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Are we overlooking the world's greatest untapped resource?

In this episode of TBLI Radical Truth, we sit down with Dr. Eric Dawson, co-founder and CEO of RIVET — the world's first consumer-facing micro-financing platform built to harness Gen Z's collective spending power to fund youth-led social innovation globally.

With 1.8 billion young people facing rising unemployment and isolation, Dr. Dawson makes a compelling case: Gen Z isn't just the future — they are the most vital change agents we have right now. And they don't lack ideas. They lack access to capital, mentors, and tools.

In this episode:

• Why Gen Z is uniquely positioned to solve the world's most entrenched problems
• How RIVET uses consumer brand partnerships to fund over a million youth-led micro-projects by 2035
• Moving capital directly into "capital deserts" — away from traditional gatekeepers
• Lessons from 30 years of youth leadership at Harvard and NYU
• The 7 commitments behind Putting Peace First — Eric's bestselling framework for change
• How investors, brands, and mentors can practically support the global youth-led movement
• Why young people are talked about as potential, when they are already building the world

The key insight: Young people control over $3 trillion in spending power and are hungry for authentic avenues to express their values. GrowthCap RIVET turns that economic power into fuel for social change.

⏱️ Episode Guide:

• 0:00 — The 1.8 billion: an untapped global resource
• 5:15 — Why Gen Z is different: the intersection of culture and impact
• 12:30 — Inside the RIVET model: funding a million initiatives by 2035
• 21:45 — Lessons from 30 years of youth leadership at Harvard and NYU
• 30:10 — Putting Peace First: the 7 commitments to change the world
• 38:20 — How to build a mentor network for the next generation

👤 About Dr. Eric DawsonDr. Eric Dawson holds three degrees from Harvard University — a BA in Social Studies, an MEd in Human Development Psychology, and an MDiv in Pastoral Care and Counseling — as well as a Doctorate in Leadership and Innovation from NYU. Harvardae As a Harvard freshman in 1993, he co-founded Peace Games, a social-emotional learning curriculum for Boston Public Schools that grew into Peace First — a global nonprofit now supporting young changemakers across 166 countries. Harvard Gazette He is an Ashoka, Echoing Green, and Pop!Tech Fellow and bestselling author. GrowthCap In 2021 he launched RIVET, with an ambitious goal to invest in over a million new youth-led social innovations by 2035, particularly supporting those in capital deserts. Pcdn

Whether you are an impact investor, a brand strategist, or a young changemaker, this conversation is a masterclass in human development and systemic social innovation.

ABOUT TBLI RADICAL TRUTHReal experience. Real results. No greenwashing. TBLI Group is the world's leading ESG and impact investing network — educating, advising, and connecting investors for 25 years.

🌐 tbligroup.com

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