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How do you know when it’s time to make your next big career move? With International Women’s Day around the corner, we are excited to feature Avni Patel Thompson, Founder and CEO of Milo. Avni is building technology that directly supports the often overlooked emotional and logistical labor that falls on parents—especially women. Milo is an AI assistant designed to help families manage that invisible load more efficiently. In this episode, Avni shares her journey from studying chemistry to holding leadership roles at global brands like Adidas and Starbucks, to launching her own ventures. She discusses how she approaches career transitions, the importance of unpleasant experiences, and why she’s focused on making everyday life easier for parents. [01:26] Avni's University Days and Early Career [04:36] Non-Linear Career Paths [05:16] Pursuing Steep Learning Curves [11:51] Entrepreneurship and Safety Nets [15:22] Lived Experiences and Milo [19:55] Avni’s In Her Ellement Moment [20:03] Reflections Links: Avni Patel Thompson on LinkedIn Suchi Srinivasan on LinkedIn Kamila Rakhimova on LinkedIn Ipsos report on the future of parenting About In Her Ellement: In Her Ellement highlights the women and allies leading the charge in digital, business, and technology innovation. Through engaging conversations, the podcast explores their journeys—celebrating successes and acknowledging the balance between work and family. Most importantly, it asks: when was the moment you realized you hadn’t just arrived—you were truly in your element? About The Hosts: Suchi Srinivasan is an expert in AI and digital transformation. Originally from India, her career includes roles at trailblazing organizations like Bell Labs and Microsoft. In 2011, she co-founded the Cleanweb Hackathon, a global initiative driving IT-powered climate solutions with over 10,000 members across 25+ countries. She also advises Women in Cloud, aiming to create $1B in economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs by 2030. Kamila Rakhimova is a fintech leader whose journey took her from Tajikistan to the U.S., where she built a career on her own terms. Leveraging her English proficiency and international relations expertise, she discovered the power of microfinance and moved to the U.S., eventually leading Amazon's Alexa Fund to support underrepresented founders. Subscribe to In Her Ellement on your podcast app of choice to hear meaningful conversations with women in digital, business, and technology.…
A podcast from the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education spotlighting the good work happening across Georgia's education landscape through local, community-driven initiatives.
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Thomasville's Workforce Plan w/ Andrea Collins & Esther-Marie Lawrence of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce
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In episode 32 of Field Notes, Kathleen Da Silva of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education sits down with Andrea Collins and Esther-Marie Lawrence of the Thomasville-Thomas County Chamber of Commerce to discuss how they worked with the Georgia Partnership to launch a birth-to-workforce scan of Thomasville and Thomas County to increase…
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The After Show: Albany Tech and Phoebe Putney Health System
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On the heels of episode 30, we're excited to feature our first Field Notes "After Show" with Kathleen Da Silva and Matt Smith of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. Tune in to hear Kathleen and Matt dig into Issue #5, Career Pathways, in the 2024 Top Ten Issues to Watch report and explore how Albany Technical College and Phoebe Put…
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Albany Tech and Phoebe Putney Health System: A Transformative Workforce Partnership
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In episode 30 of Field Notes, Kathleen Da Silva of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education sits down with Lisa Stephens (Albany Technical College) and Dr. Tracy Suber (Phoebe Putney Health System) to discuss how their respective organizations have partnered to address the nursing shortage in southwest Georgia.…
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The Intersection of Medicine & Literacy w/ Dr. Keisha Callins of Mercer University School of Medicine & Community Health Care Systems, Inc.
