GoodMakers

016: If you're looking for investors for your business, it's vital to seek out partners that are aligned with your values. In this episode, we speak with Emily Best, founder of Seed&Spark, a crowdfunding and distribution platform for creators who celebrate diverse voices. Emily walks us through how she was able to find investors that had her back and supported her through the tough choices she had to make when COVID hit. Emily also explains why advisors are an essential asset that every entrepreneur should have, and she also talks about how to develop a diverse ecosystem for your business, from your investors, advisors, and employees. Get ready for a masterclass in building a mission-driven startup!

015: From living in his car for four months when he moved to Hollywood, to helping diversify the membership base of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, our guest Shawn Finnie explains how coming from a place of service has allowed him to grow as an influential leader. Shawn also gives advice on how to carve out your own opportunities in the workplace, how to show yourself the love and respect you desire from others, and how to bring ideas to life on your own terms.

Follow Shawn on Instagram.

014: Do you want to bring your personality and identity into your leadership style? In this episode, we speak with Virginia Bauman, founder of Cuties, a coffee shop for the queer community in East Los Angeles, VP of strategy for a coffee brand Go Get Em Tiger and Executive Coach who works with leaders who want to integrate who they are as a person, into their leadership. Virginia walks us through the tough decisions she had to make with Cuties when COVID hit and gives her tips on how to navigate unexpected circumstances. We also talk about the importance of doing inner work on yourself to become the best version of you and the leader you've always wanted to be. And Virginia advises what type of support you should have around you for peak performance and the benefits of having a coach. 

Get in touch with Virginia!

013: Customer discovery and research is vital when developing a business idea, even more so when your solution is for social impact. This episode we speak with Sachin Medhekar, a civic and nonprofit innovation consultant and founder of Instant Outreach, about the importance of doing thorough research and outreach to make sure you're developing a product or service that is needed. 

Sachin talks us through how he was able to validate Instant Outreach, a mobile communication tool for service providers to connect with their patrons, while he was volunteering for organizations serving people experiencing homelessness. A must-listen for anyone in the early stages of starting a social impact organization. 

Any feedback or questions about the show? Email me!

012: If you're interested in developing a mission-driven company, but are still evaluating what type of business model is the best to create lasting social impact for your initiative, then this episode is for you! We speak with Lauryn Nwankpa, startup advisor, and Head of Social Impact for Dave, banking for humans. 

Lauryn gives her advice on what to think about when developing a solution for the problem area you're focusing on, and how to think about serving consumers that have previously been left out of the conversation. As a product of the 2008 recession, Lauryn has some tips for recent grads who are entering a volatile job market. And if you're an impact professional, listen out for Lauryn's advice on what to ask a company in an interview, and how to get the tea on their culture and social impact initiatives. 

011: Have you ever got lost for words when asked what do you do? Or draw a blank when writing a short bio for your LinkedIn profile? In this episode we speak with website and conversion copywriter Terry Schilling, about his 3-step guide on how to write a short and catchy bio on what you do for a living. His process allows you to quickly connect with your ideal customer and clearly articulate what impact you're able to provide. We also talk about where to find freelance gigs, and how to create content across your social profiles to attract potential customers. 

Click here for Terry's 3-step guide.

010: If you want to work in social justice, it's important to understand why focusing on systems change is vital to addressing social issues. This episode we speak with Christine Margiotta, who is Executive Director of the Los Angeles chapter of Social Venture Partners. Christine and her team run a system changes accelerator for local nonprofits, helping them hone in on their systemic problem so they can create lasting impact. We talk about what systems change is, and why it's critical to social justice work. Christine describes the commonalities she sees in successful changemakers, and she gives insight on what to think about when deliberating between a nonprofit or for-profit legal structure for your mission-driven initiative. 

009: Whether you're a business owner, social impact professional, or an employee wanting to get your company involved in social issues, this episode is full of insightful and practical takeaways. We chat with Dr. Corneil Montgomery, former Head of Impact and Corporate Social Responsibility for Bank of the West. He discusses what to look for and ask when interviewing for a social impact position at a company. We talk about the benefits of integrating social impact strategies within your business. And his advice to young professionals on how to bring their personalities and values to a corporate environment.

008: Do you want to start using your skills for good but don't know where to begin? In this episode, we speak with Lex Roman, a growth designer, and advocate for people experiencing homelessness. Lex shares with us her strategies on how to integrate your career with causes you care about, how to evaluate the ethics of a potential employer, and the first steps you should take when you want to get involved and make a difference on issues you're focused on.  

007: Now more than ever it's vital to have a strong support network around you. In this episode we speak with Kat Vellos, a user experience designer, coach, speaker and author of 'We Should Get Together, The Secret To Cultivating Better Friendships'. We talk about the four biggest challenges that adults face when trying to make or maintain friendships during adulthood. Kat also gives practical tips and creative ideas on how to start having better friendships right away.