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Changemaker Interviews

Evan Sohn Is Changing How Leaders See Their Workforce

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Evan Sohn Is Changing How Leaders See Their Workforce

 

Evan Sohn has spent his career building companies at the intersection of data, strategy, and innovation. As CEO and co-founder of Aura Intelligence, he’s on a mission to help organizations understand one of their most valuable yet overlooked assets: their people.

Aura was born out of a clear and pressing problem. While financial performance is tracked with precision, workforce data has historically been messy, slow, and scattered. Leaders were forced to make major decisions—on hiring, restructuring, or investing—without a clear view of what was really happening inside their teams or across the market.

Evan and his team set out to change that.

 

From Blind Spots to Better Decisions

Aura’s roots trace back to Bain & Company, where the idea first emerged. Time and again, leaders lacked real-time, external insights into workforce trends and talent flows. That blind spot inspired Evan and his co-founders to build something different— something smarter.

“What if we could bring the same rigor and clarity to workforce insights that companies rely on for financial performance?” Evan recalls asking. That question became Aura’s mission.

Today, Aura provides AI-powered, outside-in workforce intelligence to top consulting firms, private equity teams, and enterprise leaders around the world. In 2024 alone, they supported over 1,800 client engagements— and they’re just getting started.

 

Convincing the Market Workforce Data Matters

One of the biggest early hurdles was changing how companies viewed workforce metrics. “Many saw workforce data as ‘nice-to-have,’ not mission-critical,” Evan explains. Shifting that mindset took time, persistence, and results – and it is still a work-in-process.

Then there was the technical challenge: workforce data is fragmented and inconsistent. Making it useful at scale meant building infrastructure to clean, unify, and analyze it. But once clients saw how Aura could help them spot risks, benchmark competitors, and uncover opportunities faster than traditional methods, adoption followed.

“When we paired clear ROI with great design and speed, we turn skeptics into believers,” Evan says.

 

The Goal: Smarter Decisions, Not Just More Data

Evan isn’t just focused on giving leaders more information— he wants to help them make better calls. Aura’s tools are designed to improve how companies hire, structure teams, plan ahead, and respond to change.

The long-term vision? For Aura to become the lens through which leaders see the labor market. “We want leaders to feel more confident, more informed, and more agile because of Aura,” Evan says. That’s the kind of legacy he and the Aura team are building toward.

 

Innovation Through Listening

Staying innovative in workforce intelligence means keeping your ear to the ground. Evan spends a lot of time listening— really listening— to what clients are struggling with. “The most powerful ideas often come from a casual comment or a repeated frustration,” he explains.

At Aura, innovation is constant. The team moves fast, tests quickly, and isn’t afraid to toss out what doesn’t work. Evan surrounds himself with people who think differently because diversity of thought keeps things fresh.

“In a new and fast-moving field, staying innovative means staying uncomfortable—in the best way possible,” he says.

 

Building a Company That People Believe In

As Aura continues to scale, Evan hasn’t lost sight of what makes the company thrive: its people. One of the biggest lessons he’s learned is that clarity and trust are everything. People do better work when they know the “why” behind it.

He also believes in giving people space. “Micromanaging kills creativity,” he says. “Hire great people, give them autonomy, and stay available for support. That’s when teams really hit their stride.”

It’s a philosophy that’s shaped Aura’s culture from the beginning— and one Evan hopes to see more of across the industry.

 

Making an Impact Beyond Business

Outside of Aura, Evan serves as Vice President of the Sohn Conference Foundation. The organization raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research by bringing together the global finance and investment community. Their flagship New York Sohn Investment Conference is a powerful example of purpose meeting profession.

“Being part of a mission that accelerates breakthroughs in childhood cancer is incredibly humbling and deeply motivating,” he says.

 

What’s Ahead for Evan Sohn

The future of workforce intelligence is being shaped by three major forces: AI, real-time data, and transparency. From skills mapping to org design, companies are now expected to make faster, more informed decisions with less room for error.

Aura is evolving to meet those needs. The platform is expanding its data coverage, deepening AI capabilities, and building tools that empower not just analysts— but business leaders directly.

