Listen in to Ian Leader, Social Impact Pioneer, cross-sector strategist and founder of Local Works. Ian shares his experience in building partnerships that really work, between business, community and government. With more than 25 years of experience working across New Zealand’s business, charity, education, philanthropy and local government sectors, Ian has become one of the country’s leading voices on collaboration, systems change and social impact brokering. Remember that, social impact broker … a vital role so often over looked.

From pioneering employee volunteering initiatives in the 1990s to designing purpose-driven community investment strategies and place-based partnerships, Ian has spent his career helping organisations move beyond traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) and towards genuine shared value creation.

In this conversation, Ian shares why he believes “communities are jigsaws,” complex ecosystems made up of interconnected people, organisations and cultures, and why businesses must stop thinking about “giving back” and instead start actively participating as part of the community itself.

We explore:

• The evolution of CSR, corporate citizenship and conscious business

• Why impact brokers are essential for successful partnerships and systems change

• How businesses can build trust with communities and create authentic social impact

• The shift from scarcity thinking to abundance and collaboration

• Why employee volunteering and community engagement should be embedded into business strategy

• What First Nations and Māori approaches to business can teach us about sustainability, purpose and long-term thinking

• How social impact leaders can bridge the gap between intention and execution

Ian also reflects on working in some of New Zealand’s most vibrant and challenged communities, where he learned that “work isn’t always the priority,” and why understanding people’s lived realities is critical for organisations that want to create lasting impact.

Packed with practical insights, systems thinking, real-world examples and unforgettable quotes, this episode is a masterclass in collaborative leadership, social innovation and the future of business as a force for good.

Whether you work in sustainability, ESG, CSR, philanthropy, social enterprise, community development or purpose-led business, this conversation will challenge how you think about partnerships, power and the role organisations play in society.

Discover why the future of impact depends on learning how to work together.

Links:

Ian’s podcast 'CSR Aotearoa: Agents of Change': https://open.spotify.com/show/5Gjvg9TsTA74LKAGOQnBi6?si=4abea07503284fc3

Local Works: www.localworks.nz

Local Works Resources : https://www.localworks.nz/resources

More info about Hunter Lovins: https://natcapsolutions.org/

The Partnering Initiative: https://thepartneringinitiative.org

And if you liked this, try:

What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business, with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/

Social Impact Pioneer Hesham Elzeftawi, Founder and CEO of EBRIIZ shares his journey from Egypt to the US and Mexico developing deep understanding and appreciation for cross-cultural learning, practical field experience, and emerging market realities. Hesham’s time in Arabic, English, and Spanish-speaking communities gives him a perspective we all need to hear.

In this conversation, Hesham explores what businesses can gain from understanding different cultures, why overlooked markets hold untapped opportunities, and how inclusive growth can create wider economic opportunities, not only benefits for the few.

Hesham’s career spans more than two decades across international development, cross-cultural learning, youth development, education, women’s economic empowerment, community engagement, and financial inclusion. He has worked with organisations including CARE, UNDP, GIZ, Soliya, ICA MENA, and the Science and Technology Development Fund, contributing to programmes that have reached hundreds of thousands of people across Egypt and the wider region.

From managing a USD 2.4 million education programme reaching more than 40,000 students, to supporting financial and social inclusion work targeting women’s access to the formal financial system through savings and loan group methodologies, Hesham has seen first-hand how social impact succeeds when it is grounded in real local needs. He reflects on why strong project design does not always translate into local relevance, and why meaningful development must be shaped by the people, institutions, and markets it aims to serve.

This is a conversation about turning misunderstanding into opportunity, seeing diversity as a way through change, and building links that are not only cultural, but practical, human, and economic.

Through EBRIIZ, Hesham is now building on these experiences to explore how cultural difference can become a source of trust, collaboration, and business opportunity. His work focuses on turning misunderstanding into connection, and connection into practical economic value.

He sees EBRIIZ as an evolving founder journey, shaped by both success and failure, rather than a completed success story.

For anyone interested in cross-cultural leadership, youth development, emerging markets, inclusive business, financial inclusion, women’s empowerment, or the future of business with impact, this episode offers rich insights into how we can move through change with curiosity, courage, and collaboration.