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In episode 29 of Field Notes, Kathleen Da Silva of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education sits down with women's health professional, Dr. Keisha Callins, MD, MPH to discuss her perspectives on the intersection of medicine and literacy in rural communities, her support of early literacy as a board member for the Sandra Dunagan Deal Cent…
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"Welcome Kat/Passing the Baton" w/ Kathleen Da Silva and Merrill Kemp-Wilcox of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
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In episode 28 of Field Notes, the Georgia Partnership officially says farewell to its inaugural host, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and welcomes new host and recently-hired Rural Engagement Manager, Kathleen Da Silva. Appropriately, Merrill and Kathleen discuss Merrill's transition from Atlanta, Georgia to Tucson, Arizona; Kathleen's journey from Fulton Coun…
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The Jacket Journey w/ Dr. Michelle Taylor of Calhoun City Schools
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In episode 27 of Field Notes, and part three of our "Kindergarten Readiness" series, Merrill Wilcox of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, catches up with Dr. Michelle Taylor, Superintendent of Calhoun City Schools, to discuss the district's efforts to kick off the "Jacket Journey" in their students' earliest years of learning.…
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Building Babies' Brains w/ Kim Holland of Gwinnett County Public Schools
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In episode 26 of Field Notes, and part two of our "Kindergarten Readiness" series, Merrill Wilcox of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, chats with Kim Holland, Director of Early Learning and School Readiness for Gwinnett County Public Schools about their Building Babies' Brains program, which ensures local parents have the tools t…
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The Baby Braves program w/ Rachel Schory of the Heard County Community Partnership
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In episode 25 of Field Notes, and part one of our "Kindergarten Readiness" series, Merrill Wilcox of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, chats with Rachel Schory, Project Manager with the Heard County Community Partnership about their Baby Braves program. Launched in 2016, the program aims to increase access to books for children a…
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The Georgia FLEX Program w/ Melissa Dark of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce
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In episode 24 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, chats with Melissa Dark, President and CEO of the Fitzgerald-Ben Hill County Chamber of Commerce about their Georgia FLEX initiative. Through a collaboration of the Fitzgerald High School College and Career Academy…
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Embracing a New Normal w/ Dr. Kirk Nooks of Gordon State College
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In episode 23 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, chats with with Dr. Kirk Nooks, president of Gordon State College, about the challenges he and his institution have encountered in their recovery from the impacts of COVID-19 and how they're preparing not only thei…
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SUPER-intendent Roundtable w/ Dr. Mary Elizabeth Davis, Dr. Michael Duncan, and Dr. Keith Simmons
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In episode 22 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, connects with Drs. Mary Elizabeth Davis (Superintendent of Henry County Schools), Michael Duncan (Superintendent of Pike County Schools), and Dr. Keith Simmons (Superintendent of Griffin-Spalding County Schools) to…
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Happy Helpings w/ Cindy Kicklighter and Tamika Boone of the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning
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In episode 21 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Cindy Kicklighter and Tamika Boone of the Georgia Department of Early Care & Learning (DECAL) to discuss the Happy Helpings summer food service program. Funded by the USDA and administered by the Georgia Department of E…
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Leading the Georgia Partnership w/ Dr. Dana Rickman of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education
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In episode 20 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education catch up with Dr. Dana Rickman, President of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence, to discuss her first year as president of the Partnership, the challenge of navigating the organization through socially and politically divided ti…
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The Rural Studies Institute w/ Dr. Veronica Womack of Georgia College
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In episode 19 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Veronica Womack, Executive Director of Georgia College's Rural Studies Institute, to discuss the Institute's efforts to promote and support rural communities in the areas of Health, Education, Economic Opportunity a…
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The Rural Education Fund w/ Paige Pushkin of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education
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In episode 18 of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Paige Pushkin, Executive Director of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education (GFPE), to discuss the overwhelming educational needs in rural Georgia and how GFPE's Rural Education Fund is addressing those needs by "p…
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Tackling the Teacher Pipeline #3: "The Valdosta Sullivan Scholars Program" w/ Dr. Karla Hull, E.D. of VSU Sullivan Scholarship Program & Paul Goodrich, Chair of the Ruby Sullivan Educational Scholars
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In installment three of the "Tackling the Teacher Pipeline" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Karla Hull, Executive Director of VSU Sullivan Scholarship Program, and Paul Goodrich, Chair of the Ruby Sullivan Educational Schol…
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Tackling the Teacher Pipeline #2: "Beyond the Classroom" w/ Dr. Sharon Hixon, Dean of the School of Education at Dalton State College
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In installment two of the "Tackling the Teacher Pipeline" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Sharon Hixon, Dean of the School of Education at Dalton State College, to discuss how the school is addressing teacher recruitment an…
