In this riveting episode of the Firestarter Podcast, host Willa Kammerer dives deep into a conversation with Nikki Groom, a force of nature in the entrepreneurial world. Nikki, known for helping women leaders embrace their worth, shares her transformative journey from starting a misaligned business to discovering clarity and purpose in her work. This episode explores themes of business evolution, overcoming self-doubt, the essence of self-love, and the community's role in personal growth. Nikki offers practical tips for navigating entrepreneurial challenges and emphasizes the importance of alignment in creating a fulfilling life. Whether you're facing self-doubt or seeking to ignite your potential, Nikki's insights and strategies will inspire you to chart a path that's authentically yours. Join us as we explore Nikki's story, her groundbreaking book "A Power of Your Own," and how she's making waves by empowering women to lead with integrity and impact.

Join host Willa Kammerer as we step into the transformative world of Season 2 of the Firestarter Podcast, where alignment, purpose, and deep, real conversations take center stage. This season, we delve into the lives of inspiring women who are navigating the complexities of life, overcoming challenges, and embracing their strength. From Willa's personal journey of motherhood and significant life changes to the powerful narratives of women forging their own audacious paths, we explore what it means to live aligned and unapologetically. Ready for a journey of insight, strategy, and hope? Dive into our season preview and get a taste of the compelling conversations and solo reflections awaiting you. Plus, discover a free resource designed to help you chart a future that's authentically yours. Welcome to a season of empowering stories, meaningful connections, and transformative journeys.

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers—and lives—of impact.

It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers—and lives—of impact. In this episode, Willa speaks with guest Alissa Peterson, co-founder and executive director of SeaAhead, a bluetech startup platform helping build ocean-based companies.

As the conversation gets underway, Alissa shares how she developed an interest in oceans and got into her current line of work. SeaAhead arose when she and her co-founder met and aligned on their mutual interest in working with overlooked entrepreneurs in the blue economy space. Since the 2018 launch of SeaAhead, Alissa has seen more and more how intertwined the ocean and people are, as well as the value of taking a solution-oriented approach to the ocean. She and her colleagues intend for SeaAhead to represent a third leg of the stool of ocean-related work; while there are many scientific and philanthropic efforts underway, SeaAhead takes a venture innovation approach.

Later in the conversation, Alissa shares about some particularly interesting projects that SeaAhead has been working with, such as Beta Hatch and FuelTrust, and explains how factors like low regulatory development and questions of control have led to a relative lag in ocean-oriented venture projects. Getting into more details about SeaAhead, Alissa shares about the organization's think tank, the SeaAhead Ventures program, the BlueSwell startup incubator, and SeaAhead’s support of a bluetech cluster growing in the northeastern US. She comments on the evolution of the bluetech space in recent years, details the current challenge of pilot projects, and explains why the space requires a collective approach. As the episode wraps up, Alissa speaks to the social impact of work in the bluetech space, and how bluetech improves lives from a coastal community development standpoint. She addresses SeaAhead's current inflection point and what is to come, and invites interested listeners to get involved in bluetech work, too!

Timestmaps:

0:46 – Host Willa Kammerer welcomes today's guest, Alissa Peterson.

4:20 - How did she get interested in the ocean and into this work, and how are the oceans doing?

12:11 - Willa asks about particularly interesting projects SeaAhead has been working with.

16:32 - Alissa comments on a lag in ocean ventures, as well as the work of SeaAhead.

22:59 - She then shares about the recent evolution of bluetech and a current roadblock.

28:19 - Why does SeaAhead take a collective, ecosystem approach?

32:54 - Bluetech work improves lives by fueling community development.

39:58 - Conversation shifts to SeaAhead's current inflection point and future.

43:15 - Willa asks if Alissa has any final call to action for listeners.

Links:

Learn more about SeaAhead and connect at [email protected].

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here.

