How Might We

Cri (pronounced "Cree") deconstructs and reshapes as part of her creative process, seeking to arrive at synthesis while making (and embracing) a lot of mess. Messwork facilitates a multidisciplinary yet holistic approach to trauma recovery and abundant living. With her Bachelor of Psychology and Business from Northeastern University, a Master of Fine Arts in Communications Design from Pratt Institute, Cri integrates complex skill sets into a full-bodied foundation upon which to reinforce her work and practice. As a creator, practitioner, and educator, Cri's psychological and design expertise fuels her methodological and theoretical frameworks and approaches, exploring the inherent nature and connection across somatics, psychology, design, and mess. Currently teaching Graduate and Undergraduate Communications Design at Pratt Institute, Cri expands her name-sake practice, Cg Studio, into Messwork, an offering employing and leveraging somatics, design, and the transformative power of mess as a catalyst for growth.

The Business Behind Creativity is back! This time I have Cri Gabriele Founder of Messwork to delve into how to build a company in the alternative healthcare space.

Cri (pronounced "Cree") deconstructs and reshapes as part of her creative process, seeking to arrive at synthesis while making (and embracing) a lot of mess. Messwork facilitates a multidisciplinary yet holistic approach to trauma recovery and abundant living. With her Bachelor of Psychology and Business from Northeastern University, a Master of Fine Arts in Communications Design from Pratt Institute, Cri integrates complex skill sets into a full-bodied foundation upon which to reinforce her work and practice. As a creator, practitioner, and educator, Cri's psychological and design expertise fuels her methodological and theoretical frameworks and approaches, exploring the inherent nature and connection across somatics, psychology, design, and mess. Currently teaching Graduate and Undergraduate Communications Design at Pratt Institute, Cri expands her name-sake practice, Cg Studio, into Messwork, an offering employing and leveraging somatics, design, and the transformative power of mess as a catalyst for growth.

This week i'm joined by Megan Hale Co-Founder & CEO of Team Repair, an award-winning company founded by a team of Design Engineers from Imperial College London.

They are on a mission to increase STEM uptake and tackle the e-waste crisis, using the magic of repair.

Learn more about Team Repair

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background of Team Repair

03:26 Building Confidence in Repairing Electronics

22:50 The Need for Multidisciplinary Education

25:22 Connecting Businesses and Schools for Real-World Learning

31:20 The Impact of Examples and Role Models

39:15 Creating an Inclusive and Diverse Approach to STEM

52:37 Teaching Students How to Learn and Adapt

57:28 The Journey of Team Repair: Following Passion and Seizing Opportunities

Joey and Thuta are Co-Founder's of Leiho, a company that turns everyday essentials into catalysts for change. Their eco-conscious products are a statement of purpose.

On this episode of the pod we discuss:

➡️ The social entrepreneurship space has seen significant growth, with more purpose-driven brands and increased consumer demand for businesses that give back

➡️ Authenticity and transparency are key in standing out and building trust through your brand in the competitive social entrepreneurship space

➡️ Female founders play a crucial role in pioneering new business models for social impact, and there is growing support and programs available for women in entrepreneurship.

➡️ Early exposure to social and philanthropic work can shape young minds and foster a sense of purpose and community.

Chapters
00:00 Social Entrepreneurship: classroom vs reality
13:39 Today's How Might We
22:49 Collective Action for Meaningful Change
33:03 Pivoting and Finding the Niche
42:46 Rose, Bud, Thorn Exercise
51:31 Advice for Future Female Founders: Stay Positive and Celebrate Milestones

In this conversation, Kianu Glasgow & I discuss her journey from being labeled as 'at risk' and facing personal challenges to establishing DICE, a youth engagement service aimed at supporting underrepresented young people. We discuss the importance of lived experience in youth work, the barriers faced by young creatives in accessing opportunities, and the role of funders in creating meaningful impact.

Learn more about ⁠DICE⁠

Follow ⁠Kianu⁠

Chapters 

00:00 Personal Challenges and Their Impact 

07:40 Setting Up DICE and Supporting Underrepresented Youth 

18:29 Competition in the Youth Support Space 

25:33 The Problem and the Pain of Exclusion 

33:41 Long-Term Intervention and Support in the Creative Industry 

39:22 Alternative Methods for Reporting Impact to Funders 

47:22 Defining Success on Your Own Terms

Ever wondered how NGO's leading the charge towards a fairer fashion industry truly work? Our NEW format "The Business Behind Creativity" is where we take a deep dive into creative businesses to understand how it all works & today we'll be focusing on Fashion Revolution Austria.

