Paul Zelizer, Business Coach

Paul Zelizer, Business Coach Business coach for social entrepreneurs | Award-winning podcaster 🎙️ | Albuquerque business coach | Impact investing evangelist

☀️ How do we retain purpose-driven women in solar—especially when many still feel like they’re navigating the industry a...
06/09/2026

☀️ How do we retain purpose-driven women in solar—especially when many still feel like they’re navigating the industry alone?

That question was at the heart of my recent Awarepreneurs conversation with Riley Neugebauer, founder of Solar for Women.
Riley shared what makes women-focused solar communities so powerful:

“What we talked about... our group is much more like, how do we lift people up and encourage them? How do we help answer people's questions? How do we help just celebrate the work that you're doing?”

That may sound simple.

But in technical fields like solar, where underrepresented professionals can feel isolated, support and recognition are not “soft” extras.

They are essential retention strategies.

They help people build confidence, deepen skills, and see a future for themselves in the industry.

One takeaway for employers:

Create spaces where celebrating wins is normal, questions are welcomed, and technical knowledge is shared without judgment.

That kind of culture helps build stronger teams. 🌱

What practices have helped you create belonging and growth in technical teams?

Riley offers a grounded, hopeful look at what it takes to build a solar workforce where more people can stay, lead, and thrive.

🎧 Listen at the Awarepreneurs website — www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast — or your favorite podcast app.

⚠️ Many social entrepreneurs assume that if they build a successful company, they’ll have more power to protect the miss...
05/26/2026

⚠️ Many social entrepreneurs assume that if they build a successful company, they’ll have more power to protect the mission.

Eric Ries (author of the Lean Startup) says that’s often dangerously wrong.

In our latest Awarepreneurs conversation, Eric shared a sobering insight:

The more successful, trusted, and valuable a company becomes, the more attractive it becomes to people and systems that may not share the founder’s mission.

In fact, Eric shared a sobering statistic: “According to Harvard Law School research, among venture capital backed startups without appropriate protections, only 20% of founders survive even three years as a CEO after going public.”

That’s why governance can’t be an afterthought.

We talked about founders being pushed out, companies drifting from their purpose, and impact brands becoming something very different.

❌ Good intentions are not enough.
❌ A strong culture is not enough.
❌ Even product-market fit is not enough.

If you want your life’s work to survive growth, capital, leadership transitions, and outside pressure, you need to design for durability from the beginning.

Eric frames this as building “incorruptible” companies—enterprises with the structure and integrity to stay true to their purpose over time.

How are you protecting your company from mission drift before it becomes urgent?

🎧 Listen to the full Awarepreneurs episode with Eric Ries at www.awarepreneurs.com or your favorite podcast app.

Beautiful and relaxing holiday weekend in Durango!
05/26/2026

Beautiful and relaxing holiday weekend in Durango!

The recent hackathon that and hosted was a big success!70 hackers, 20 mentors, 200+ people at the demo portion.The tec...
04/29/2026

The recent hackathon that and hosted was a big success!

70 hackers, 20 mentors, 200+ people at the demo portion.

The tech for good community is growing in New Mexico!

Let's go!!Mayor Tim Keller from kicking off the judging at the Desert Dev Lab hackathon.Big thanks to for hosting this...
04/20/2026

Let's go!!

Mayor Tim Keller from kicking off the judging at the Desert Dev Lab hackathon.

Big thanks to for hosting this event!

☀️ Episode 395 of Awarepreneurs is a little different.In this solo episode, I share why I’m taking a strategic pause to ...
04/14/2026

☀️ Episode 395 of Awarepreneurs is a little different.

In this solo episode, I share why I’m taking a strategic pause to protect the quality of the show.

🚀Over the past several months, I’ve said yes to a lot of meaningful work: two fractional leadership roles with clean energy companies, helping lead NM Tech Talks and TechFest 2026, and supporting a full coaching roster. At a certain point, I realized I was doing too many important things at a B level instead of doing a few of them really well.
Awarepreneurs matters too much to me to show up rushed or half-present.