Keywords:

Bluetech, startup platform, ocean, ocean-based companies, blue economy, green tech, entrepreneurs, impact, environment, working waterfront, New England, Boston. intersection, solution-oriented approach, venture innovation, maritime, regulatory development, investment, think tank, Northeast, pilot project, ecosystem, stakeholder, coastal community development, inflection point

Tune in to this episode of the FireStarter Podcast where host Willa Kammerer guides a discussion on people, ideas, and topics that move us forward. Building both professional business and personal passion on making the world a better place through storytelling, Willa talks to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers in impact. In today’s conversation, guest Hans Manzke is welcomed on to chat about the power of curiosity, networks, and radical self honesty in relation to professional and personal lives. Hans has over 15 years of experience in this field across public, private, and non-profit sectors. In speaking to all types of leaders, Hans expresses his core belief that humans are strongest in their inner selves. He presses in to this in order to unlock higher levels of performance. 

Willa introduces Hans as the Principle at the Clearing and the author of, For All: Democratizing Big Ideas. After recounting how they first met, Willa jumps right in and asks Hans to reflect on how curiosity played a role in his journey. Learn about the “why” questions he once asked to his parents as a young child that are still part of his daily work routine today. Hans walks through his career pathway post-college, and how he got to where he is today. After working in other fields including journalism and publishing, Hans learned by contrast to gain clarity and conviction for the current line of work he’s in. Once he got into his current field, what stood out to him was how fortunate and lucky he had been with being in the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. In becoming an author, Hans wanted to work to give back to people that may not be as fortunate.  They take a moment to dive into the idea of democratizing, reflecting on this in both life and career. Working in the equity and inclusion space, Hans decided he wanted to contribute to helping to level the playing field. 

Shifting topics, Willa asks Hans about the affect the pandemic has had on him and how he has worked to navigate the circumstances. With uncertainty still on the horizon, the timeless human questions and frameworks offered in Hans’ book help people navigate these circumstances. Hans chats about the shared experiences of hardship and negativity, that are simultaneously met with a lot of goodness and positivity. Learn about the unique opportunities that COVID has brought to both Willa and Hans. 

Taking a few minutes to dive more into the substance of For All: Democratizing Big Ideas, Hans speaks to the big ideas that he outlines throughout. While there are 10 big ideas, Hans just names a few here, particularly those that are personally standing out to him now. Listen as he discusses Imposter Syndrome and ikigai. Learn more about how to think and be radically attuned to your personal purpose. Willa asks Hans to share about an activity that could help to express one’s interests in compelling ways to find their ikigai—what this looks like in times and places. Furthermore, Hans shares about preconceived notions that he originally brought to the book, but did not hold up by the end. With the unique writing, editing, and publishing process through The Creators Institute, Hans addressed these notions head on. 

After a brief break, Willa and Hans discuss his emphasis on radical self-honesty and condor. Hans shares what he thinks and how he practices it big picture—he argues that one has to be honest with themselves before they are able to be honest with others. Listen as he discusses the Leadership Circle Tool and how creative competencies and reactive tendencies can be measured to help reveal differences between an aspirational-self and the real-self. Learn how we create limits where they may or may not need to exist. “Talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not.” 

As the conversation draws to a close, Hans offers advice for listeners who feel stuck. First, he encourages listeners to get tuned in to a personal sense of curiosity, remembering all the tools available to them. Additionally, he says listeners need to seek out the people and organizations out there to help with whatever they’re about—they are out there, you simply need to invest the energy to find, and benefit, from them. Willa’s rapid fire questions have Hans reflect on quotes that have guided him and things that are true of himself now, that he did not used to know. 

Timestmaps:

0:01 - Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast

0:45 - Guest Hans Manzke is introduced

1:34 - Topics of today’s conversation outlined

1:48 - Hans joins the conversation

2:40 - Hans reflects on how curiosity has played a role in his journey

5:10 - Walks through his career pathway post-college to get to where he is today

7:42 - Idea of democratizing discussed

10:00 - Other stops along the way

13:53 - COVID Pandemic and how it has impacted work

17:55 - Big ideas of his book—Imposter syndrome and ikigai

29:54 - Preconceived notions brought to the book 

33:11 - Break 

38:08 - Radical self-honesty and candor

38:40 - Created limits where they may or may not need to exist

44:08 - Advice for listeners that feel stuck

47:55 - Rapid fire questions

51:20 - How to learn more about Hans, The Clearing, and where to find his book 

Links: 

Learn more about The Clearing. 