Evan wants Aura to be the compass that guides companies through the ever-changing landscape of work. “There’s never been a greater need for clarity,” he says.

 

Connect with Evan Sohn
Website: www.auraintel.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evansohn/
Email: evan@auraintel.com

 

Changemaker Interviews

Mike Turner Is Building Brands That Move With Clarity

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Mike Turner Is Building Brands That Move With Clarity

Mike Turner has spent more than a decade helping people and businesses grow—not just in scale, but in clarity, confidence, and direction. His career has spanned brand development, business growth, and customer success. But what ties it all together is his steady focus on delivering results with purpose.

“I’m a builder and a problem-solver,” he says. “I love helping people identify what’s working, remove friction, and scale with confidence.”

It’s that mindset that led Mike to launch his consulting work. Today, he serves as a strategic advisor for entrepreneurs, executives, and teams who want to level up without losing themselves in the process. He brings clarity, presence, and structure to brands that want to grow more intentionally.

 

Making Growth Practical and Personal

One of Mike’s core strengths is helping people move better—faster, clearer, and more aligned. His work helps leaders sharpen their voice, present themselves with more polish, and improve how their business operates behind the scenes.

“I focus on both brand and operational performance,” Mike explains. “It’s not just about the message—it’s how everything flows and supports the bigger picture.”

That focus on sustainable, system-driven success is rare in a world that’s obsessed with hustle. Mike’s approach is different. It’s calm, intentional, and rooted in values.

 

Why He Does the Work

Mike’s motivation comes from a simple place: helping people show up stronger. Over time, he noticed how many small businesses and entrepreneurs had a powerful vision—but lacked the systems to scale it. That gap became the driving force behind his consulting.

Through strategy, leadership coaching, and brand alignment, he equips others to lead with excellence and communicate with clarity. And when the foundation is clear, growth follows.

 

Building a Career with Intention

Mike didn’t stumble into leadership—he built it brick by brick. He currently leads initiatives that support both corporate and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and he serves as President of a corporate Toastmasters chapter. He’s also been nominated as a board advisor for a nonprofit, adding service and community leadership to his resume.

Each role he takes on is guided by the same values: structure, clarity, and long-term value. “Leadership isn’t about control,” he says. “It’s about orchestration.”

 

Leading Without Micromanaging

Mike describes his leadership style as calm, focused, and purpose-driven. He values structure and emotional intelligence. And he believes in creating an environment where people feel seen, supported, and trusted to lead themselves.

“I don’t micromanage—I systematize,” he says. “That gives others the confidence to operate with autonomy while still staying aligned.”

It’s a balance many leaders struggle to find, but Mike leans into it with ease. He knows when to speak up, when to delegate, and when to let the systems do the work.

 

Lessons in Business and Growth

Mike’s path hasn’t been without challenges. But each one taught him something valuable. The biggest lessons? Clarity matters. Culture matters. And if you want to scale, you need more than talent—you need systems.

“I’ve learned that structure accelerates growth,” he explains. “Ambiguity slows everything down.”

He’s also learned the importance of listening. His strategies aren’t one-size-fits-all—they’re informed by what real people need and the environments they’re navigating.

 

What Keeps Him Going

In difficult seasons, Mike relies on purpose and perspective. “When your why is strong, your resilience follows,” he says.

Instead of getting stuck in the emotion of a challenge, he focuses on the data. What can be learned? What needs to be shifted? It’s that mindset—objective and strategic—that allows him to stay grounded and move forward with intention.

 

Staying Innovative in a Fast-Changing World

Mike keeps one foot in execution and one foot in observation. He studies trends, listens to what people aren’t saying, and turns those insights into repeatable, actionable strategies.

“Innovation doesn’t have to be chaotic,” he says. “It can be systematized.”

That approach allows him to bring fresh energy to every project without losing traction. Creativity and efficiency don’t have to be opposites—they can work together to drive results.

 

Looking Ahead

Mike’s not slowing down anytime soon. He plans to keep building platforms and partnerships that support growth-minded individuals while staying grounded in service and long-term strategy. His ultimate mission? To normalize success that doesn’t burn people out—to show that growth can be sustainable, clear, and deeply human.

