Welcome to Season 4 of the Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show.

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Stephen Minix, Vice President of Community at UpMetrics, about why collaboration moves at the speed of trust.

The conversation explores how nonprofits can build stronger relationships with funders, why data should serve the mission rather than drive it, and how simple acts of communication can turn transactional relationships into genuine partnerships.

Stephen also reflects on the role of AI in social impact, the importance of listening to the people being served, and why trust can never be outsourced.

A practical and human conversation about clarity, relationships, data, and what it really takes to create sustainable impact.

For more content, do visit:
Email Stephen: [email protected]
Stephen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenminix
Upmetrics: https://upmetrics.com
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

Every breakthrough begins with an idea, but turning that idea into real-world impact is rarely straightforward.

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Jason West, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of NextGen Scientific. Jason shares his unusual journey from biology to law, executive leadership, pharmaceuticals, and scientific commercialization.

The conversation explores why promising ideas fail, how poor execution can undermine good intentions, what it takes to raise significant investment, and why courage, clarity, relationships, and persistence matter just as much as the original idea.

Jason also reflects on building a family business from humble beginnings, helping scientific discoveries move through research and clinical development, and the importance of taking opportunities one step at a time.

His clearest advice to entrepreneurs is simple:

Take the phone call.

You never know which conversation may open a door, create a partnership, solve a problem, or change the direction of your work.

This episode is for entrepreneurs, social innovators, scientists, business leaders, and anyone trying to move an idea from vision to lasting impact.

For more content, do visit:  
Email Jason: [email protected]
Jason’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-west-b33b7a163/
NextGen Scientific: https://investinnextgen.com
Genzada Pharmaceuticals: https://genzada.com
Hyatt Life Sciences: https://hyattlifesciences.com
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with lifelong cooperative innovator, author and founder of Global Village Co-op, D. G. Safeer Hopton.

Drawing on more than five decades of experience, Safeer explains how cooperatives can help communities build and retain wealth rather than allowing outside corporations to continuously extract value. He shares the story of Co-op Village in Pasadena, where residents collectively owned not only their homes, but also the surrounding shopping centre and recreation facilities. Revenue generated by the commercial development was then reinvested to reduce housing costs and strengthen the wider community.

The conversation explores the principles that make cooperatives distinct, including democratic ownership, one member, one vote, transparency, consumer education, and the circulation of money within local communities. Safeer also discusses patron refunds, cooperative supermarkets, credit unions, community-owned services, cash rewards systems and the potential of digital wallets to connect consumers and merchants around the world.

At the heart of the episode is a powerful question: What becomes possible when communities stop competing against one another and begin building, buying and growing together?

For more content, do visit:
Email Safeer: [email protected]
Safeer’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/d-g-safeer-hopton-a4a8b3b
Global Village: https://globalvillage.coop
Get Safeer's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Creating-Co-op-Village-Real-World-Communities-ebook/dp/B0GWW7CDCG
Safeer's Music: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCtxuFmLojdg_86ttjJxCE2g
Safeer World: https://youtube.com/@awakening_music_books?si=naM0KQuBDuoIU7d3
Safeer's Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/live/yMenf8PmpxU?si=ge-RDxRbu9nnmQOB
Safeer's EP Album: https://open.spotify.com/artist/79zVNLgy8L7RMUuoYoALQn
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with nonprofit strategist Sharmon Lebby, Founder of Blessed Designs Consulting and creator of the Nonprofit Launch Academy. 

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, movement building, and ethical entrepreneurship, Sharmon shares powerful insights on why many mission-driven organizations struggle, how leaders can avoid mission drift, and why sustainable impact requires more than passion alone.

The conversation explores community-led organizations, funding challenges, organizational strategy, and one powerful reminder that stayed with us throughout the episode: money is just a tool.

For more content, do visit:
Email Sharmon: [email protected]
Sharmon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharmon-lebby
Blessed Designs Consulting: https://www.blesseddesignsco.com
One Square World: https://www.onesquareworld.org
Intersectional Environmentalist: https://intersectionalenvironmentalist.com
Loving in Action Foundation: https://www.loveinactionfoundation.org
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this episode, Faiz speaks with Gillian Delaunay, founder of NEON ID, about the future of personalized AI and why the next evolution of artificial intelligence may not be smarter AI, but AI that communicates in your voice. A conversation on identity, communication, and building more human-centered technology.

