steve Tobocman, head of the economic development nonprofit Global Detroit, and one of the thousands of refugee business owners he's assisted, Mamba Hamissi, Burundi native and co-founder of Baobab Fare, an East African restaurant. They discuss their work to harness the immigrant work ethic to rebuild Detroit and infuse it with life and... Source

    E69. Steve Tobocman and Mamba Hamissi on How Refugees Are Revitalizing Detroit

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2022 22:44


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Steve Tobocman, head of the economic development nonprofit Global Detroit, and one of the thousands of refugee business owners he’s assisted, Mamba Hamissi, Burundi native and co-founder of Baobab Fare, an East African restaurant. They discuss their work to harness the immigrant work ethic to rebuild Detroit and infuse it with life and... Source

    E68. Sheetal Bahirat Turns a Profit on Food Waste

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 20:06


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Sheetal Bahirat, founder and CEO of Hidden Gems Beverage Company, maker of Reveal Avocado Seed Brew, and immigrant from India. Food waste is an understudied and underutilized component of our daily lives with huge implications for our bodies and the planet – it is the number one contributor to climate change. Source

    Sheetal Bahirat Turns a Profit on Food Waste

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2022 20:08


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Sheetal Bahirat, founder and CEO of Hidden Gems Beverage Company, maker of Reveal Avocado Seed Brew, and immigrant from India. Food waste is an understudied and underutilized component of our daily lives with huge implications for our bodies and the planet – it is the number one contributor to climate change. Source

    E67. Patrick Anquetil on America's Freedom to Innovate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 23:32


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Patrick Anquetil, immigrant from France and co-founder and CEO of Portal Instruments in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a clinical stage, medical device company developing a needle-free drug delivery platform. As Patrick shares, there was no way he could have started a business like this in his home country. The spirit of entrepreneurship that... Source

    Patrick Anquetil on America's Freedom to Innovate

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 23:33


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Patrick Anquetil, immigrant from France and co-founder and CEO of Portal Instruments in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a clinical stage, medical device company developing a needle-free drug delivery platform. As Patrick shares, there was no way he could have started a business like this in his home country. The spirit of entrepreneurship that... Source

    E66. Giovanni Ruscitti on How Italian Immigrants Built Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 23:39


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Giovanni Ruscitti, son of immigrants from Italy; founding partner at the law firm of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti in Boulder, Colorado; and author of the just-released Cobblestones, Conversations and Corks: A Son’s Discovery of His Italian Heritage. Giovanni shares his family story, of his grandparents being forced to leave the land they... Source

    Giovanni Ruscitti on How Italian Immigrants Built Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2022 23:41


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Giovanni Ruscitti, son of immigrants from Italy; founding partner at the law firm of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti in Boulder, Colorado; and author of the just-released Cobblestones, Conversations and Corks: A Son's Discovery of His Italian Heritage. Giovanni shares his family story, of his grandparents being forced to leave the land they... Source

    E65. Liya Palagashvili on the Security Threat from Losing Skilled Immigrants

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 24:07


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Liya Palagashvili, immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and affiliated research fellow at NYU Law. Dr. Palagashvili shares findings from research she co-authored on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which fills the gap for international students... Source

    Liya Palagashvili on the Security Threat from Losing Skilled Immigrants

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 24:09


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Dr. Liya Palagashvili, immigrant from the former Soviet Union, Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, and affiliated research fellow at NYU Law. Dr. Palagashvili shares findings from research she co-authored on the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, which fills the gap for international students... Source

    E64. Josh Smith on Immigrants' Role in Economic Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 22:34


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Josh Smith, research manager at The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, about his work to demonstrate the outsized impact immigrants have on the economy and our culture. Josh describes some of the the negative narratives and the “othering” of immigrants, even though they’re part of our communities. Source

    Josh Smith on Immigrants' Role in Economic Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 22:36


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Josh Smith, research manager at The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, about his work to demonstrate the outsized impact immigrants have on the economy and our culture. Josh describes some of the the negative narratives and the “othering” of immigrants, even though they're part of our communities. Source

    Khamzat Asabaev Wants to Put a Smile on Your Face

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 23:30


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Khamzat Asabaev, refugee from Chechnya and cofounder of SoftSmile, a software tool that helps dentists provide affordable, quality orthodontic treatment. Khamzat pursued entrepreneurship to make basic services accessible to all, after experiencing a lack of access to basic care as a refugee and a minority. Refugees like Khamzat face terrible... Source

    E63. Khamzat Asabaev Wants to Put a Smile on Your Face

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2022 23:28


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Khamzat Asabaev, refugee from Chechnya and cofounder of SoftSmile, a software tool that helps dentists provide affordable, quality orthodontic treatment. Khamzat pursued entrepreneurship to make basic services accessible to all, after experiencing a lack of access to basic care as a refugee and a minority. Refugees like Khamzat face terrible... Source

    April Ryan Paints Her Way to Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 21:16


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with April Ryan, immigrant from Russia, founder and CEO of Red Iguana nail art products, and influencer to hundreds of thousands. April came to the U.S. from a poor town, speaking no English, but through tenacity and inventiveness, she achieved success by creating video tutorials of nail art, and developing a breakthrough product that became a... Source

    E62. April Ryan Paints Her Way to Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2022 21:14


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with April Ryan, immigrant from Russia, founder and CEO of Red Iguana nail art products, and influencer to hundreds of thousands. April came to the U.S. from a poor town, speaking no English, but through tenacity and inventiveness, she achieved success by creating video tutorials of nail art, and developing a breakthrough product that became a... Source

    Aki Balogh on How U.S. Diversity Drives Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 21:28


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Aki Balogh, immigrant from Hungary and cofounder of MarketMuse, which created an artificial intelligence powered content intelligence and strategy platform; and cofounder of dlc.link, which aims to decentralize Bitcoin. Moving to the U.S. after fleeing post-communist Hungary, Aki and his family did whatever they could do to survive... Source

    E61. Aki Balogh on How U.S. Diversity Drives Business

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2022 21:26


    This week on JobMakers, host Denzil Mohammed talks with Aki Balogh, immigrant from Hungary and cofounder of MarketMuse, which created an artificial intelligence powered content intelligence and strategy platform; and cofounder of dlc.link, which aims to decentralize Bitcoin. Moving to the U.S. after fleeing post-communist Hungary, Aki and his family did whatever they could do to survive... Source

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