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Opportunity Miami
by Opportunity Miami
This is a pivotal moment for Miami, which has never been positioned so strongly for success -- or faced such daunting challenges, from sea-level rise to income inequality. On Opportunity Miami, host Matt Haggman talks to the innovators, entrepreneurs, and community champions who are turning the community’s biggest challenges into its greatest opportunities. Opportunity Miami is powered by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.
Episodes
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Episode 69: Pricing Risk: The Future of Climate Insurance
Miami is a place where sea-level rise, extreme heat, and storm intensification collide with the realities of a growing, globally connected city. But Miami is emerging not only as the testing ground for climate challenges through innovation but also as the global hub for the solutions that will...
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Episode 68: Restoring the River of Grass: The Business Case for the Everglades
Florida’s economic future flows through the Everglades. It is not only the source of drinking water for nearly eight million residents across the South Florida region, but it also has a direct impact on our tourism, real estate values, and more. The Everglades generates over $1 trillion in value...
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Episode 67: Scaling Their Impact: Connecting Tech to Nonprofits
In 1987, long before cloud computing and AI, a small group of technologists in the Bay Area saw how nonprofit organizations wanted to use technology to advance their missions, but lacked access, affordability, and the know-how. That’s when TechSoup was born, first as a matching service between...
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Episode 66: Small Business Meets Big Defense in Miami
When most entrepreneurs think of government contracts, they picture red tape, slow approvals, and paperwork nightmares. The Rapid Innovation Accelerator is here to help change that. “Our job is to support emerging technology businesses to get access to federal contracting opportunities,” said...
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Episode 65: Flying Forward: American Airlines and Miami's Economic Future
Over the past two years, Juan Carlos (JC) Liscano has served as Chair of The Miami-Dade Beacon Council and Co-Chair of Opportunity Miami. During this time, the Vice President of American Airlines’ Miami hub has demonstrated to us what vision and service can accomplish. “Economic development…
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Episode 64: The Community of our Communities
In the heart of Miami, on the fifth floor of the Omni building, something bigger than a coworking space is taking shape. The HUB is not just about “shared internet, shared desk, but more importantly, shared purpose,” says founder and CEO Noelle Jackson. The HUB was created to give startups and...
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Episode 63: How CodePath is Rewiring Tech Education
If Miami wants to lead as a global tech hub, it must do more than attract companies—it must create opportunities for talent of today, talent of tomorrow, and talent from all backgrounds. “Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t,” said Michael Ellison, co-founder and CEO of CodePath.org, the...
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Episode 62: Copenhagen to Wynwood: Powering Miami's EV-Charging Future
Imagine thousands of electric vehicles across Miami working together to support our power grid during a hot summer afternoon. That is the near future Casper Rasmussen envisions for the EV charging industry. “All the magic happens on the software side,” said the CEO and co-founder of Monta, a...
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Episode 61: Culture is our Capital: Scaling Dreams for Underserved Businesses
To transform the entrepreneurial landscape, culture is not only a necessity but an asset. As Felecia Hatcher puts it: “Culture is our capital.” As CEO of Pharrell Williams’ nonprofit, Black Ambition, she aims to reframe how we view success, innovation, and economic opportunity for historically...
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Episode 60: Blueprints for Tomorrow: Real Estate and Resilience in Miami
In Miami, we’re always chasing what’s next. What was once a tourist destination is now a rising global finance, technology, and real estate hub. But with opportunity comes responsibility. Miami’s changing landscape is redefining how we grow, and real estate sits at the center, uniquely positioned...
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Episode 59: How Tourism Fuels Miami’s Status as a Tech + Investment Hub
We believe talent drives everything. Entrepreneurship builds community wealth. And sustainability isn’t optional—it’s expected. These priorities guide our work across industries and institutions. But one of Miami’s most surprising superpowers? Tourism. In a region where quality of life and…
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Episode 58: Global Citizenship in Action: Connecting Grassroots to "Grasstops" for a Sustainable Tomorrow
“We have no Plan B because there is no Planet B.” — Ban Ki-moon It’s more than a slogan. It’s a mandate. And in Miami, that call is being answered—not through top-down declarations, but through local action, trust, and collaboration. “You are not waiting for somebody to come and tell you to get...
