Afleveringen
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Pallet loads, truckloads, warehouse loads full of excess inventory get thrown out or liquidated every day. After 20 years brokering liquidation deals, Dave Rolleston was looking for more - more than squeezing the cheapest purchase and the highest bidder. That's when he started turning the process into a charitable donation, with about 75% of his profit going directly to charities.
In this conversation, we talk about the size of the excess inventory problem, how sometimes the innovation is not that much different than your current model, finding a renewed sense of impact, and how brokering for impact is an opportunity for so many.
Find more information, links and resources at https://joelmharrison.com/podcast
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Moving from a corporate career to founding a nonprofit is not an easy feat. However, moving an in-person nonprofit or business solely online in a matter of months is even harder. Leah Coss is the co-founder of Build a Biz Kids and the founder of BBK Network, organizations teaching youth and kids hard and soft skills through entrepreneurship - and she did just that.
In this conversation, we talk about how they quickly adapted during the pandemic, and how it opened their eyes to the impact that's possible through digital connections. But also the inherent issues with digital connections and constant Zoom calls. We talk about how to inspire your volunteers and employees, work remotely, and actually build connections online.
View more at joelmharrison.com/podcast
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Aaron Friedland, the CEO of The Walking School Bus and SiMBi, has a passion for change that is powerful and inspiring. From struggling to learn because of his own Dyslexia to studying economic development to creating solar-powered classrooms and literacy software, Aaron's journey is one we can all learn from.
In this interview we talk about the journey to creating impact halfway around the world, the struggle of doing too many things, and how we can create solutions from empathy, that are accepted and have a lasting effect. This chat isn't necessarily about education, it's about social entrepreneurship and how you can take the right approach for observing a problem and creating solutions.
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I haven't felt so inspired to be an entrepreneur more before this episode, and not just because my guest today, Justin Bedard started a global organization (JUMP! Foundation) that inspires youth to make a difference. It's because he opens up about his failures, owns it, and learns from it. I don't hear this enough from social entrepreneurs. We see too much polished fetishizing of being an entrepreneur, and it doesn't usually match our own experience.
In this episode we talk about everything from how nonprofits are struggling to find a social enterprise model, what being a nonprofit social enterprise even means, how JUMP! Foundation provides experiential learning to merge with a standard curriculum, the failures that shocked Justin into starting over, and the changes he made in leading his organization that launched them into their current success.
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Whether you're looking for impact investments now, in the future, or never, there is a mindset here that all change makers needs to take note of. This episode I sat down with Mike Winterfield, Managing Partner of Active Impact Investments. They've been instrumental in deploying over $10 million in capital to businesses that create social or environmental impact.
We dive into everything from how they define impact companies, what it's like starting a venture capital firm, how their model is different and allows impact investors to get more involved, and 3 big mistakes that people make when raising money.
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When you start a company for the sole purpose of funding tree planting, and it takes off as a fashion brand, you see how it would be hard to stay focused. But through rebrands, viral social media hits, and an evolving fashion landscape, tentree hasn’t strayed from their mission.
In this episode of the podcast, I get the absolute pleasure of speaking with Arthur Kononuk, Creative Director and Co-founders of tentree. To give some context, tentree plants 10 trees for every item purchased, and we dive into their audacious goal of planting 1 billion trees by 2030. We talk about their experience of going viral on Instagram, why they did a rebrand, the state of the textiles industry and sustainable fashion, and why selling more clothing might not be the best way to reach their new goal.
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This conversation with Patrick Nangle, CEO of Modo opened my eyes entirely to a lot of subjects. I had no idea that car share programs, companies like Modo, were indeed thinking about impact. That they were created to solve the problem of environmental impact AND the financial impact of vehicle ownership.
We talk about car share programs and community impact. We talk about co-op models and how they differ from standard corporations or nonprofits. We talk about collaboration and an openness to realize you can’t solve anything on your own. It truly was a pleasure, and if you’re living in BC, I hope you have a chance to try out Modo’s car share program.
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So I’m not exactly the mompreneur that this episode is about, but I’m thrilled to talk with Mona Tavassoli of Mompreneurs Worldwide in this episode about everything from starting a business as a mom, managing your energy, culture and starting a business around the world, and how she’s teaching other mom’s how to excel at business.
In this conversation, we dive into her work to empower women, and with her new foundation, to empower women refugees through educating them on entrepreneurship.
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I sincerely didn’t understand how ignorant I was about the disability community until I read Al Etmanski’s new book and had him on the podcast. Al Etmanski is a long-time social entrepreneur, four-time author, and father to a daughter with down syndrome, which was the catalyst to his work.
