In this latest episode of the More Elephant podcast, we engage in an inspiring conversation with Evan Leaphart, Founder of Kredit Academy, and Mike Gross, COO and Head of Education, who join the latest More Elephant podcast to discuss the team’s journey from Kiddie Kredit, a mobile app designed to educate children on the credit system by completing chores, to Kredit Academy, a solution and approach dedicated to equipping teens and young adults with the knowledge and tools for optimal credit health.

In 2023, the team was awarded a $1 million investment from the 43North startup competition to continue the movement toward a financially literate future, creating an opportunity for the next generation to embrace credit management with confidence and wisdom.

From their personal journey of friendship and entrepreneurship over many years to relocating to Buffalo after winning the 43 North investment, Evan and Mike share how Kredit Academy aims to make financial education accessible and engaging. Focusing on education, behavioral change, and community engagement, they discuss the broader implications of their work on generational wealth and financial well-being. As we listen, learn, live, better on More Elephant, Evan and Mike are great examples of how an idea can change lives and build pathways to durable financial health.

Key More Elephant Takeaways in this Episode:

• Evan and Mike share their origin story, meeting early in life and how they have been focused together for many years on changing how teens and young adults think about and understand money
• We discuss their approach to financial empowerment and educating Gen Alpha on credit through a gamified approach and a solution that allows members to earn rewards both by responsible spending and by engaging in activities and learning modules
• We hear about their founder’s story, how they learned to build a company, the resilience and willingness to be flexible as investment opportunity arises, and the power of community in doing work that matters
• and more..

In our most recent podcast, we delve into a conversation with Byron Slosar, the CEO and Founder of hellohive. Byron shares his vision of revolutionizing the traditional talent employment landscape.

hellohive, a virtual recruiting platform that secured $3.4 million in Series A funding earlier this year, is committed to connecting next-gen talent to companies with a significant diversity and inclusivity lens, making everyone feel valued and integral to the recruitment process.

Byron shares how the platform facilitates self-identification and self-expression for students and recent graduates. hellohive allows corporations to find talent and understand them better, enabling a more humanized interaction throughout the recruiting process.

Byron talks about his founder story, how it’s a full circle moment that connects many of the talents he had built throughout his life journey and includes a stop-off at the circus. As with many founders, he talks about the challenges building a business brings while raising a son and how he has learned to embrace his perceived weaknesses and turn them into a source of strength and grit.

More Elephant Moments in this Episode:

• Byron shares his journey of becoming an entrepreneur, his challenges, and how he turned perceived weaknesses into strengths.
• Byron outlines what traditional recruiting processes are missing in their standardized approach.
• Built for equity and powered by inclusion, we discuss the vital role of technology in providing equity and access to students who lack the resources or knowledge to confront traditional recruiting processes.
• and more..

Each quarter, we highlight non-profit change agents leading from the front and changing lives.

On this podcast, we talk with Troy Reinhart, SVP of Community and Ambassador Development for Smile Train. Smile Train is a nonprofit organization that has provided cleft lip and palate surgeries to children in need worldwide for the past twenty-five years. The Smile Train team is approaching its two millionth surgery.

Troy shares his origin story and his journey to Smile Train. We discuss the challenges and stigma associated with cleft, Smile Train’s unique and comprehensive approach to treatment, and the impact of Smile Train's work across continents. Troy also highlights the importance of awareness and invites listeners to support Smile Train's mission.

Smile Train’s powerful tagline is ‘changing the world one smile at a time’. This conversation is sure to leave a smile on your face and inspire you to become an agent for change.

Key More Elephant Takeaways in this Episode:

• Troy shares his personal journey and what led him to Smile Train, which has grown to become a global leader in cleft treatment. 
• Troy illuminates the challenges and stigma associated with cleft and the comprehensive approach to treatment that Smile Train provides that is focused on localized delivery and community engagement.
• Troy shares powerful anecdotes to illustrate the significant impact of Smile Train’s work in different regions, including India, Ghana, and Mexico. 
• and more..

Have you ever wondered what drives someone to leave the perceived security of a blue-chip career for the often unpredictable waters of FinTech entrepreneurship and how one pivotal moment on a Peloton sparked an idea that could impact people for generations?

As we continue to explore conversations with change agents rethinking paths to financial health, we are in conversation with Mical Jeanlys-White, Founder and CEO of Wealthmore, an inclusive investment and advice platform.