Connect with Hans on LinkedIn

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here. Learn more about Hans Manzke. 

Check out Hans’ book, For All:Democratizing Big Ideas, on Amazon. 

Keywords: 

Hans Manzke, curiosity, career, pathway, post-college, democratizing, pandemic, book, Imposter syndrome, ikigai, radical, self-honesty, candor, limits, advice, The Clearing, storytelling, networks, professional, personal, leaders, journalism, publishing, equity, inclusion, Leadership Circle, aspirational-self, real-self, opportunity, talent, tools

Welcome to the FireStarter Podcast where we discuss people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. Your host, Willa Kammerer, has built both her business and her passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers in impact. In this episode, Willa is joined by guest Michael Hennessy, founder and CEO of Wavelength Lighting

Wavelength Lighting develops and implements energy efficient lighting in New York City. His company both works with industries that want to reduce their carbon footprint and companies building their first office or space who have conservation in mind.  Michael didn’t come to this industry immediately, in fact, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do out of college, but very quickly realized clean energy and conservation were passions of his. He worked in banks, and with hedge funds before he discovered the lighting industry.

In the shift to energy efficient solutions, lighting has a unique set of challenges because unlike wind and solar energy, it was already a developed field. Michael explains that one of the core challenges was educating people to believe there is a better way to handle lighting and understand how much of a carbon footprint our lighting choices take up. Michael explains that filament lighting is a byproduct of heat, which is not a good use of energy. Industries then switched to fluorescent lighting which is slightly better in terms of energy converted to light; roughly 10% of the energy used in fluorescent lighting is making the light. LEDs however use 25% of the electricity run into them to create light. They last longer than traditional light bulbs and they’re better understood now than they used to be.

His company has never had investors, so he’s been bootstrapping it from the beginning. In a lot of ways it was more of a small business than a startup in that way. For the first 18 months or so, Michael was on the streets of Brooklyn, visiting businesses and discussing the benefits of switching to the LED. If he was able to convince them to change their lighting to LEDs, he was the one installing those solutions in the early days. In recent years, there has been a shift for industries to turn toward solutions to reduce their carbon footprint. These systems not only are more energy efficient, but they are also cost effective and tend to pay for themselves within 3 years. Businesses have a huge responsibility to take control over sustainability and responsibility. 

There are risks to starting a company, and Michael says that he is naturally a fairly risk averse person. Through the years, he’s been able to persevere and build a business that helps people and makes positive changes. He’s also learned to love the physical aspects of their business. Before, he thought of work in terms of sitting at a desk for eight hours, and while he does less installation now than he used to, he enjoys that his job isn’t being stuck at a desk, When he thinks about his early career, he says it was about staying true to himself and admitting he didn’t know how things would go. For those just starting their career, he recommends reflecting on your why and identifying your purpose in the broadest possible terms so you can give yourself flexibility. 

Michael is very hopeful for the future, expanding their business in New York, and making the Wavelength model even more effective. He is also hopeful for the climate in the future, he says things are starting to change and trend for the better.

Timestmaps: 

0:01 – Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast and today’s guest 

2:52 - Michael give an elevator pitch for Wavelength Lighting

8:47 - The challenges and opportunities of energy efficient lighting

10:59 - The advantages of energy efficient lighting

13:52 - Michael discusses being an entrepreneur 

17:10 - Early days of being an entrepreneur

21:10 - What Micheal hears from the customers he works with

35:48 - How Michael has learned to tolerate risk

42:31 - Michael shares his advice to young people starting their career

47:17 - Hopes for the future

Links: 

Learn more about Wavelength. 

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here. Learn more about Michael Hennessy

Keywords: 

Lighting, carbon footprint, conservation, energy efficient, Brooklyn, New York City, LED lighting, entrepreneur, fluorescent lights, energy, clean energy, climate change, climate crisis, small business

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers — and lives — of impact.

In this episode, Willa is joined by guest Katie McDonald, Founder and CEO of b.nourished, a business helping its clients discover the path of self care and self realization. Driven by her own desire and need for deep self care after burnout from corporate work and motherhood, Katie evolved into a self-care strategist with the mission of creating positive transformations in the lives of others. Listen as they delve more deeply into Katie’s story and work, share thoughts on the new year, self care strategies, cultivating respect for body and mind, and — last but not least — accountability.

