Social Impact Without Being a Startup Founder, with Amanda LaGrange, TechDump

TechDump provides job training and practical experience for adults facing barriers to employment.

Social impact Amanda LaGrange

Amanda LaGrange, TechDump and Tech Discount

Social impact does not necessarily require you to be the founder of a social enterprise. Amanda LaGrange is living proof of that idea. Amanda spent more than seven years at General Mills, including time as a Senior Financial Analyst.

Today, Amanda is the CEO of TechDump. TechDump refurbishes and recycles electronics, and in the process they create jobs for adults facing barriers to employment, especially those who have spent time in the justice system. TechDump accepts anything with a cable, cord or battery that is not a home appliance.

Amanda brings her background in corporate finance to bare on the challenges of scaling a social enterprise.

Social Impact Quotes from Amanda LaGrange:

[spp-tweet tweet=”It takes a certain skill set for a founder to pass on the baton. @GracieLooToday of @TechDumpMN”]

“It wasn’t necessarily that I birthed the idea, but I’ve definitely been a huge part around growing and scaling it.”

“Scaling a social enterprise is one of the most difficult things, because you have to create infrastructure at the same time you’re growing your top line.”

“The United States is home to 5% of the world’s population, and yet we incarcerate 25% of the world’s incarcerated people.”

“We use 25% of the world’s resources and the [Environmental Protection Agency] reports that we’re only recycling 25% of electronic devices used by consumers.”

“There’s no person that’s wasted. There’s no material that’s wasted.”

[spp-tweet tweet=”There’s value and transformation is definitely possible. @GracieLooToday of @TechDumpMN”]

“In the state of Minnesota last year, 50 million pounds of electronic waste was collected for recycling, so you can just imagine how much is sitting in people’s basements.”

“At TechDump last year, we recycled 5 million pounds.”

“From our founding in 2010, we’ve been 98% self-funded.”

“50% of our current income comes from the sale of refurbished electronics.”

[spp-tweet tweet=”The more electronics we take in, the more people we can employ. @GracieLooToday of @TechDumpMN”]

“About half of our customer base is from the commercial side.”

[spp-tweet tweet=”There’s no clear direct path to be a social entrepreneur. @GracieLooToday of @TechDumpMN”]

“Join a [nonprofit] board. You get to practice skills you can’t practice in your day job.”

Social Impact Resources:

Leadership Development Expert
About the Author
Tony Loyd is a leadership development expert. He is a best-selling author, keynote speaker, and coach. He helps purpose-driven business leaders to thrive so that they can connect and contribute at a deeper level. Find out more at https://TonyLoyd.com.

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