The Social Impact Startup

Phoebe Yu is the Founder and CEO of ettitude, a sustainable lifestyle brand made from the world’s first 100% organic bamboo lyocell fabric. Phoebe spent over 10 years helping international companies develop and source textiles and saw first hand the lack of sustainability within the industry. She knew there was room for change and decided to be an agent of it. She launched ettitude 9 years ago and is leading by example on how to build a truly circular business model.

In our conversation we discuss:

• The responsibility of brands to help educate consumers 
• How it’s easier to stay true to values when when there is integrity in the DNA of the brand
• Why offsetting is not a solution
• Her thoughts on AI and how she sees it as an opportunity for more creativity
• and overall why she believes in community and collaboration over competition

Phoebe and her team at ettitude are paving the way for a more sustainable future while creating the framework to show why and how all businesses can - and should - embody an ‘eco attitude’.

Connect with Phoebe

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/phoebeyu2008/

Website

https://www.ettitude.com

Socials

https://www.instagram.com/ettitudestore/

Emily Kane Miller is the Founder and CEO of Ethos Giving, a philanthropic services firm, and Ethos Tracking, a related social impact data management tool that allows businesses, nonprofits and foundations to more effectively track their impact. The central theme for Emily’s life has always been “how can I be an agent of good for my community”, a question that has followed her throughout her career in public policy and law, corporate infrastructure and ultimately what led her to become a tech founder.

In our conversation we discuss:

• The process of creating, iterating and launching a tech product
• Why she believes change is a collaborative process
• The importance of social impact as part of company culture
• The historical framework of social good vs. her thoughts on where we are headed
• Her top 3 tips for starting / building a career in the social impact space
• And ultimately why she created her company

Emily and her team are utilizing metrics and data to help companies create meaningful and effective social impact in ways that make sense for their respective business models.

Connect with Emily:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-kane-miller-32272286/

https://ethos-giving.com/

Gabrielle Stone is the author of Eat, Pray, #FML, a book that recounts her epic path towards healing that has resonated with countless women across the world.

In our conversation we discuss:

• The events that led up to her journey towards healing 
• Learning how to be by yourself - and how to love yourself
• The process of writing and self-publishing her book
• Navigating internet trolls and protecting your peace
• And her advice for people who want to make an impact

There’s a reason why Gabrielle’s story has resonated with so many of us: at some point in our lives we will all venture down the path towards self love and more often than not it will be one of the best things that we ever do.

Connect with Gabrielle:

https://www.instagram.com/gabriellestone/?hl=en

https://www.eatprayfml.com/

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Megan Sheldon is the Co-Founder & CEO of Be Ceremonial, a wellness app that draws on the power of ritual to help you create ceremonies to acknowledge times of change in your life.

Megan has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and path towards creating a company.  Her passion started with writing meta narratives for brands and has evolved into helping people create moments of meaning and significance.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Creating social impact through secular rituals
• Building a brand’s narrative
• How to engage in ceremony without cultural appropriation
• Celebrating what is, what was and what will be
• Why you need to let go of perfection in order to launch something
• And reimagining what growth looks like

There are so many moments in life that are worthy of being recognized and Megan is helping people to do so in ways that make sense for them.

Connect with Megan:

https://www.instagram.com/beceremonial/?hl=en

https://www.beceremonial.com/

Download the app: https://apps.apple.com/app/be-ceremonial/id1582513679

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Jackie Dalius is the Founder and CEO of MuzicSwipe, a platform that is disrupting the music industry by giving smaller artists the recognition they deserve. The app allows potential fans to discover new music by swiping and matching with upcoming artists that often get over looked on larger streaming platforms.

Jackie started her journey in entrepreneurship when she launched her own PR firm and worked in talent management. Noticing how hard it was for smaller artists to be seen, she sought out to help solve the problem.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Problems that exist in the music industry and how difficult it is for smaller artists to be seen
• How their platform is giving power back to artists & consumers
• The evolution of MuzicSwipe - from where it started to where it is now
• Why it’s important to have confidence in your vision
• And how your dreams can become a reality

Having only launched their beta in January 2022, MuzicSwipe has already hit the top 100 in the App Store, showing that consumers and artists alike are ready to disrupt the music industry through swiping. 

Connect with Jackie:

https://www.instagram.com/muzicswipe/

Download MuzicSwipe: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/muzicswipe/id1563012935

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Corinna Bellizzi is a natural products industry executive who pioneered the growth of the omega-3 giant, Nordic Naturals, from less than $1 million in annual revenue to over $100 million. As a mom of two young boys, podcaster, and executive, her mission is to leave the world a little better than she found it, while inspiring others to do the same.

