Merging Business and Philanthropy through Trackable Giving, with Bryan Pape, MiiR
MiiR is the first ever Product to Project company, using revenue from the sales of their quality drinkware, journals, and bags to fund trackable philanthropic projects. “I realized at that moment, sitting against this tree with my leg snapped in half, that nobody would have gotten up at my funeral and said, ‘…Bryan cared about […]
Katrina Klett: Elevating Honey in China
Elevated Honey Co is dedicated to preserving traditional Himalayan beekeeping methods to produce the world’s purest honey. Katrina Klett moved to China nearly a decade ago to study languages. While there, she found her true calling there as a beekeeper. She’s now turning that vision into a business as a social entrepreneur. Katrina is […]
Designing Functional Workwear for Women, with Sarah Calhoun, Red Ants Pants
Red Ants Pants is the pioneer in manufacturing functional women’s workwear that fits and flatters. In 2000, Sarah Calhoun was leading trail crews in the backcountry of Montana when she ran into a problem. The only pants available for the kind of rugged, physical work she was doing were made for men. As Sarah points […]
Advocacy Through Industry, with Raan and Shea Parton, Apolis Global
Apolis is a socially motivated lifestyle brand that empowers communities worldwide. Brothers Shea and Raan Parton grew up in the privileged surroundings of Southern California. To ground the brothers in reality, their parents traveled with Raan and Shea. Seeing how the rest of the world lived afforded the boys a perspective shift. This early experience […]
A Different Way of Doing Business, with Lucy Findlay, Social Enterprise Mark
Social Enterprise Mark provides accreditation for businesses that enhance the greater good. Accreditation exists everywhere from higher education to medicine. So why should entrepreneurs be any different? Lucy Findlay, managing director at the Social Enterprise Mark Company, helps socially-focused businesses receive accreditation for the work — and the good — that they do. “We recognize […]
Moving from Aid to Opportunity, with Jennifer Paige Holt, Building Markets
Building Markets’ mission is to reduce poverty in conflict-affected countries by creating jobs and encouraging sustainable economic growth. Jennifer Holt grew up in Alabama, a place she says, “has a dark history of racial terrorism.” This history drove Jennifer’s sense of purpose. “I can be an idealist to a fault sometimes, but I’m also a […]
A Second Chance at Childhood, with Jenny Bowen, OneSky
OneSky is an international NGO that works with governments and communities to help the most disadvantaged and marginalized children. Jenny Bowen is a storyteller. In this interview, she tells the story of OneSky. I would also suggest that you pick up Jenny’s book, Wish You Happy Forever: What China’s Children Taught Me About Moving Mountains. […]
Liza Moiseeva: Empowering Artisans Around the World with GlobeIn
GlobeIn’s Artisan Box fights poverty through job creation and fair wages. A hand-painted mug from Tunisia. A scarf from Thailand. Cocoa powder from Ghana. You might not travel to any of those places, but thanks to GlobeIn, you can receive these handcrafted items in your home while empowering entrepreneurs in developing countries around the world. […]
Making Technology Fun, Relevant, and Accessible for Girls, with Betty Gronneberg, uCodeGirl
uCodeGirl offers pathways to technology careers for teen girls by tapping into their curiosity, skills, and potential. Betty Gronneberg grew up in Ethiopia. She attended Addis Ababa University where she majored in statistics. Betty recalls a day in college when she saw her name on a list of students who had been accepted into the […]
Connecting Buyers and Suppliers of Aid Supplies, with Stephanie Cox, The Level Market
The Level Market is the premier marketplace for aid and relief supplies. Stephanie Cox grew up looking at National Geographic with her grandfather. “I knew I wanted to travel the world when I was 6, 7, 8 years old,” she explains. After graduating from college, she traveled the world as a freelance journalist. In 2004, […]