WealthMore’s belief is that “everyone’s wealth deserves the benefit and respect of financial advice.” Join us as we listen to Mical's journey as a first-generation immigrant, from trying to get her grandmother to invest in CDs to defining a solution to help democratize wealth advice. Mical shares her lived experiences, challenges, and real conversations we need to have about closing the racial and gender wealth gaps if we are to create a path to lasting generational wealth.

Discover Wealthmore's unique approach to investing, planning, and creating a diverse and inclusive community of wealth advisors. Explore the impact of community-led financial empowerment and Wealthmore's innovative 'advice on demand' model as part of an ecosystem that stands for financial inclusion and leveling the playing field.

Financial health as a pathway to creating lasting generational wealth for all continues to be elusive in the United States, where we explore revolutionary ideas for transforming financial well-being.

In this episode of the More Elephant podcast, we talk with Charles Phillips, the Co-Founder and CEO of Sawa Money. Sawa, in Swahili, means it's all good, and we are in conversation with Charles to discuss the groundbreaking work the Sawa team is doing to improve the financial well-being of their members and solve the wealth gap problem, one manageable financial decision at a time.

Join us as we dive deep into the unique challenges underrepresented communities face regarding financial health and how Sawa Money is leveraging time-honored, community-based traditions to create a platform that aims to redefine how people approach their financial life, build generational wealth and achieve better financial stability. We learn about the 'Savings Wheel,’ a trust-based, communal approach to help people begin their journey to long-term financial health by providing actionable strategies primarily focused on helping alleviate the vulnerabilities those living paycheck-to-paycheck face.

Listen to this captivating conversation as we explore the power of empathy and community-driven initiatives in revolutionizing financial stability. Discover how Sawa Money is paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all.

Key More Elephant Moments in this Episode:

• We discuss the formative years of Charles’ origin story, from Bangkok to Mississippi, and how that experience informed his desire to explore beyond those borders and “try to be a little bit different and color outside the lines a little bit more.”
• Charles outlines the motivation for building Sawa Money and the creation of the communal ‘Savings Wheel’ as a way to put people on a path to a greater understanding of the compounding effect of sound financial decisions.
• We discuss the importance of trust in financial institutions, the challenges for many in figuring out a path to homeownership, and the aim of Sawa Money to alleviate financial vulnerability to providing an easy-to-understand path to owning and living in a home.
• And more…

Have you ever wondered about the origin story of a company that initially focused on trash enclosures and outdoor storage solutions but evolved into a beacon of innovation and urban beautification?

In this latest episode of More Elephant Podcast, we are in conversation with Liz Picarazzi, Founder and CEO of CITIBIN, a company that designs, manufactures, and distributes trash enclosures and other outdoor storage solutions. Liz started CITIBIN because she couldn’t find a durable and attractive enclosure for her own trash.

Our conversation delves into her evolution as an entrepreneur, the pivotal role of customer insights in her product development journey, and CITIBIN's innovative solutions to unique challenges, such as space constraints in cities and package theft. 

Liz also shares her insights on the pivot from a knowledge worker to a creator and the value of adapting in business to maximize one’s strengths.

Talking Points in this Episode:

• Liz discusses the importance of listening to customers’ needs to build a business and create innovative solutions that solve real problems
• Liz discusses the versatility of CITIBIN's design foundation and how it has extended to a more pressing issue – package theft.
• How CITIBIN is addressing the existential rat problem in New York City. 
• and more.

The media is the fourth estate, and although we vehemently argue about its influence on society and its part in determining our thoughts and beliefs, there is still room for discussion on how the media may contribute to positive change and what media companies are doing to leave a lasting impression.

We talk with Dennis Williams, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Warner Brothers Discovery, in this interesting episode. During our conversation, Dennis takes us on a tour of his incredible journey, from his modest beginnings and lessons gained to his current position of influence and effect. He shares his passion for working with his team and resources to drive positive and long-lasting change. 

Dennis articulates the profound impact of media and corporate philanthropy in reshaping perceptions and attitudes, highlighting the pivotal role of CSR at Warner Brothers Discovery in seeking to uplift marginalized communities, foster avenues for artistic and technological pursuits, and advocate for ecological stewardship.

Dennis also emphasizes the importance of family, community, and being in service of others as a path to realizing dreams, having an impact, and creating pathways for the next generation of leaders to help change the world, one idea at a time.