Hesham is part of the Business Fights Poverty Global Expert Network: https://businessfightspoverty.org/global-expert-network/

Links:

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/heshamelzeftawi

EBRIIZ:

https://ebriiz.org/en/welcome-to-ebriiz/

If you like this, try: What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business, with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/

In this episode, we’re joined by Devon Fritz, author of The High-Impact Professional’s Playbook and co-founder of High Impact Professionals. An experienced coach and strategic philanthropy adviser, Devon helps people bridge the gap between good intentions and measurable outcomes.

Devon’s story begins in the private sector, where he worked as a software developer and achieved financial security early in his career. But instead of fulfilment, he found himself questioning his path. That turning point led him to explore what it really means to do good, and ultimately to the effective altruism movement, where he discovered a global community focused on maximising impact through evidence, data, and thoughtful decision-making.

In this conversation, Devon shares practical insights on how to build a high-impact career, including why many professionals focus on the wrong goals, and how to shift from being “busy” to being truly effective. He explains the importance of thinking in terms of scale, how many people you’re helping, and why small changes in direction can lead to orders-of-magnitude greater impact.

We also explore the power of effective giving, and how strategic donations can often achieve more than people expect. Devon challenges common assumptions about nonprofit work and highlights why some of the most impactful opportunities lie in overlooked or “neglected” areas.

Thinking about a career change? Devon makes the case that transitioning into impact-focused work is less risky than it seems, and often more rewarding. He shares frameworks for identifying the best opportunities, including how to assess what problems are important, tractable, and neglected.

Finally, we dive into what separates truly high-impact professionals from the rest: principled decision-making, a focus on outcomes over activity, and the courage to aim bigger.

Whether you’re early in your career, considering a pivot, or looking to maximise your contribution, this episode offers a fresh perspective on how to do more good, effectively.

Links:

Devon on Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devonfritz/

Devon's book: https://www.highimpactprofessionals.org/book

And if you liked this take a listen to:

Michelle Grogg from Mars: https://businessfightspoverty.org/inside-the-mars-impact-fund-with-michelle-grogg/

Social Impact Pioneer Michelle Grogg is the Executive Director of the Mars Impact Fund. Listen in as Michelle shares her insights on why Mars can do more with an Impact Fund now. She shares her experiences on how businesses can drive meaningful social impact at scale and how delivering impact through both business operations and targeted investment is a vital way to make limited resources go further.

Michelle has held senior leadership roles at Mars and Cargill, and her influence extends across major global platforms, including the World Economic Forum’s Food Action Alliance, the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, and the Munich Security Conference’s Global Food Security Task Force. Known for her systems thinking and collaborative leadership, she has spent years working at the intersection of business, sustainability, and social impact. With a career spanning corporate responsibility, global philanthropy, and international development, Michelle has deep expertise in building partnerships, shaping sustainable business strategies.

This podcast conversation is recorded in the early days of the Mars Impact Fund, the innovative, LLC-structured fund designed to work alongside the business rather than separately from it. Michelle explains why Mars chose to create a dedicated impact fund now, despite its long history of embedding social impact into its operations, and how this new approach unlocks greater flexibility to partner with nonprofits, social enterprises, and for-profit organizations alike.

We also explore why Mars prioritises building resilient communities in sourcing regions, supporting a pipeline of future scientists and improving access to veterinary care. Michelle shares insights into why strong supply chains depend on strong communities, and why businesses must take a systems-level approach to creating lasting change.

Beyond strategy, Michelle reflects on her personal journey into purpose-driven work, the importance of collaboration, and why failure is an essential part of driving innovation and impact. She also discusses emerging trends in impact investing and corporate sustainability, including the growing need for long-term thinking, partnership-driven solutions, and intentional decision-making.

Whether you’re interested in ESG, corporate responsibility, impact investing, or sustainable business strategy, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration. Tune in to learn how companies like Mars are rethinking their role in society, and what it takes to create impact that endures.

Links:

Mars Impact Fund: https://www.mars.com/about/mars-impact-fund

And if you liked this episode do take a listen to:

What Real Sustainability Integration Looks Like in Business — with Fernanda Facchini, Natura: https://businessfightspoverty.org/what-real-sustainability-integration-looks-like-in-business-with-fernanda-facchini-natura/

and

Why Fairtrade Matters More Than Ever with Marike Runneboom de Peña: https://businessfightspoverty.org/why-fairtrade-matters-more-than-ever-with-marike-runneboom-de-pena/

Meet Social Impact Pioneer, Fernanda Facchini. She is part of the team at Natura, the Brazilian multinational cosmetics company, who are pioneering sustainable and ethical beauty products while driving regenerative practices in the Amazon rainforest. This conversation deep dives into what it takes for a commercial business to deliver social and environmental impact from its heart.