To begin, Katie offers insight for listeners on how she got to the place she is today. Her work began for Time Magazine selling advertising for 45 national publications. She became exhausted, depleted, and felt she was trading her health for sales. When we don’t feel we are good enough, Katie shares, we often overwork ourselves. However, self care is a valid and legitimate pursuit and the way to sustainable success. After ignoring her body’s warning signs of burnout and exhaustion, it was when Katie missed one meeting that she finally had a wake up call that things needed to change. On one of her darkest days, she chose to leave corporate America for good. Within months of leaving her corporate identity behind, Katie and her husband became parents. She applied her same obsessive approach to business to motherhood, but with even higher stakes. It took another sickness for Katie to realize, again, that things had gotten out of hand. 

Even during her time in the corporate world, Katie held interest in mindfulness and alternative medicine. However, she now knows that if your interests are only intellectual and not implemented into your life, they’re nothing more than useless mind candy. No resource you can buy will ever be as effective as self compassion, which is a habit to cultivate over time. Self care is knowing ourselves and being curious about ourselves, then having enough discipline to do for yourself what you know you need. 

Next, Katie shares her methods for advising clients and how listeners can apply these principles in their own lives. First, remember to slow down and choose a reflective, rather than a reactive, approach to life. It’s in the quiet and sensory moments that we really get to know ourselves.  Then, observe the habits you currently have. The way we think we are living is often not the way we’re actually living. It’s essential to have strategies in place so that we don’t continue falling into the same habitual traps. Katie doesn't believe in balance, but sees life more as an orchestra containing many different phases and intensities. She offers a planner which contains assessments for different areas in your life to measure accountability from a place of kindness.  

We all have our own non-negotiable things we need in order to be at our best, regardless if we feel in the mood or have time to do them. These things must be the foundation of everything else we do. After fulfilling our responsibility to ourselves, we can then begin other things. Katie’s own non-negotiables include her morning routine, time in nature, exercise, planning time and tea time. She clarifies that non-negotiables are the things we do that make us like ourselves. Katie’s job isn’t to superimpose her own plan on someone else, but to help them reunite with themselves. Once you learn more about what you need to feel good, the tradeoff is simply too high to neglect it. The majority of people are so disconnected from their own thoughts that they begin to see their negative traits and habits as normal. 

As the episode comes to a close, Katie elaborates on the idea of choosing a single word as a benchmark. For this year, Katie’s own word is “awake”. This one word can act as a discernment tool to ground and root ourselves. Finally, she shares her own advice for navigating te world today. 

Timestmaps:

0:01 – Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast and today’s guest

4:43 - Katie’s early career and burnout in the corporate world. 

7:18 - Katie’s healing journey. 

11:44 - The significance of implementing daily practices and habits.  

19:08 - Katie’s methods for advising her clients. 

24:23 - Assessing the different parts of life and how they fit together. 

31:16 - The roles of a therapist vs. wellness coach. 

36:31 - Non-negotiable factors for success. 

47:14 - The idea of choosing one word as a benchmark. 

50:55 - Navigating the ever changing world. 

Links:

Learn more about FirestarterIX. 

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here.  

Learn more about Katie McDonald and b.nourished. 

Keywords: 

Self care, nourishment, life journey, health, wellness, mindfulness, societal pressures, productivity, career, achievement, self worth, therapy, self love, career, careerist, high achievers, clarity, corporate america, corporate identity, identity, motherhood, parenting, overworked, burnout, nutrition, alternative health, daily habits, clear thinking, plant based diet, nutrition

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers of impact.

In this episode, Willa is joined by guest Dr. Dennis Rebelo, a speaker, professor, career coach, and recent author of the book Story Like You Mean It. His passion is to utilize storytelling to help individuals craft the narrative of who they are and what uniquely drives us. Listen as they discuss this method of storytelling and the importance of our own personal stories in connecting more deeply and authentically with people in our professional spheres. 