Key More Elephant Takeaways from the conversation:

• Dennis shares his journey to becoming a figure in corporate social responsibility, and his passion for bringing the power media of philanthropy to foster lasting social impact.
• Dennis also discusses how his life, career, and his strategic approach to social responsibility have been influenced by his family, especially his grandmother.
•  Dennis discusses the importance of maintaining humanity and empathy in a world increasingly influenced by technology.
• and more…

As we continue our 2024 journey of listening to and learning from idea agents and change-makers, we will be joined over the following few conversations by cultural ‘activists’ who have used their insights and platforms to change neighborhoods, communities, and the lived experience for many through investment, art, and philanthropy.

In this episode, we engage in a deeply personal and inspirational conversation with Derek Fleming, a Senior Advisor at HR&A Advisors. Derek shares his journey from studying economics and real estate management to working on urban renewal efforts in complex, diverse, and economically challenged communities throughout the United States. We also hear from Derek as he charts the experience as one of the driving forces behind Red Rooster, one of the nation’s most critically acclaimed restaurants and cultural spaces. 

Derek connects the personal to the professional from growing up in Compton to present-day New York City and all the spaces and places in between, coloring the pivotal role of culture and lived experience in edifying and building ‘belonging’ spaces through real estate, emphasizing the importance of hard work, authenticity, and faith in the pursuit of passion and living out his dreams.

Key More Elephant Takeaways in this Episode:

• Derek connects the personal richness of his formative years in Los Angeles and Oakland to the manifestation of how he uses real estate to edify the culture in economically challenged communities.
• Derek’s reflections on Black culture and its value in building a more representative experience for America, as demonstrated through myriad revitalization efforts across the country.
• Derek highlights the importance of being passionate and authentic in your work and the power that has to change lives. 
• and more…

How can we create a life that aligns with our passions and allows us to thrive?

New Year, New You! As we begin a new year, resolutions are made to start fresh and make positive changes that enrich and enliven our lives. With 2024 less than two weeks old, many of us are challenging ourselves to be More Elephant.

It is fitting then that the first conversation of the year is with Aneta Kuzma, host of the Live the Width of Your Life podcast, author of "Live the Width of Your Life: 365 Daily Meditations on Living with Purpose, Passion, and Peace." and a contributor to Brainz Magazine and Thrive Global. 

Aneta is dedicated to guiding individuals toward making a meaningful impact. Her passion lies in helping clients break free from stagnation, awaken to their full potential and purpose, dream big, and take aligned action to embrace the WIDTH of their lives. Recognizing the everyday struggles of individuals in pursuing healthier and more fulfilling lives, Aneta empowers her clients to redefine success, mitigate stress, conquer limiting beliefs, and design lives imbued with purpose, passion, and peace.

In our conversation, Aneta discusses her journey to becoming an entrepreneur, author, and podcaster. She shares her experiences dealing with corporate stress and burnout and the importance of body-mind wellness practices and modalities like yoga, meditation, and breathwork to help individuals, corporations, and nonprofits improve their overall well-being.

Key More Elephant Takeaways from the conversation:

• Aneta shares how she transitioned from a corporate role following someone else’s rules to owning and living the width of her life.
• Aneta shares the importance of starting at a place, asking the right questions as part of self-reflection, and how yoga and meditation helped create clarity of vision.
• Aneta discusses the impact of masculine and feminine energy, stress on the nervous system, and the impact of burnout and anxiety on our psyche and how we operate to survive, not thrive.

How can one man's vision help turn a non-profit into a global force for change, and what lessons can we learn from his journey?

In this episode, we talk with Brian Gallagher, former CEO of United Way Worldwide and current CEO of the Leargas Group. The Leargas Group is a strategy consulting firm focused on developing solutions that have meaningful and lasting social impact.

His career, one marked by transformative leadership, has left an indelible impact on non-profits and social change. As we explore his experiences and insights, Brian presents his view that everyone's success is essential for collective success. The conversation also includes the impact of institutionalized racism, the necessity of supportive structures for marginalized communities, and the importance of uncomfortable conversations in initiating change.

Talking points in this Episode:

• Brian shares his journey from social work major to CEO of the United Way Worldwide.
• Brian highlights the importance of reframing success and creating mechanisms to lift marginalized communities.
• We discuss the need for change in economic policy, corporate culture, and governance.
• and more…