Fernanda’s role is a big one, spanning sustainability & business integration with green finance and resilient value chains. With 25 years of experience, Fernanda shares practical insights on turning ESG ambition into measurable business impact.

Fernanda has built her career at the intersection of sustainability and performance, developing governance frameworks, KPIs, and action plans that translate environmental and social goals into operational reality. At Natura, she works across business functions to integrate sustainability into decision-making, risk management, and long-term value creation.

In this conversation, Fernanda shares what “true sustainability integration” looks like in practice. From embedding climate and nature risks into governance structures, to aligning incentives and measuring impact through tools like integrated profit and loss. Fernanda also shares how Natura is using green finance, including sustainability-linked bonds, to fund climate action, biodiversity protection, and social impact across its value chain.

We also explore the growing importance of resilient value chains in the face of climate change, geopolitical instability, and social inequality. Fernanda explains how Natura works with suppliers, smallholders, and communities, particularly in the Amazon Rainforest, to strengthen resilience, reduce risk, and create shared value.

This episode is essential listening for sustainability leaders, ESG professionals, and business executives looking to understand how sustainability can drive growth, resilience, and competitive advantage. Fernanda offers a clear, practical perspective on how businesses can move beyond theory and lead the transition toward a more inclusive, regenerative, and sustainable future.

Links:

Natura’s Profit and loss: https://ri.natura.com.br/en/sustainability/management-by-impact-ipl/

Natura’s Climate Transition action plan: https://ri.natura.com.br/en/sustainability/socio-environmental-publications/

Natura’s Vision 2050: https://ri.natura.com.br/en/sustainability/vision-2050/

And if you enjoy this episode, take a listen to:

Why Fairtrade Matters More Than Ever with Marike Runneboom de Peña: https://businessfightspoverty.org/why-fairtrade-matters-more-than-ever-with-marike-runneboom-de-pena/

and

Social Impact from Big Picture to On-the-Ground Action with Darsh Myronidis, Virgin Group: https://businessfightspoverty.org/social-impact-from-big-picture-to-on-the-ground-action-with-darsh-myronidis-virgin-group/

Getting your coffee tomorrow is not a given. Behind everyday products like coffee, bananas, and cocoa lies a global trading system under pressure. A pressure shaped by climate change, economic uncertainty, and growing inequality. The need to change how we value our food is urgent or we risk our daily coffee, and midmorning snack. Listen in to this podcast episode to hear from Social Impact Pioneer Marike Runneboom de Peña, Interim CEO of Fairtrade International, about why this moment is a turning point for fair trade and global supply chains.

From sociologist to co-founder of a banana cooperative with over 200 members in the Dominican Republic, Marike is now the interim leader of Fairtrade International.

March 2026 is important for Fairtrade as they launch a new Global Strategy 2026–2028, focusing on three urgent priorities: sustainable livelihoods for farmers and workers; resilient and fair supply chains; and a stronger collective commitment to ethical and sustainable trade.

Listen in as, together, we explore:

· Why fair trade is more critical than ever in today’s volatile global economy

· The real challenges farmers face, from low prices and unfair trading practices to climate change

· How Fairtrade’s new strategy aims to create long-term resilience and equity in global supply chains

· What businesses, policymakers, and consumers must do to support fair and sustainable trade

In addition, hear from Marike as she shares her personal journey, from working directly with farming communities to stepping into a global leadership role. Learn about motivation, perseverance, and focus. This podcast conversation is grounded in the devastating impacts of an unequal trading system and the resilience of farmers determined to overcome them.

This conversation challenges the idea that sustainability is optional. As Marike explains, “Fairer trade is not just a future goal, it’s a shared responsibility.” Without meaningful action, we risk a very near future where farming becomes unsustainable, supply chains break down, and essential products disappear from our shelves.

If you’re interested in sustainability, ethical business, global trade, or the future of food systems, this episode is essential listening.

Because when trade doesn’t work for farmers and workers, it doesn’t work for anyone.

www.fairtrade.net

Our strategy

riskmap.fairtrade.net

How do we finance renewable energy in the places where it can have the greatest impact? Meet two visionary leaders and Social Impact Pioneers driving solutions: Lassor Feasley, co-founder and CEO of Renewables.org, and Ruchir Punjabi, co-founder and CEO of Distributed Energy, a company making renewable energy affordable and accessible for businesses across India, Africa and the Middle East.