The episode begins with Willa and Dennis sharing their love for storytelling as well as Dennis giving a preview of his book, Story Like You Mean It. This book is all about how storytelling can help answer the question of who we are and guides you on how to tell your own self-story in an authentic and meaningful way, known as the Peak Storytelling model. Dennis also goes on to discuss how this type of storytelling is like a muscle: it is something everyone can learn and teach through practice and motivation. He explains the process of the Peak Storytelling model as a methodology of showing you the dots in your life and using storytelling to connect them and exemplify your purpose and passions. Willa adds to this by discussing how this approach can help you be more conscious of the present and empower you to be the author of your life. 

Dennis then dives into the concept of how to hone in on your storytelling and use it in real life experiences, such as in interviews or to better connect with others in an authentic way. He demonstrates this through having Willa identify different influential moments or “dots” in her life and modeling how to use storytelling to connect these to show her passion for what she does. When someone asks you to share your story, there can be pressure to make it short and to the point, but Dennis shares how the Peak Storytelling model can help you communicate your purpose and passions to others in a more authentic and meaningful way.  

Willa then asks Dennis to share about his own interest in storytelling. For Dennis, this started at an early age when he began to be genuinely interested in others’ stories and asked questions to help him better understand who they were. From this flowed a new passion for helping people find their stories and learn how to tell them in authentic ways. Through this passion, he has been able to help many people find their passions through their narrative identity which has been used to create organizations and businesses. When passions are uncovered through storytelling, it allows people to become advocates for what they are passionate about and set lasting goals for how to influence the world for good. 

As the episode comes to a close, Willa asks Dennis some rapid-fire questions about what he has learned over the years and tips for listeners on how they can learn to tell their own stories. He points out the importance of connecting with your story and your purpose and using this to help answer your “why” questions in life. This can be done by looking at your story over time and seeing your why not as a one-time enlightenment, but as something discovered through the journey of life and your story. He gives the tips of practicing telling your story, getting connected with good resources, and focusing on being honest and authentic. Lastly, he closes by sharing how crafting your own life narrative can help you better appreciate life and find the beauty in it.

Timestamps:

0:01 – Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast and today’s guest

1:55 – Both Willa and Dennis talk about their love for storytelling and Dennis’ new book

6:55 – Dennis talks about storytelling as a superpower

10:11 – What is the Peak Storytelling process

15:50 – The importance of honing your story and using it in real life experiences

30:00 – How to overcome pressure when asked to tell your story

35:40 – Dennis shares where his interest in storytelling came from

38:35 – How to achieve big impact through the skill of storytelling 

44:54 – The importance of connecting with your story and your purpose

47:18 – Willa asks rapid fire questions including things he has learned over the years, tips he has for listeners, and final thoughts

Links:

Learn more about FirestarterIX. 

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here.  

Find Dr. Rebelo’s book on Amazon.

To learn more about Dr. Rebelo’s work and to find some free resources, visit his website.

Follow Dr. Dennis Rebelo on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Keywords:

Speaker, professor, career, coach, author, Rhode Island, story, storytelling, narrative, authentic, professional, personal, peak, model, process, muscle, practice, motivation, methodology, purpose, passions, passionate, interview, communicate, identity, why, organizations, advocates, tips, stories, connecting, questions, resources, honesty, crafting, life

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers of impact.

Our guest today is Navyn Salem, the Founder and CEO of Edesia, a nonprofit social enterprise with a mission to treat and prevent malnutrition in the world’s most vulnerable populations. Their factory in Rhode Island produces a wide range of fortified peanut-based products for humanitarian agencies like UNICEF, World Food Programme and more. Since 2010, Edesia has reached more than 12 million children in over 57 countries. In 2019, Navyn developed MeWe, a commercial line of nut butters addressing nutritional challenges in the USA. She is a 2014 Henry Crown Fellow and member of the Aspen Global Leadership network. She is also the mother of four daughters. Stay tuned to hear Navyn’s pathway to founding Edesia, her mission to tackle malnutrition on a global scale and advice for connecting with your own purpose. 