Every time he helps someone lead better or a brand show up stronger, he moves one step closer to that vision.

 

Connect with Mike Turner
Website: www.miketurnercoaching.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/miketurnerinternational

 

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Changemaker Interviews

Lacey Artemis Is Building the Community She Spent Years Searching For

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Lacey Artemis Is Building the Community She Spent Years Searching For

Lacey Artemis grew up quiet, unsure, and often overlooked. For years, she struggled to find a place in the world—a space where being curious, creative, and deeply thoughtful wasn’t just accepted but celebrated. Today, she is the founder of Arty Mix Events, a speaker, podcast host, performer, and unapologetically multi-passionate creative who’s making that space for others.

Lacey’s journey is one of persistence and self-discovery, built through years of exploring different passions, overcoming self-doubt, and finally realizing that their strength was in being more than one thing. She now uses her voice and work to support other neurodivergent creatives and grownups who long to reconnect with their sense of play and purpose.

 

From Hobbyist to Creative Professional

Lacey’s creative streak started young, but when she studied design in college, the message from instructors was clear: this path won’t pay the bills. So, like many others, she chose a “safe” administrative route and kept their creativity alive as a side project.

“I lived a double life for 15 years,” she said. “I kept working to prove what I could do.”

What Lacey didn’t know then was that their passion wasn’t just a hobby—it was a clue. Over time, she combined skills in writing, performing, media, and design into something that not only worked but lit them up. Eventually, she founded Arty Mix Events, creating spaces for people to connect, play, and express themselves in ways that typical event spaces rarely allow.

 

Podcasting, Performing, and the Power of Conversation

In their late 20s, Lacey started a podcast to learn more about people’s careers. It was a quiet project that slowly revealed something powerful—she loved deep conversations. That podcast eventually evolved into a more expansive show, HAT COLLECTING, which allowed Lacey to blend many of their talents into one platform.

She also realized she had a gift for the stage. Performing became a way to reclaim the confidence their younger self lacked. “Every time I get on stage or have a microphone in my hand,” Lacey shares, “I get further redemption for a younger me who was always doubted or overlooked.”

Even after facing burnout and pauses along the way, Lacey always returns to the mic—and to the communities their work brings together.

 

No One Path, No One Box

Lacey’s biggest challenge wasn’t choosing between creative passions. It was the pressure to choose only one. Coaches and peers told them to focus. But that advice never worked. What Lacey needed was someone who understood what it means to be multi-passionate.

“I thrive when I can meld three or more interests together,” she explains. “Burnout didn’t come from doing too much—it came from doing it alone, without support.”

Late-diagnosed neurodivergence, gender transition in their 30s, and ongoing struggles with money and trauma only added to the uphill climb. But Lacey kept pushing forward. And eventually, she found the right community and the right people to help them grow.

 

Creating the Events She Longed For

After years of craving meaningful, inclusive, in-person events that weren’t centered around bars, clubs, or surface-level small talk, Lacey took matters into their own hands. She launched Arty Mix Events to offer something different—spaces that are creative, accessible, and built for genuine connection.

“The events I wanted didn’t exist. I finally decided to change that,” Lacey says.

As someone who knows the loneliness of being misunderstood or left out, Lacey builds with intention. Their events welcome people who are often excluded elsewhere—those with invisible disabilities, neurodivergent thinkers, and adults who miss the playful parts of themselves.

 

Built on Curiosity, Creativity, and Community

Lacey’s work is guided by three core values: curiosity, creativity, and community. A coach once told them to only say yes to opportunities that fit one of those pillars—and that advice changed everything.

Now, Lacey is seeking stages and spaces where she can share their story, connect with others who’ve felt invisible, and continue shining while encouraging others to do the same. “Some might say I’ve done almost all of this the hard way,” Lacey says, “but as a result, I can help others skip some of the circles I ran in for a decade.”

 

A Life That Finally Feels Like Theirs

For Lacey, success isn’t about fitting into a mold—it’s about building a life that feels right, one decision, one event, one brave moment at a time.