For more content, do visit:
Gillian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianbrett
Neon ID: https://neonid.ai
Neon’s Website: https://neonid.com
Email Gillian: [email protected]
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this episode, Faiz sits down with David Homan, founder of Orchestrating Connecting and author of Orchestrating Connection, to explore why authentic relationships are becoming one of the most valuable forms of capital in social entrepreneurship and sustainability.
 
David has built a global network of more than 2,500 superconnectors spanning investors, entrepreneurs, family offices, creatives, and changemakers. Together, they discuss the difference between transactional networking and meaningful connection, how trust shapes resilient ecosystems, and why the future of social impact depends on relationships that are intentionally built and nurtured.
 
If you are building communities, leading change, or trying to scale impact through collaboration, this episode offers practical insights into the human side of systems transformation.

For more content, do visit:
David’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrhoman
SOAR Connect: https://www.linkedin.com/company/soar-connect
Orchestrating Connecting: https://orchestratedconnecting.com
Get David’s Book: https://orchestratingconnection.com
Email David: [email protected]
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this episode, Faiz sits down with Helen Neal, founder of HN Communications and creator of Zena, an AI platform designed to help organisations avoid greenwashing before sustainability claims go public.  

With a career spanning the UK Parliament, Virgin Atlantic, and Nissan, Helen brings a rare insider perspective on how policy, business, and public trust intersect. Today, through HN Communications, she works with global brands including Bosch, Heineken, Nissan, and Aston Martin to strengthen sustainability communication and accountability.  

This conversation explores why greenwashing is often less about bad intent and more about broken systems, unclear processes, and growing pressure to communicate sustainability commitments quickly and publicly.  

Helen shares insights on the widening gap between ambition and accountability, how AI tools like Zena can support more responsible communication, and what authentic sustainability storytelling actually looks like in practice.  

If you are a founder, business leader, or changemaker navigating sustainability within complex systems, this episode offers a grounded, practical perspective on building trust and creating real impact.  

For more content, do visit:
Helen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-neal-02261129
HN Communications: https://www.hncomms.co.uk
Helen Neal’s Website: https://www.helenneal.org
Email Helen: [email protected]
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

In this conversation, Christopher Carter breaks down why most organizations overcomplicate their modernization efforts and how leaders can think about AI, cloud, and new technologies without losing their minds.
What makes this episode different? Chris doesn't just talk theory. As a serial founder in the enterprise space, he shares the real challenges of leading through constant technological change and gives practical insights on creating long-term value rather than just adopting the latest tools. 
Whether you're a CEO facing pressure to modernize legacy systems or a leader trying to navigate the S/4 transition, this conversation will help you reframe transformation from burden to opportunity.  

For more content, do visit:
Chris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-carter-885159
Mugatu AI: https://mugatuai.com
Email Chris: [email protected]
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

What if AI understood not just what you do, but who you are? This episode explores the intersection of identity, technology, and leadership with two founders building something different in the AI space.
 
Gillian Delaunay (CEO & Founder of NEON ID) and Erika Hanafin Austria (Co-Founder of NEON ID) discuss their personality-powered AI platform that helps people understand themselves, communicate better, and own their digital identity. From leadership transformation to real-world applications, they explore how identity shapes how we show up and why the next wave of AI might be more human than we think.
 
Fresh from their Miami soft launch, Gillian and Erika share insights on behaviour change, personality science in technology, and whether NEON will actually change how people operate day-to-day.
 
For more content, do visit:
Gillian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianbrett
Erika’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erikahanafin
NEON ID: https://neonid.com
Email Gillian: [email protected]
Email Erika: [email protected]
Lausanne Conference: https://specialevents.imd.org/products/22nd-annual-social-entrepreneurship-conference
Art of ESG paper: https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/the-art-of-esg/405923
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org

What if the real impact of funding isn’t just in what it supports, but in the cost of how it’s deployed?
Dr Nadait Gebremedhan rejoins the show to share the thinking behind Toll the Funder Footprint Initiative, a movement examining whether funding processes create a net positive or negative impact on society. 
Rather than focusing only on outcomes, this approach looks at the footprint of capital itself, from the conditions it imposes to the hidden costs placed on the very organisations it aims to support.
In this conversation, we explore how funding structures can unintentionally limit impact, the often-overlooked burden on social ventures, and how funders can better align their capital to truly enable change.

For more content, do visit:
Dr Nadait’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nadaitgebremedhen
Hagush: https://www.hagush.org
Toll: https://fundingfootprint.org/
Funding Footprint Calculator: https://catalystnow.net/funding-footprint-calculator
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: [email protected]
Dr Faiz’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gofaiz  

Creating positive change, one episode at a time.
This show is sponsored by Faiz Space. https://faizspace.org