As the conversation begins, Navyn shares about her own background and the inspiration behind her work today. Her father and grandparents are from Tanzania, a country she couldn’t visit until after her college graduation. She was finally able to see first hand the challenges faced by the developing world, an image which remained with her for some time.  Having children of her own reminded her of the experience she had on that trip many years ago and the true hardships mothers in those places face. Edisia was born out of her business background, experience of motherhood and knowledge about Tanzania. 

When Navyn’s youngest daughter turned one, she decided to return to Tanzania with the intention of finding out how to address the area’s most pressing needs. At the time, nobody seemed to be talking about the issue of malnutrition despite the fact that 5 million children were dying as a result of something completely preventable. Navyn was inspired to address this issue right away. She partnered with a French companywho manufactured a peanut butter which had the ability to rehabilitate a child within 7 weeks and opened a factory in Tanzania.  

Next, Navyn shares a few of the ways being an outsider in the industry granted her a leg up. While it was initially discouraging, coming into the space with a completely fresh perspective actually worked to her advantage. Navyn’s advice to anyone interested in doing something is to just start, right now, and to not overthink it. 

One of the major nutritional challenges we face here in the U.S. is widespread peanut allergies among children. In an effort to relieve some of the fear of parents of children with these allergies, Navyn began questioning what could be done to help. It was determined by the AAP that introducing peanuts to children as early as possible relieves some of the likelihood for allergies developing by up to 82%. Navyn and her colleagues developed a safe peanut butter for children over 6 months and a product for kids who are challenging their diet diversity. To address growing food bank lines during the pandemic, they developed a peanut butter called MeWe. She recalls the excitement and motivation of her team to be able to help out at home. 

In closing, Navyn discusses her many roles, including mother and CEO. She shares her value of leading by example and inspiring her daughters to do something great. Finally, she offers her best advice to young people hoping to connect with their own purpose. She shares that she didn't find her own until she was 35 years old, so don’t worry about a certain deadline or timeframe.  When you find the thing that clicks with you, there is no better feeling in the world. 

Timestamps:

0:01 - Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast.

0:46 - Willa introduces today’s guest, Navyn Salem. 

2:15 - The birth of Edesia and uncovering their mission. 

9:15 - The miracle product which kickstarted it all 

13:33 - The missteps along the way of founding a startup. 

19:33 - The power of action and just doing rather than overthinking.

24:33 - Addressing the nutritional needs in the U.S. 

27:40 - Edesia’s work during the pandemic. 

32:36 - Navyn discusses her team at Edesia. 

38:04 - Navyn’s approach to her career and motherhood. 

44:03 - Advice for young people in connecting with their purpose. 

47:01 - Closing words. 

Links:

Learn more about FirestarterIX. 

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Learn more about Edesia. 

Subscribe to the podcast, find show notes and the video of today’s show here.   

Keywords:

Social impact, social change, hunger, poverty, world hunger, unicef, world hunger programme, humanitarianism, leadership, henry crown fellow, Aspen Global Leadership network, entrepreneurship, malnutrition, nutrition, Tanzania, motherhood, business, non profit, edesia, startup, ceo, VCF, quaker, social injustice, rhode island, unicef, social enterprise model, united nations, UN, peanut allergy, health crisis, food shortage, pandemic, covid, USDA, diversity

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers of impact.  

In this episode, Willa is joined by Steve Bradley, Vice President of Cleantech Strategy and Investments at Cox Enterprises. The business is focused on tackling sustainability challenges to drive profitability, topline growth, and diversification. It does this through investing in solutions to transform agriculture, energy, and waste to sustainably meet the needs of a rapidly growing population. Steve’s role is to cultivate positive environmental change within the company. Listen as they talk about Steve’s leadership in sustainability, the evolution of his role over time, and how sustainability benefits both business and the environment. 

The episode begins with Steve sharing more about the structure of the company Cleantech. He first defines Cleantech as having the goal of resource efficiency, resiliency, and adaptation. Steve shares how he originally started out his career on the path of mechanical engineering, and slowly began to have a desire to address environmental changes. When Cox began to focus more on sustainability, he then began to work in the field of tackling environmental challenges and helping the company grow its sustainability. 