Across India and Africa, some of the world’s most effective solar opportunities remain dramatically underfunded, despite offering enormous social, economic and environmental returns. While traditional climate finance and philanthropy often focus on developed markets, emerging economies hold some of the highest-leverage opportunities for accelerating the clean energy transition and expanding energy access.

That is where Renewables.org is changing the game.

Renewables.org is a pioneering nonprofit that allows everyday people to invest from as little as $25 into solar projects in the Global South. As these projects generate and sell carbon-free electricity, investors receive monthly repayments over five years. There is no interest return, but the climate impact is extraordinary: every dollar invested can deliver up to 550% of the carbon impact of a typical US solar investment. Through its open-source Impact Multiplier, Renewables.org shows how solar in emerging markets can prevent up to five times more carbon per dollar than comparable projects in developed countries.

Lassor brings a design-led, systems-thinking approach to nonprofit finance, building a platform that blends transparency, accessibility and climate impact. Ruchir brings deep entrepreneurial and operational expertise, leading the delivery of distributed solar solutions at scale in some of the world’s fastest-growing markets.

Together, they are bridging philanthropy and finance, design and infrastructure, and catalytic capital and real-world clean energy deployment. Their partnership offers a compelling new model for climate finance, energy justice and social entrepreneurship.

We discuss loan-based philanthropy, why emerging markets represent the highest-impact climate investment opportunity of our time, how technology is helping scale distributed solar, and what the future of inclusive renewable energy financing could look like.

This is a story about solar energy, climate innovation, and a new vision for a just, scalable and equitable clean energy future, one where anyone can help fund the transition.

Links:

Renewables.org

Lassor Feasley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lassor/

Ruchir Punjabi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruchirpunjabi/

Kiva: https://www.kiva.org

It’s not often we talk about burn out, but Social Impact Pioneer, Ashley Jablow shares her personal experiences and her practical ways to navigate negative times. In this episode of Social Impact Pioneers, we explore what it really takes to navigate uncertainty, rediscover purpose, and design a life and career that feels both meaningful and sustainable.

At a time when the world feels increasingly unpredictable, and the path forward isn’t always clear, we’re joined by someone whose work helps people and organisations reimagine what’s possible during moments of transition, challenge and growth.

Ashley’s career journey is anything but linear. Before pivoting her career to support and coach people in impact roles, she worked as a strategist at the renowned design and innovation firm IDEO and served as a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow in the United States. These experiences gave her a front-row seat to leading change inside complex systems, insights that were often learnt the hard way. She now brings to her work with organisations, leaders and teams navigating transformation.

She holds an MBA, is a trained Co-Active Coach, and is also a working parent, balancing the same pressures and expectations many leaders face today. That lived experience shapes her approach to leadership, burnout recovery and personal reinvention.

Ashley is also the artist and author behind the guided journal series “100 Days of Designing My Life”, a four-volume collection designed to help individuals and teams reflect, reset and move forward with intention. Combining practical prompts with hand-illustrated artwork, the journals have become a valuable tool for leaders and professionals navigating change.

In this conversation, we discuss burnout recovery, authentic leadership, life design and innovation mindsets, and explore how simple creative tools, often refreshingly low-tech, can help gain clarity and momentum. Ashley shares practical insights on reflection, resilience and how to stay grounded while leading through uncertainty.

If you’re working in social impact, purpose-driven business or leadership, and are looking for practical guidance on navigating complex challenges while staying true to your values, this episode offers thoughtful inspiration, and actionable ideas you can apply straight away.

Links:

Wayfinders Collective : https://www.wayfinderscollective.com

Life Design School : https://www.lifedesignschool.co

100 Days of Designing My Life: The Reflection Journal: https://www.lifedesignschool.co/shop

Innovative Leadership Salon Series - a complimentary, facilitated conversation for leaders navigating change and uncertainty inside organisations: https://www.wayfinderscollective.com/salon

The Clarity Kit Workshop - a free, on-demand workshop to guide you in clarifying the problem you're solving, before jumping to solutions: https://www.lifedesignschool.co/kit

And if you liked this conversation, take a listen to:

Talent Development, Social Impact & the Future of Work with Banalata, DHL Group:

https://businessfightspoverty.org/talent-development-social-impact-the-future-of-work-with-banalata-dhl-group/

Ibiza may be world-famous for its beaches, superyachts and nightlife, but behind the glamour lies a growing affordable housing crisis that threatens the island’s future.

