Josh LeBrun (BBA'17) is Executive Director of 12 Neighbours, the tiny-home affordable housing community in Fredericton which has seen success – and global admiration – over the past couple of years. Now complete at 96 homes, the community-focused organization has turned its attention to social enterprise, providing low-barrier, progressive employment opportunities for the people it serves.

Josh has a passion for social enterprise, entrepreneurship and meaningful contribution. He has a background in both business and design, and co-founded his own business before turning his attention to 12 Neighbours.

In this episode:

• Josh's background and how he started working with his father, Marcel LeBrun, on the 12 Neighbours enterprise.

• The three phases of 12 Neighbours and the goal of doing good in the community.

• What it's like working with family.

• The people, profit, planet model of social business.

• The challenges of running a social enterprise at the ground level.

• How to pay attention and market social enterprise more broadly.

• The importance of being able to work within a team.

Links and resources:

• Josh's LinkedIn

• 12 Neighbours

• UNB Pond-Deshpande Centre

• UNB TME program

Thanks to:

• Our alumni host, Katie Davey

• Music by alumni artist, Beats of Burden

• Our alumni Affinity Partners, TD Insurance and Manulife

To listen to past episodes of UNBeknownst and for more info on the podcast, the hosts and how to subscribe to new episode alerts, visit our website.