She has transformed years of feeling unseen into a mission that creates space for others to show up fully as themselves. Every time someone walks into an Arty Mix event or listens to a podcast episode and finally feels like they belong, Lacey knows she is doing exactly what she was meant to do.

“I spent a long time climbing hills alone,” she says. “Now, I want to make the path easier for the next person—and remind them they’re never as alone as they think.”

Lacey Artemis is no longer chasing a place in the world. She’s creating one—and making room for the rest of us to join in.

Connect with Lacey Artemis

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Changemaker Interviews

Rising Above Adversity with Sheldon Crocker

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Rising Above Adversity with Sheldon Crocker

Sheldon Crocker knows what it means to fight through hardship—and win. As an award-winning author, inspirational speaker, and resilience-building expert, he has turned his own story of struggle into a message of hope for people around the world. From childhood trauma and physical limitations to addiction and deep emotional pain, Sheldon has faced more than most. But he never let those challenges define him. Instead, he used them as stepping stones toward a life of purpose, strength, and service. Rising above adversity, his work today empowers others to do the same: to face adversity head-on and come out stronger.

A Voice Born from Experience

Sheldon’s mission began in silence. For years, he carried the weight of abuse and addiction alone, unsure if he had the right to dream of something more. But over time, he realized that his story could become a lifeline for others—if he had the courage to share it.

“I was inspired by my own battles,” Sheldon says. “People around me were suffering in silence, like I once did. I knew I had a voice to help them rise.”

From that realization came a commitment to speak, write, and teach in a way that is raw, honest, and deeply personal. His message is clear: your past doesn’t define you—your response does.

 

Keep on Walking

One of Sheldon’s most powerful principles is what he calls “KEEP on WALKING.” It’s not about giant leaps or instant fixes. It’s about small, steady steps—especially when the path feels impossible.

“I faced physical limitations and emotional scars that nearly broke me,” he shares. “But I kept walking. I surrounded myself with people who believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.”

That mindset became the core of his resilience work. Through talks, books, and his growing Empowerment Course, Sheldon helps others find their footing when life knocks them down.

 

Rising Above Adversity

Sheldon’s journey has shaped everything he teaches. He doesn’t lead from theory—he leads from lived experience. That’s what gives his work its impact.

“I bring practical tools and authentic storytelling to help people create real transformation,” he explains. “Adversity isn’t the end. It’s the beginning of something powerful.”

His approach is grounded in integrity and purpose. He’s not interested in quick fixes or surface-level motivation. He wants people to dig deep, rise strong, and make lasting change.

 

Connecting Through Truth

At the heart of Sheldon’s work is connection. His audience includes anyone who has struggled—anyone who’s ever felt broken, stuck, or invisible. He reaches them by being real, by offering strategies they can actually use, and by showing up with his full self.

“Relatable stories and actionable steps are how I connect,” he says. “I’m not here to preach. I’m here to walk alongside people.”

That connection is what makes his message stick. People don’t just hear Sheldon—they feel understood by him.

 

Defining Success Through Impact

To Sheldon, success isn’t about awards or applause. It’s about the lives changed. The letters he gets. The people who tell him they kept walking because of his words.

“Success means living with purpose and staying true to my mission,” he says. “It’s about impact. It’s about creating hope where there was none.”

It’s also about staying grounded. For Sheldon, values like authenticity, compassion, and service are the compass points that guide every decision he makes.

 

What’s Next

Looking ahead, Sheldon is focused on expanding his reach. He’s booking more speaking engagements, growing his workshop offerings, and building partnerships that allow his message to spread farther and faster.

He’s also continuing to develop his Empowerment Course, Unleash Your Inner Strength: A 6-Week Journey to Emotional Empowerment and Personal Transformation, and plans to publish more books designed to guide readers through their own journeys of resilience. His free guide, Unlock Transformation: 7 Steps to Unleash Your Potential, is already helping people take the first steps.

But no matter how big his platform grows, his goal remains the same: to help people rise.

Connect with Sheldon Crocker

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