Willa then moves on to ask Steve about some of the company’s current sustainability goals. One of the biggest goals this company has for the future is to become waste neutral by 2024 and carbon water neutral by 2034. The end goal of these strategies is to help Cox eliminate its footprint on the environment. He also talks about some of the challenges he has faced in tackling sustainability issues, the biggest of these being figuring out where to start. The amount of environmental issues that need to be tackled can feel overwhelming at times, and Steve encourages listeners to take it one choice and one step at a time, and that this steady approach can make an impact. 

A big part of what Steve does is connecting profitability with sustainability, and Willa asks Steve to speak about this. In his work at Cleantech, Steve has the goal of proving that businesses can do good things for the planet while also bringing profit to the company. Thinking sustainably allows you to build a better company in the long run, and Steve shares how it has boosted some of the company’s greatest returns. Businesses have a lot of power and responsibility to address environmental issues, and Steve encourages businesses to take the lead and inspire others to do the same. 

Next, Steve dives into his own passion for helping the environment and how it’s the driving force behind what he does. He shares how thinking about future generations and the effects of our choices on them and the environment they live in is what inspires him in his work. Rather than leaving future generations with environmental problems, he wants to leave them a healthy natural environment with resources. Additionally, he goes on to encourage young people to follow their own passions through daring to be curious, take risks, and find jobs that suit their passion and calling. 

With all the changes brought by the pandemic, Willa asks Steve to share how it impacted Cleantech. The results of the pandemic brought lots of accelerated change due to the hyper-focus and time for reflection. He shares how this time of reflection helped the company improve, but not without lots of time and effort. Additionally, he describes two of the newest projects he is most excited for: investments in sustainable agriculture and working with Nexus, a chemical recycler of plastics. Both of these will allow Cleantech to continue moving toward their sustainability goals and growing their resilience and adaptation.

The episode concludes with Steve expressing his hopes on a personal level for the planet. We all have the ability and choice to do better, and it is our job to own this and embrace rational thinking to solve these environmental issues. Steve shares how he encourages this belief in his workplace by engaging his employees in the sustainability process and helping them realize that no matter how small the change, it can still make a lasting impact on the environment.

Timestamps:

0:01 – Host Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast

0:45 – Willa introduces today’s guest, Steve Bradley

2:30 – Steve joins the conversation and shares about the structure of the company Cleantech

4:58 – Steve tells his journey to working at Cleantech

13:17 – Some of Cleantech’s sustainability goals and strategies 

17:39 – Different challenges Steve has faced in tackling sustainability issues 

21:28 – Willa asks Steve to share about the connection between profitability and sustainability

26:00 – The responsibility of businesses in addressing environmental issues

29:40 – Steve dives into expressing the passion that drives him in what he does

31:36 – Steve gives advice on how to be passionate in what you do

33:47 – Steve talks about important mindsets that have helped him be successful

38:47 – The changes the pandemic has brought to Cleantech 

42:52 – Steve talks about some of the current projects he is most excited about

49:49 – What are his hopes on a personal level for the planet?

54:00 – Final reflections on sustainability

Links:

Learn more about Cleantech at their website

Connect with Cleantech and Steve Bradley on LinkedIn

Learn more about FirestarterIX. 

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

Keywords:

Strategy, Cox, enterprise, environment, business, sustainability, sustainable, challenges, solutions, transform, agriculture, energy, waste, environmental, change, Cleantech, resource, efficiency, resiliency, adaptation, goals, neutral, waste, carbon, water, eliminate, footprint, impact, profitability, profit, returns, generations, resources, passions, curious, risks, job, pandemic, work, reflection, projects, recycler, planet

Welcome to The Firestarter Podcast—people, ideas and conversations that move us forward. It’s your host Willa Kammerer’s business and passion to make the world a better place through storytelling, which is why we’re here today. We’ll talk to mission-driven entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors, thought leaders, and experts on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues about designing and thriving careers of impact.  

In this episode, Willa is joined by guest Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, a nonprofit organization that connects dollars with doers. Kate has also previously served as a board member for both the National Outdoor Leadership School and Shelburne Farms. Listen as Kate and Willa talk about the impact of 1% for the Planet, the importance of growing philanthropic giving in the environment, and what energizes and engages Kate in her work. 