In this episode, three Social Impact Leaders: Sofi Ribas, Anna Olivia Spenner Hernández, and Yvette Torres-Rahman, share insights from their groundbreaking research into Ibiza’s housing crisis and explore practical solutions to make living on the island viable year-round.

Affordable housing is a global problem, particularly in tourist destinations…the podcast deeply explores the challenges that underpin the problem and provides joined up ideas to tackle these crises.

Essential workers, including teachers, healthcare staff, hospitality employees and young families, are increasingly unable to access safe, affordable housing in Ibiza. Some are living in informal settlements without reliable water or electricity, while luxury tourism continues to flourish around them. The challenge is complex, urgent, and deeply personal.

Through over 200 hours of research, analysis of 50+ global case studies, 20 expert interviews, and insights from 1,000+ island residents, this initiative, supported by the Balearic Government through EU Next Generation funding, set out to reimagine housing in Ibiza through cross-sector collaboration.

In this conversation, we explore:

· What’s really driving Ibiza’s affordable housing crisis

· The human impact of informal settlements and rising housing costs

· Why data gaps are holding back effective policy

· Lessons from global destinations facing similar pressures

· How businesses, policymakers and civil society can collaborate on long-term solutions

If you’re interested in affordable housing, sustainable tourism, social impact, ESG, cross-sector collaboration, or community-led solutions, this episode offers grounded insights and hopeful pathways forward.

Because Ibiza’s future depends on ensuring the people who make the island thrive can also call it home.

Links:

Business Fights Poverty: Five bridges to 2045: https://businessfightspoverty.org/five-bridges-to-2045-how-business-can-deliver-a-fairer-more-resilient-world/

Accommodation report

Sofi’s business (Ma): https://www.linkedin.com/company/thinkma/

TedX Ibiza: https://tedx-ibiza.com/

PIMEEF (SME federation for Ibiza and Formentera ): https://www.pimeef.com/

And if you liked this conversation, do take a listen to: Managing Debt and Mortgages with social entrepreneur: Jinesh Vohra - https://businessfightspoverty.org/managing-debt-and-mortgages-with-jinesh-vohra/

How much will your mortgage really cost you over your lifetime — and what if there was a simple way to avoid carrying debt for so long?

In this episode, we’re joined by Social Impact Pioneer Jinesh Vohra, founder of Sprive, the UK’s fastest-growing mortgage platform designed to help homeowners reduce mortgage debt faster and save thousands in interest. Jinesh brings a powerful mix of personal experience, fintech insight, and entrepreneurial resilience, and sheds light on why mortgage debt has become one of the biggest financial pressures facing households today.

Jinesh began his career in corporate finance at Goldman Sachs, where he spent 14 years seeing first-hand how financial systems are built to make borrowing easy, but rarely to help people escape long-term debt. Jinesh’s turning point came when he took out his own mortgage and was shocked at the numbers: the realisation that for every pound borrowed, he’d pay around 50p in interest.

Determined to take back control, Jinesh set out to clear his mortgage in just five years, and succeeded, becoming mortgage-free by age 32. That experience inspired him to help others overcome debt too. He built Sprive, a platform launched in 2021 that helps homeowners make mortgage overpayments easier through automation and cashback earned on everyday spending.

Now, Sprive works with 14 major lenders and over 2,500 brands, including Amazon, major supermarkets, and leading high-street retailers, helping users save over £100 million in mortgage interest and gain peace of mind through faster debt reduction.

In this conversation, Jinesh explores:

• Why mortgage debt is rising across the UK and globally

• How longer mortgage terms are becoming the norm, with many paying into retirement

• How everyday spending can be redirected toward mortgage repayment

• And what it takes to leave a high-paying career to build a fintech startup from scratch.

Whether you’re looking to understand how we can better manage debt, looking for inspiration and advice on starting or scaling your impact business or generally looking for some inspiration – this conversation is for you.

Links:

Sprive: https://sprive.com

Jinesh Vohra | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinesh-vohra/

Citizen’s Advice | Help with Debt: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/

And if you liked this conversation, try:

Talent Development, Social Impact & the Future of Work with Banalata, DHL Group: https://businessfightspoverty.org/talent-development-social-impact-the-future-of-work-with-banalata-dhl-group/