In this interview, we dive deep into Al’s new book, The Power of Disability and the stories and lessons that we can all learn as social entrepreneurs from people with a disability. We talk about language and labels, we talk about the way the landscape has changed over the years, we talk about why “the systems” are being created and modified by the wrong people.
It was an inspiring conversation, and I truly believe that there is something for everyone in this book.
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Josh Myers has wisdom that is far beyond his years as a leader in a nonprofit. As the executive director of the BC Centre for Ability, facilitating programs and assistance to people, young and old, with disabilities, he’s already taken the organization through significant transformations.
In this episode we discuss Josh’s journey into becoming an executive director (hint: he worked there for 5 years first!), the organization changes they’ve been making in the past year, building leadership teams, being a leader through the tough times, and so much more.
This episode truly is for all of us in a change-maker and leadership capacity - and Josh shares some very practical ideas on how to perceive your role and humbly come to serve others to get the best out of everyone.
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The work that Nejeed Kassam does is an incredible example of how the nonprofit and for-profit worlds will continue to excel together. As the founder and CEO of Keela, a nonprofit software company based out of Vancouver, he’s using his wealth of knowledge from starting nonprofits, practicing law, and running businesses to create a company with real impact.
In this episode, we talk about Nejeed’s experiences that led him to create the work that he does. We talk about the role that law plays in making change, the struggles and stresses of starting a tech company, hiring and managing people that align with your company, and the role of capitalism in innovation and philanthropy.
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Steve Petterson jumped straight out of school and dove into impact investing. Not long after, he started his own nonprofit, the National Social Value Fund, to give students the experience and exposure to impact he wishes he had. This conversation (and everything Steve is doing) got me fired up and inspired because I came from a similar situation. I too was introduced to the world of social enterprises from a wonderful teacher who went out of her way to mention it outside of the normal class.
In this interview, we talk about the inspiration for the program, the experience of going through that beta test in the first year, the incredible impact that it can have on student empowerment, as well as amazing impact. We also talk about why they became a nonprofit, and how their model for impact investing is slightly different than a “traditional” investment fund.
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From community to environmental footprint, Persephone is one of very few breweries that actually farms its own ingredients and is also a B Corporation. I get to interview Brian Smith, founder, and of his many experiences, nonprofits, and for profits, we got to dive into what community involvement really means. We talk about Brian’s tense introduction into activism, the earlier mistakes, and the successful partnerships and community that they’ve been able to build with their farm.
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Since her accident, Tanelle Bolt's spinal cord injury hasn't slowed her down. She is the founder of RAD Recreation Adapted Society, is an interior designer and accessibility consultant, and is a paraplegic outdoor athlete.
We talk about her journey, her experiences with the medical system, the lack of support, and the plethora of barriers built into everyday life. We also discuss the various ways she’s working to solve these problems through awareness, consulting, and her nonprofit. -
Keith Ippel is legendary in Vancouver, and he’s going that way globally as well. Keith is the Co-founder and CEO of Spring Activator, a startup accelerator. With a background in startups, advising, investing, education, and ecosystem development (all centred around social impact), he has no shortage of incredible insights. We discuss the state of social entrepreneurship, educating the next generation of entrepreneurs, what makes a successful social enterprise, and building innovation ecosystems.
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From ethical to organic, and fair-trade to inclusive employment, Mara Mennicken is molding the way businesses look at community impact through her example. Her company, The Good Chocolatier employs several people with autism by partnering with the PALS Autism Society. In this episode, we dive into how she made this happen, how it’s essential to how she does business now, and how you can also find ways to partner with marginalized communities or people with employment barriers.
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Today we’re talking with Clinton Bishop, a co-founder and COO of Susgrainable. They creating impact by turning beer waste into baked goods. By processing the spent grain, they’re able to produce a flour that has tons of fibre and plant protein, way better that traditional flour. Their signature cookies even have up to 7 grams of fibre in a single cookie!
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My guest on the podcast today is Braden Ricketts, co-founder of Build a Biz Kids. Find out how their programs are teaching entrepreneurship to the next generation of change makers, starting for kids as young as age seven. Build a Biz Kids doesn't focus on tech, but rather the fundamentals and the soft-skills associated with business to fulfill their mission of “Kids Taking Action”, and in the words of Braden, challenging them, not just cheerleading.
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In this episode you’ll find out how Felix Bӧck and his team at ChopValue have recycled nearly 25 million used chopsticks into decor, furniture, and high-end custom products. Creating a truly carbon negative business that is leading others to consider circular economy solutions.
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In this episode we talk with the CEO of Speakbox, Aidan Scott, about his upbringing, and how the system had failed throughout his experience with mental health, how Speakbox is ultimately helping people to access and control their care, and how entrepreneurs should take note of how real this can be.
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