So I’m taking a 6-week break to create more space for sharper ex*****on, better preparation, and the thoughtful conversations this community deserves.

This pause is not about stepping away from the mission. It’s about protecting the quality, care, and intention behind the show as we head toward Episode 400.

🎧Listen at www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast or your favorite podcast app.

The show returns May 28 with Eric Ries discussing his new book, Incorruptible.

🕸️How are organizations moving from transactional gatherings to transformative impact networks?❓What if your next event ...
03/31/2026

🕸️How are organizations moving from transactional gatherings to transformative impact networks?

❓What if your next event catalyzed real collaboration instead of ending with applause - and everything going right back to the way it was?

On the Awarepreneurs podcast, Paul Zelizer explores these questions with Cole Hoover, drawing from Cole's 17+ years of experience with thousands of social impact leaders and changemakers.

Cole’s pragmatic takeaway: “Marketing can be trickier in this space, but when it works, it builds deep trust.” He underscores that the true value of networks comes from relationships held over time, not one-off conferences or endless surveys.

His advice: Fund the connective tissue. Support the facilitators, experimenters, and relationship stewards who make communities resilient. That’s where real breakthroughs emerge.

How are you resourcing collaboration in your ecosystem? The latest Awarepreneurs episode dives into strategies for building lasting impact in uncertain times—check it out for inspiration and practical tips.

🎧Listen at www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast or your favorite podcast app.

We’re on a family vacation - guess where? 😁We'll be back on March 31st with fresh social entrepreneur perspectives.
03/17/2026

We’re on a family vacation - guess where? 😁

We'll be back on March 31st with fresh social entrepreneur perspectives.

⁉️ How do you make strategic decisions when nothing feels stable?I explored that question in my latest Awarepreneurs pod...
03/10/2026

⁉️ How do you make strategic decisions when nothing feels stable?

I explored that question in my latest Awarepreneurs podcast conversation with Elyse Cherry of BlueHub Capital.

Elyse has helped grow BlueHub from a $3,500 neighborhood fund into an organization that has leveraged nearly $20B in capital for communities across the U.S. Her guiding principle: align money with mission while staying financially disciplined.

One insight that stood out: the strongest mission-driven organizations stay anchored to their purpose, but constantly question their methods.

🔥 And when it comes to impact? Numbers matter—but stories bring those numbers to life.

“Numbers suggest specificity… but what really registers is narrative and stories people can connect to.”
If you're building in uncertain times, this conversation offers a thoughtful playbook for resilience.

What strategies help you stay resilient as a leader? Share below—and catch the full episode for actionable insights on navigating uncertainty in economic development.

Listen at www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast or your favorite podcast app.

🌱 What if abundance isn’t a dream—but a design principle hiding in plain sight?I recently sat down with Matthew Britt o...
03/03/2026

🌱 What if abundance isn’t a dream—but a design principle hiding in plain sight?

I recently sat down with Matthew Britt on the Awarepreneurs podcast to explore a regenerative business model in action—how The Commonstead empowers homeowners, businesses, and communities to reclaim self-reliance in energy, water, and food while building networks that create lasting impact.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

🌾 Abundance over Scarcity: Matthew challenges the scarcity narrative and reminds us that nature is built for overflow, not lack. When we align with living systems, thriving becomes possible.

🤝 Community-Driven Innovation: Through an affiliate and partner model, The Commonstead equips local advocates to bring sustainable solutions to their own neighborhoods—creating ripple effects far beyond the technology itself.

⚡ Efficiency First, Production Second: Optimize energy and water use before investing in production like solar or wind. Small shifts unlock meaningful savings—for your wallet and the planet.

🎧 Listen at the Awarepreneurs website (www.awarepreneurs.com/podcast) or your favorite podcast app.

Whether you’re a homeowner, founder, or sustainability advocate, practical steps toward resilience are within reach.

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