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Tackling the Teacher Pipeline #1: "Poverty: The Elephant in the Room" w/ Dr. Cindi Chance (GACTE) and Dr. CaDeisha Cooper (Candler County Schools)
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In installment one of the "Tackling the Teacher Pipeline" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Cindi Chance, Executive Director of Georgia Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, and Dr. CaDeisha Cooper, Assistant Superin…
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Battling Through Budget Cuts #4: "Calculating the Costs" w/ Dr. Vickie Reed, Superintendent of Brooks County Schools
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In the final installment of the "Battling Through Budget Cuts" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Vickie Reed , Superintendent of Brooks County Schools, to discuss the challenges her district is facing in light of a decrease i…
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Battling Through Budget Cuts #3: "Tackling Technology" w/ Mr. Barry Waller, Superintendent of Toombs County Schools
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In installment three of the "Battling Through Budget Cuts" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Superintendent Barry Waller of Toombs County Schools to discuss how a double-digit state budget cut will exacerbate existing instruction…
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Battling Through Budget Cuts #2: "Taking Care of People" w/ Dr. Jay Brinson, Superintendent of Wayne County Schools
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In installment two of the "Battling Through Budget Cuts" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Jay Brinson, Superintendent of Wayne County Schools, to discuss how he and his team are planning to weather the state budget cuts and …
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Battling Through Budget Cuts #1: "Being Creative, Innovative, & Resourceful" w/ Dr. Michele Taylor, Superintendent of Calhoun City Schools
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In installment one of the "Battling Through Budget Cuts" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Michele Taylor, Superintendent of Calhoun City Schools, to discuss how she is navigating her district through the dual challenges of l…
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Voices from the Ground #6: Communicating During the Crisis w/ Curtis Callaway of Shaw Industries
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In part six of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Curtis Callaway, Director of Communications with Shaw Industries, to discuss how his team ramped up their efforts to communicate clearly, effectively, …
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Voices from the Ground #5: Open for Business w/ June Merritt of the Early County Board of Commissioners
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In part five of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with June Merritt, Chairman of the Early County Board of Commissioners, to discuss how she and other county leaders are adapting to the COVID-19 crisis in …
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Voices from the Ground #4: The Big Challenge is the Future w/ Dr. Kermit Gilliard of Grady County Schools,
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In part four of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Kermit Gilliard, Superintendent of Grady County Schools, to discuss his strategy for leading the school district and supporting the community thro…
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Voices from the Ground #3: The Power of Collaboration w/ Zoe Myers of Cook County Family Connection
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In part three of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Zoe Myers, Executive Director of the Cook County Family Connection, to talk about how her community is leveraging partnerships to navigate the COVID-…
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Voices from the Ground #2: Challenges in Childcare w/ Rachale LaVoie of Childcare Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia
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In part two of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Rachale LaVoie, Community Outreach Coordinator for Child Care Resource & Referral of Southeast Georgia to talk about the challenges facing the childcar…
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Voices from the Ground #1: Filling the Instructional Gap w/ Dr. Bronwyn Reagan Martin of Early County Schools
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17:47
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In part one of the "Voices from the Ground" series of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin, Superintendent of Early County Schools, to discuss how she is leading her district through the fear and uncertainty of the CO…
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Education Bright Spots from the 2010s
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In episode four of the Georgia Partnership's Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education connect with educators and leaders across Georgia to reflect on some of the good education-related work that happened in Georgia during the 2010s and discuss how we might carry that momentum forward.…
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Rural Education in Georgia & Why It Matters! w/ Alan Richard of SREB
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In episode three of Field Notes, Merrill Kemp-Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education dive into a discussion with education writer and rural education expert, Alan Richard, to spotlight Georgia-specific findings from Why Rural Matters, a new report from the Rural School and Community Trust.…
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Journeying Toward a More Literate Community
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In episode two of Field Notes, Merrill Wilcox and Robert Gaines of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education spotlight the positive outcomes emerging from the Bartow Literacy Council's cross-sector efforts to improve literacy across the Bartow County (GA) community.
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In this brief introductory episode of Field Notes, Robert Gaines and Merrill Wilcox of the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education explain the "Why?" behind the organization's decision to launch a podcast, digging into the genesis of the idea, the intended audience, and long-term vision for spotlighting the good work happening in Georgia th…
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