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Episode 57: From Kayak to Movement: One Marine Debris Cleanup at a Time
On a quiet Sunday morning in Biscayne Bay, Dave Doebler set out alone in his kayak, as he often did. But this time, his mission wasn’t just to paddle. He had started to notice something that didn’t belong—trash. And not just a few bottles or bags. What began as a personal ritual evolved into...
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Episode 56: Think Like an Economist: Resilience in a Warming World
We’re on the front lines of climate change here in Miami, where startups and entrepreneurs are testing innovative ways to manage evolving risks. So how can we approach climate risk more creatively and strategically? One approach: think like an economist. “You’re on the forefront. Let’s experiment...
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Episode 55: Bridging the Education Gap: How Higher Education Unlocks Opportunity
Education is a powerful engine for Miami’s economic growth. When students enroll and graduate, the benefits extend beyond individual success—strengthening businesses, fueling job creation, and boosting local tax revenue. The Florida Future Billions Report, released by Helios Education Foundation,...
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Episode 54: Innovating to become a zero waste economy
Facing a monumental challenge, Miami-Dade County is redefining what it means to manage waste. Each year, the County generates nearly five million tons of waste—a staggering figure amplified by the county’s three million residents and millions more annual tourists. Each person contributes ten…
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Episode 53: Miami’s Next Unicorn? How Kandji is Shaping the Future of IT Security
Kandji, an Apple device management and security platform, had its pick of locations for an East Coast headquarters. It could have chosen New York, but instead, it chose Miami. Why? Because Miami is not just growing—it is redefining what it means to be a city of opportunity. "Ten years ago, Apple...
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Episode 52: Building Miami: Economic Development, Opportunity, & Innovation
Francesca de Quesada Covey is Miami-Dade County’s Chief of Innovation and Economic Development Officer. As a daughter of Cuban immigrants, she was driven by a relentless desire to create opportunities and solve complex challenges. Reflecting on her journey in our latest Opportunity Miami…
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Episode 51: A Decade Later: Miami Tech Then & Now
Miami is redefining itself as a global innovation hub, attracting top talent, groundbreaking startups, and visionary investors. From record-breaking venture capital to a booming startup ecosystem, Miami’s tech scene is skyrocketing at an unprecedented pace. One of the driving forces behind this...
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Episode 50: Apprenticeship 101: Platform manages workforce programs for Miami companies
By investing in apprenticeships, digital learning, and sustainability-driven industries, Miami is positioning itself as a model for economic growth and innovation. At the forefront of this transformation are GoSprout and Miami EdTech. “Miami has all the right stakeholders at the table. When we…
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Episode 49: Jet Engines Jet Ahead – Aerospace Innovation in South Florida
Zulu Pods is an aerospace startup redefining jet engine technology and paving the way for a more sustainable future. Co-founded by Latina aerospace engineer Daniella Sladen, Zulu Pods is revolutionizing the aviation industry with innovative solutions that are cost-effective, sustainable, and...
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Episode 48: Energy Storage: Miami startup seeks to revolutionize the battery industry
Buses, cars, planes, and trains account for more than half of greenhouse gas emissions in Miami-Dade County, compared to nearly 30% nationally. So how we get around will play a major role in shaping a cleaner and more sustainable future. Going fully electric can only tackle a part of the problem....
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Episode 47: Making More Unicorns in Miami with The Founder School
Miami embodies the American dream. It’s where the spirit of entrepreneurship is woven into the fabric of our daily lives. Edrizio De La Cruz’s journey—from selling guavas on the streets to selling his fintech company to Mastercard—captures the essence of that dream. Now, through The Founder…
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Episode 46: Infusing Technology into Miami's Business Ecosystem
The Miami of 2040 can be more innovative and inclusive. Tech Equity Miami is helping to close the tech disparity gap in the community. Led by Johanna Mikkola, Tech Equity Miami is a nonprofit funding consortium launched two years ago to serve as the bridge between funders and initiatives to build…
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Episode 45: How Miami-Dade is prepared for 40+ disaster scenarios
Miami-Dade County has one of the country's most sophisticated emergency management programs, preparing for and responding to 41 disaster scenarios. That includes everything from extreme heat and flooding to cybersecurity and active shooter attacks. “We run the gamut of the different types of...
