Dec 8, 2021
Julie and Casey chat with Lindsay Scola about her unique career path from TV-jingle-singing, CSPAN-watching child to impact strategist / political operative / entertainment production / entrepreneur. We cover the intersection of pop culture and culture change, how storytellers move the needle, and how activists of a certain age REALLY need to learn to take care of themselves. Along the way, we get stories about 1st grader-driven revolutions and finding your community by dropping your filter.
TOP TAKEAWAYS
- TV shows are a unique vehicle for cultural change — something that really hit home for Lindsay while working on the Obama campaign in 2007 and encountering college students who couldn’t believe candidates weren’t behind gay marriage, because they’d grown up watching Will & Grace.
- You never know what kind of work is out there that will combine your interests and curiosities and passions — especially if you’ve internalized a narrower career narrative. What happens if you step out of that box?
- How do we teach activists (especially elder Millennials and older) that their needs and health are just as important as their cause (hear some STORIES about Lindsay’s time in the political arena…)?
- Mini-lesson: Being called “intimidating”.
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Lindsay Scola is an impact strategist, public speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of AUDEAMUS. With over 20 years working in political operations, advocacy campaigns, and entertainment production, Lindsay brings a depth of knowledge and experience to the social impact sector. Lindsay is an expert on the nexus of entertainment and advocacy. She is passionate about inspiring businesses of all sizes to engage in conversations and concrete actions on conservation, civic responsibility, and social justice, especially with non-traditional audiences.
After staging her first walkout over unfair lunchroom treatment in first grade, Lindsay knew she was meant for a life in activism. When she took on her high school for teaching "abstinence-only until marriage" sex education, she became the youngest board member in NARAL Pro-Choice Washington's history. Upon graduating from college, Lindsay worked for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith in Washington, DC, but quickly became disenchanted with how broken the nation’s Capitol really was. So, in early 2007, she quit her job, bought a car, and moved to Iowa to work for then-Senator Barack Obama. Following President Obama’s historic win in 2008, Lindsay joined the administration working for Energy Secretary Steven Chu. She later ran the scheduling and advance office for UN Ambassador Susan Rice, oversaw Michelle Obama’s advance operation during the 2012 re-elect campaign, was part of President Obama's advance team, and executive produced the 2013 Inaugural Parade.
Since then, Lindsay has nested her work at the intersection of advocacy and entertainment, working with organizations like The Television Academy (Emmys) and has spoken on the topic at the ATX Television Festival, SXSW, The Riveter, and more. Named a 2015 “40 Under 40” recipient for City and State New York, Lindsay couples creativity and actionable organizing with political savvy to shift the social needle, Lindsay continues to advise entertainment entities on their social impact causes as well as working with political campaigns and nonprofits to authentically engage with artists and influencers. She currently resides in Los Angeles.