77: Using an MBA to raise millions in funding and start two extraordinary social enterprises - with Todd Hannula, founder of Shine and daCunha
After getting his Executive MBA at Georgia State University, Todd Hannula found himself in the usual post-MBA corporate gig. Living in a small New Hampshire village he found that on top of his work he was spending up to 30 hours a week volunteering across a whole range of areas — everything from the local historical society, the library board, to garden planning. That experience provided a watershed moment, challenging what he thought was important in life. He realised that what he…
57: How to get into a career in social enterprise and impact investing - David Kyle, Founder of IBL
How do I get into a career in social enterprise and impact investing? David Kyle was asked this question again and again, so decided to provide a solution by founding a unique programme called Impact Business Leaders (IBL). IBL is a unique social enterprise running six program centers in India, Kenya, The Netherlands, Nigeria, the UK and the USA. It aims to support regional social enterprises with local talent while allowing professionals to build meaningful careers in their own…
MDE 55: Creating a network of ethical and competitive factories, co-founder of Ethical Apparel Africa, Keren Long
Passionate about textiles at school, Keren Long forged a career in retail with big names such as Marks & Spencer and then Asda's new retail arm 'George'. Her strength in maths led her to a career in merchandising. When Walmart bought Asda, Keren moved over to set up a sourcing function where she did 3 years looking after kidswear - spending 40% of time in Bangladesh, India , Turkey and China. This was the early days of the 'value' retailing, resulting in low-cost jeans as low as £4!…
MDE 47: Unleashing talent to solve the world's biggest problems, Lara Galinsky of Echoing Green
This week we take a different approach and interview Lara Galinsky, SVP of Echoing Green. Founded 30 years ago by a private equity company, Echoing Green is now a charity that funds social entrepreneurs from all around the world to develop ideas that have positive impact. So far they have funded over 600 social entrepreneurs in 60 countries with $36million. In this wide ranging and upbeat conversation we cover what the organisation looks for in the future leaders they invest in, some of…
MDE 29: Leading a supermarket revolution, Ruth Anslow of hiSbe
I love shopping in farmers’ markets and I am very into local food so the story and concept of hiSbe Food was something that immediately appealed to me. hiSbe (how it Should be) is a different kind of supermarket; one that puts the customers, suppliers and employees before profits and shareholders. Pretty groundbreaking. The supermarket was opened in Brighton in 2013 in a 'fanfare of alternative', but the route there for co-founder Ruth Anslow was a traditional one. She studied…
MDE 26: David Lale of Charity People and Career Volunteer - helping people use their skills to do good.
The entrepreneurs I interview here all have a mission and David Lale is no exception. I only wish I had known about his company when I left recruitment myself! David set up Charity People in the 1990s, after harbouring “ambitions to save the world”. He’d wanted to go into the church but they didn’t feel he was ready and because he was working in recruitment, he looked at other ways to make a difference. He was on honeymoon when the idea came for Charity People: “All good ideas come when…
MDE 19: Claire Young, Apprentice star committed to inspiring the next generation
Back in 2008 Claire Young beat 30,000 candidates to reach the final of the fourth series of BBC1’s The Apprentice, impressing Lord Sugar (just plain old "Sir Alan" back then) with her determination and presentation skills. The 33-year-old (who splits her time between London and Yorkshire), was born in Johannesburg and brought up in Yorkshire. She worked for Colgate, L’Oreal and Superdrug and had carved out a successful retail career. Claire says she signed up for The Apprentice because…
MDE 18: Liam Black, lifelong social entrepreneur's A to Z of business survival
Liam Black doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to his advice for entrepreneurs. He’s quick to call out jargon, has little time for Dragon's Den style TV shows and his saying at Wavelength, the company he co-founded in 2009 is, “we don’t do pointless inspiration.” The author of The Social Entrepreneur’s A-Z draws from an incredible well of experience, having lived and breathed social enterprise for well over 20 years. And when you can line up Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus to write the…
MDE 13: Promoting Africa on a world-wide stage, Rex Idaminabo of African Achievers
PODCAST: In this episode of Mission Driven Entrepreneurs I interview someone who asked to link to me on linkedin. Now as you know if you have ever been in one of my workshops I don't link to just anyone! But Rex was clear about why he wanted to link to me and he had an interesting background so I was keen to talk to him to understand his mission in setting up some of the organisations he has been involved with. Rex set up the African Achievers Awards and is on a mission to celebrate and…