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Episode 44: The Economics of Building a Recycling Business
When it comes to waste management and recycling, we usually think of those as government services. After all, we pay for it every year in our annual tax bills. Recycling and trash pickup, though, can be a viable business. The global waste recycling services market is estimated to grow to $90...
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Episode 43: How Decarbonization Can Spur a Stronger Economy for Florida
What would Florida’s economy look like if we could achieve a net-zero power grid by 2035, or thinking bigger, a net-zero economy by 2050? Those were the two scenarios in a recent study by The Nature Conservancy that outlines a future where renewable energy and sustainable practices drive economic...
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Episode 42: Why Talent is Today’s Economic Currency
If you are trying to attract business to Miami-Dade County, talent will be at the top of the list for them. “Talent is the economic currency of the day,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega in an interview with Beacon Council CEO Rodrick Miller. Education is key to creating...
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Episode 41: How a tech platform helps communities and first responders work together during natural disasters
Bailey Farren is a five-time wildfire evacuee from California. Her parents are first responders who relied on radio communications and paper maps to coordinate during disasters. Now she is on a mission to update disaster response communication between first responders on the ground and the…
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Episode 40: Design with the environment in mind: Lessons Miami can take from architecture in Barbados
Alyssa-Amor Gibbons describes herself as an “architeer.” It is a play on words that she says best describes her work in architecture and engineering. “For me, architecture sits halfway between art and science,” she said in an Opportunity Miami Interview from her home in the Caribbean island…
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Episode 39: Miami: A living laboratory for climate solutions
Since Miami has been identified with the problem that is the climate crisis, a problem shared by coastal cities around the world, why not own it? That’s what Michael Berkowitz with the University of Miami’s Climate Resilience Academy wants to accomplish: make this region the climate solutions…
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Episode 38: City in a Garden
The first botanical garden in the United States was founded in 1936 here in Miami. What started as an introduction to tropical plants has expanded to countless workshops and education at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Now, many students are asking for a greener city – to grow up in a tropical...
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Episode 37: Ending food waste, starting in your kitchen
Food waste is a big problem. More than a third of the food we buy each week is thrown into the trash and that’s the single largest source of waste in landfills. Rotting food releases voluminous levels of climate-warming methane into the air. One company is trying to change that. Mill is a home...
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Episode 36: The town of the future is here – in Florida
The town of the future is here – and can be found in Florida. Babcock Ranch sits on about 20,000 acres of preserved – and restored – land in southwest Florida, about an hour north of Naples. And it is serving as a new model of how to live and build with community and sustainability in mind.…
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Episode 35: Beacon Council’s plan for a sustainable, inclusive & competitive Miami economy
Hear CEO Rodrick’s Miller’s plans for the Miami-Dade Beacon Council and how Miami’s economy can compete in a changing environment. Miller describes a five-strategy approach to help make Greater Miami’s economy more inclusive, competitive, and sustainable. One, to help grow the economy through...
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Episode 34: Climate changed: Why a VC that started in Miami is investing big in climate solutions
Stonly Baptiste Blue was born in Haiti, but eventually made his way to South Florida where he built multiple companies and helped pioneer Miami’s tech community when efforts were starting a decade ago. Today, he’s the co-founder of Third Sphere, a $100 million venture capital fund investing in...
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Miami: An Emerging Global City Featuring Author Dr. Alejandro Portes
A conversation with Dr. Alejandro Portes, author of "Emerging Global Cities," which traces the rise of Miami, Dubai, and Singapore. This conversation was part of Opportunity Miami's Academic Leaders Council, which includes the presidents of the local colleges and universities, as they…
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Episode 33: What to do with all that seaweed? Turn it into bio-fertilizer
What can we do with all that seaweed washing up on our shores? Algas Organics has a possible solution: harvest that Sargassum and turn it into bio-fertilizer for farms across the country and Caribbean. The St. Lucia-based company was founded in 2014 by Johanan Dujon to help combat the invasive...