Kate begins by sharing her story of becoming the CEO of 1% for the Planet. From a young age, she had a passion for the environment which led her to working in the field of nonprofits for the environment. Her work in this field gave her the skills and experience needed to become Director of Partnerships at 1% for the Planet, and later, the organization’s CEO. 1% for the Planet is a global network of members committed to giving one percent of their sales and revenue back to the environment. The team at 1% for the Planet supports these businesses through connecting them with environmental nonprofits and advising on strategic giving. Kate shares how one percent may not seem like a lot at first, but every dollar adds up and demonstrates the power of committing to giving back. 

Next, Willa asks Kate to talk about her perspective on philanthropic giving to environmental causes.

First, she expresses her desire to see an increase in this area of giving. 1% for the Planet aims to do this by helping businesses see that they can make an impact on the environment through their giving. It has become a steppingstone for businesses, helping connect them to giving opportunities. She also points out how government, businesses, and nonprofits all need to work together for this end goal to be accomplished.

Kate goes on to share about her own calling to work on behalf of the environment, and encourages others with similar a passion to do the same. There are so many ways to put this passion to work, especially in helping businesses embed an environmental ethos into their operations. One approach is engaging the larger community of a business, sharing ways to give back to the environment and promoting a mindset of giving. Through this, businesses can begin to see that success lies in what you are able to give rather than get. 

1% for the Planet has grown exponentially over the years, and Kate shares how much of this recent growth has been international, as well as an increase in both the number and variety of business members, and an expansion of staff. She also points out how the pandemic helped them grow specifically through the way it opened people’s eyes to the fact that global change can happen suddenly and the importance of not waiting to help the environment when you can make a difference in the present. Additionally, she shares some of the changes they are working toward, such as growing awareness of and emphasis on giving to environmental justice. 

Moving on to a new topic, Willa asks Kate about what drives her to do what she does. Kate points out how she is fueled by her passion and purpose more than her paycheck. This is what helps her through the hard parts of her job and gives meaning to what she does. She uses this to then encourage others to find meaning in what they do in two ways: first, by asking yourself what motivates you. Second, by asking yourself what unique skills you have that can be used to better the environment. When these two are joined together, it brings about purpose and fulfillment in what you do. 

Lastly, Kate shares some of the mindsets and philosophies that have carried her through hard times. Having a mindset of growth has been one of the most influential tools for her. This kind of mindset has helped her both realize that growth never stops as well as continually seek out ways to grow. She also shares about how her relationship with others across the network has given her purpose and inspiration. The episode ends with Kate expressing her hopes and excitement for the future and upcoming changes for 1% for the Planet, all aimed at the path of growth and giving. 

Timestamps:

0:01 – Host  Willa Kammerer introduces the podcast.

0:46 – Willa introduces today’s guest, Kate Williams

2:10 – Kate joins the conversation and shares her journey to becoming CEO of 1% for the Planet

3:50 – Kate shares about the 1% for the Planet model and its collective impact

8:45 – Willa asks Kate to share about her views on the philanthropic giving to the environment 

16:15 – Kate shares her awakening to wanting to work on behalf of the environment

18:30 – What is the upside for businesses that embed this commitment to help the environment

21:30 – The growth and impact of 1% for the Planet over the years

28:10 – Kate shares about the different issues that 1% for the Planet has addressed

30:00 – What role does storytelling play in communicating with others

33:30 – Kate expresses her motivation and purpose behind her work 

40:25 – Different mindsets and philosophies that have carried Kate through the tough times

44:20 – Different perspectives Kate has gained through her years at 1% for the Planet and her hopes for the future

46:50 – Kate shares some new additions to the organization aimed and growth and giving

Links:

Learn more about 1% for the Planet and how to join or donate at their website

Connect with 1% for the Planet on LinkedIn

Learn more about FirestarterIX

Connect with Willa on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn

Keywords:

Business, passion, storytelling, democratic, model, philanthropist, philanthropy, investors, leaders, nonprofit, organization, board, member, CEO, planet, environment, global, network, members, international, strategic, giving, processes, give, connecting, opportunities, passion, embed, change, awareness, environmental, justice, purpose, motivates, motivation, skills, mindset, philosophies, grow, growth