Fashion Revolution Austria is a non-profit organisation that aims to promote transparency and responsibility in the Austrian fashion industry. It was founded in 2023 as part of the global Fashion Revolution campaign & today we chat to Country Coordinator Sabinna Rachimova.

The organisation offers educational content, focuses on value and supply chains, and examines future-oriented entrepreneurship and innovation in the fashion sector.

Fashion Revolution Austria is structured with four co-founders, ambassadors in different cities, and volunteers. The organisation relies on grants, funding, and partnerships to support its work. It faces challenges in changing the perception of the fashion industry and gaining respect from policymakers and institutions.

Fashion Revolution Austria focuses on education, collaboration, and advocacy to bring about change in the fashion industry. They work to raise awareness about the social and environmental impacts of fashion and encourage consumers, businesses, and policymakers to take responsibility.

Learn more about Fashion Revolution Austria here

Chapters

00:00 New Format: The Business Behind Creativity

03:33 Fashion Revolution Austria's Mission and Company Structure

09:35 Secular Trends for Fashion Revolution

11:43 Cost Structures (education, campaigning & marketing)

14:45 Balancing Mission and Funding Constraints

20:47 Valuing the Fashion Industry and Challenges in Policy

25:13 Opportunities and Challenges in the Austrian Fashion Industry

26:49 Competition & Headwinds

32:15 Lack of Supply Chain Knowledge and Regulation

35:32 Profit & Loss for Fashion Revolution Austria

40:34 Applicable Lessons for Other Industries

43:52 What Would You Changes from Lessons Learned?

46:25 Existential Zoom Out

53:22 podcast sound 2.wav

Gee Sinha is the Founder of ReSpace, a social enterprise that takes beloved derelict buildings and brings them back to life for use by local people. They do this by reusing wasted resources and building shared community wealth. They make use of the things other people throw away. For past projects, they have made good use of second-hand furniture, leftover building materials, surplus food, and unwanted instruments.

This conversation covers the topic of surviving the apocalypse, acknowledging the long-drawn-out nature of societal collapse and the interconnectedness of global systems. The discussion delves into the behaviours and conditions that allow for the existence of a privileged few and the need for a shift in mindset and social structures.

Follow Gee Sinha here

Find out more about Respace here

Chapters

00:00 The Hive: A Versatile Environment

06:04 Breaking Down Isolated Systems

27:57 Interconnectedness and the Challenges of Surviving the Apocalypse

32:32 Behaviours and Conditions that Allow for the Existence of a Privileged Few

36:06 Shifting Mindset and Social Structures for a More Equitable Future

37:05 The Limitations of Politics and Power Dynamics

38:35 The Idolisation of Figures in Society

41:33 The Importance of Open Conversations and Community Connections

49:56 The Need for Systemic Change

Jeannette Pearce & Sara Turnbull are widely regarded as successful social and serial entrepreneurs. Together they are work activists and wild advocates. As speakers and writers they are valued for their ability to cut through to the core of complex problems, inspire change and be human, frank and provocative in a kind and caring way. As sustainable business leaders and authors of Better Off Working Wild they are widely recognised for their award winning work in:

> Creating sustainable, successful places and organisations

Explore more at Better Off Edits here

Purchase Better Off Working Wild here

Follow Sara here

Follow Jeannette here

Chapters

00:00 Working Wild as a Rebellion

07:47 The Impact of COVID-19 on Working Wild

15:16 The Core Issues: Broken Work vs. Working Wild

31:24 Tools for Shifting Towards a Working Wild Mindset

35:17 Tools for Working Wild

57:14 Creating a Better Work Culture

59:59 Redefining Wealth

01:03:32 The Impact of Technology on Work

01:08:09 Reevaluating Governance Structures

Amy Drucquer is the Founder of award winning platform, recently turned creative studio This Fan Girl. A lifelong Leicester City fan, Amy has spent the last eight years exploring the world of football fandom, and how this connects with feminism and wider societal issues.