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Episode 32: OBE Power is making EV charging cheaper, more convenient
Miami-based OBE Power is betting on the EV revolution by identifying places where there will be significant car charging activity and assuming all of the upfront costs. They have launched charging locations at apartment buildings, offices, and government facilities. “We identify properties that…
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Episode 31: Miami Dade College is Democratizing AI Education
How can artificial intelligence shape Miami’s workforce in tech? Colleges and universities already offer courses in AI, but Miami Dade College is taking one step further: it is the first college in the state that will offer a Bachelor’s degree in AI beginning in 2024. It’s already offering...
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Episode 30: Decarbonizing America’s 3rd largest school district
Can the third largest school district in America be powered by 100 percent clean energy by 2030? Across the country, it may hard to find any organization of this size contemplating such an ambitious goal. In this conversation with Miami-Dade School Board Member Luisa Santos, we explore where this...
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Episode 29: How mass transit can transform Miami into a true world-class community
Greater access to public transportation means greater opportunity, according to Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert. From housing affordability and income inequality to driving economic growth and decarbonizing our economy, how people get around is at the center of it all. The…
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Episode 28: Life on concrete: greener marine infrastructure
Established in 2012, ECOncrete is a manufacturer of concrete products intended to enhance the biological and ecological value of coastal and marine infrastructure. By enabling life on concrete, projects can meet both climate action goals as well as business goals. Chief Commercial Officer Michal...
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Episode 27: The boomerang effect: Creating careers and opportunities to retain local talent
Miami native Francesca “Cesi” de Quesada Covey leads the county’s efforts to accelerate innovation, entrepreneurship, and investment as part of Mayor Cava’s #FutureReady economic development strategy. This includes determining how innovation and new technologies can help our economic future by...
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Episode 26: Food Tech & the Future of Food
Rini Greenfield is the Founding General Partner at Rethink Food – a venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs who are helping build the future of food. They invest in companies that help support the production, availability, and demand for healthier and more sustainable food for all...
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Episode 25: Fortifying our tech talent pipeline
Terri-Ann Brown is the Director of the $10M grant from the Good Jobs Challenge initiative by the US Economic Development Administration behind Miami Tech Works. Launched in February 2023 at Miami Dade College Idea Center, the main goal is to create a sustainable and fortified local tech talent...
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Episode 24: On the way to the vertiport
Eve Air Mobility is one of the electrical vertical takeoff and landing vehicle (or eVTOL) companies focused on taking four passengers on short trips in major cities. Eve expects to be certified by 2025 with commercial operations beginning the following year. The market will grow quickly and scale...
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Episode 23: From music to tech: How one Miami native is breaking down the racial digital divide
It’s often said that talent is everywhere but opportunity is not. This has long been the case in tech. To bridge the racial digital divide, one Miami native is going from the music to the tech industry. “There’s some very talented people right here in South Florida and all they need is an...
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Episode 22: How Miami can become a global climate solutions hub
Miami has been described as the epicenter of the climate change crisis in the country. But how can Miami transform its climate vulnerability into solutions? Harvard Business School professor Rosabeth Moss Kanter released a study in 2022 that focused on Miami’s climate action and economic growth.…
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Episode 21: Making the “Energy of Tomorrow” available today
We are undergoing an electric revolution. With electric vehicle registrations up, so is demand and interest in technology and infrastructure that can make charging more convenient, not just for cars but for our everyday lives. “The way the grid has operated for 100 years is going to change...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is a pivotal moment for Miami, which has never been positioned so strongly for success -- or faced such daunting challenges, from sea-level rise to income inequality. On Opportunity Miami, host Matt Haggman talks to the innovators, entrepreneurs, and community champions who are turning the community’s biggest challenges into its greatest opportunities. Opportunity Miami is powered by the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.
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How many episodes does Opportunity Miami have?
Opportunity Miami currently has 71 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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This is a pivotal moment for Miami, which has never been positioned so strongly for success -- or faced such daunting challenges, from sea-level rise to income inequality. On Opportunity Miami, host Matt Haggman talks to the innovators, entrepreneurs, and community champions who are turning the...
How often does Opportunity Miami release new episodes?
Opportunity Miami has 71 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Opportunity Miami on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
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Opportunity Miami is created and hosted by Opportunity Miami.
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