Her podcast Care More. Be Better., is focused on building a community of individuals who want to create positive change in the world at both the local and global level and The Mediacasters is a platform focused on supporting content creators to become their best selves.

In our conversation we discuss:

• The power of podcasting and why meaningful conversations can lead to meaningful action
• Why you can reinvent yourself - or your brand - at any time
• The power of incrementalism and local level action
• Her advice for those looking to start a podcast
• And why entrepreneurship can be isolating - but you don’t have to go it alone

Corinna is working to pave a realistic roadmap towards a better future by helping people take action in ways that actually fit into their lives.

Connect with Corinna:

https://caremorebebetter.com/about/

https://themediacasters.com/

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

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Michelle Egger is the Co-Founder and CEO of Biomilq, a woman-owned, science-led, and parent-centered biotech startup developing novel technology to make human milk outside the body. They’re on a mission to nourish healthier babies, empower parents through choice and contribute to a healthier planet.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Her career path and why combining food science and entrepreneurship made sense
• The struggles modern parents face and why it should be a human right to access human milk and nutrients
• The importance of having mission-aligned investors and why partnership criteria is helpful in finding the right people to support your business
• Why staying intellectually humble is important when building a social impact business
• And why this isn’t just a women’s issue; it’s a family issue

Michelle and her team are doing incredible work to not only support healthy infant development and modern parents, but are working to remove stigma in the business space by focusing on capability & vision instead of gender. 

Connect with Michelle and Biomilq:

https://www.biomilq.com/

https://www.instagram.com/biomilq/?hl=en

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Jane Mosbacher Morris founded TO THE MARKET (TTM) with a vision of democratizing access to the global supply chain and providing makers around the world with the economic empowerment that comes from safe, dignified, fairly paid work. TTM is a turnkey solution for ethical manufacturing, that connects people with their syndicated network of sustainable, story-rich suppliers. They are on a mission to empower people, protect the planet, and promote better business - and they do it without sacrificing speed, innovation, or digitization.

Jane also wrote, Buy The Change, an insightful book on how the purchasing power of consumers can ultimately make the world a better place.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Her career trajectory from working in public service and government to disrupting the retail manufacturing industry
• Why sustainable resources and job creation are better than temporary aid
• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and how it relates to impact
• Why affordability has been the biggest challenge to date in relation to sustainable and ethical products
• And ultimately the power of market forces / purchasing power

Jane is working to help both consumers and business owners alike recognize their responsibility in building a better future while also recognizing that it’s not about perfection - it’s about progress.

Connect with Jane and To The Market:

https://tothemarket.com/

https://www.instagram.com/letsgottm/

Buy the book:

https://tothemarket.com/pages/buy-the-change-you-want-to-see

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Olivia Owens is the creator of IFundWomen of Color, the go-to funding resource for diverse, early-stage entrepreneurs.  IFundWomen of Color was created with their founding partner Caress to help diverse entrepreneurs bring their dreams into reality through raising capital via crowdfunding and providing grants, coaching, and the connections needed to launch and grow successful businesses.

In our conversation we discuss:

• Why her purpose in life is to help people become a better version of themselves 
• What sustainability, in terms of support, looks like for women of color entrepreneurs
• Her #1 piece of advice for women looking to invest and build wealth
• The questions to ask to figure out the need-movers for your business
• And why living in a way that is authentic to us is the best way to add value to the world

Olivia is helping women re-write the story of what it means to build a successful business by helping them find not only alignment with their customers, but alignment within themselves and showing that “you never lose - you only learn”.

Connect with Olivia & IFundWomen:

https://ifundwomen.com/woc

https://www.instagram.com/ifundwomen/?hl=en

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Jaclyn and Michelle are Co-Founders of The Verticale, a human-centric marketplace where consumers can conveniently and consciously shop and support better businesses. What originally began as a media site has evolved into a commerce platform that focuses on building the emotional connection between digitally native brands and consumers by focusing on verification and transparency in lieu of greenwashing.

In our conversation we discuss:

• The Verticale Values and their vetting process for potential vendors
• Why they prioritize giving 1% of all sales to rotating causes
• The most important traits to embody when building a business
• Their human centric tone about trying to make better choices everyday but understanding that the process isn’t going to be perfect
• And why they’re focused on eliminating the concept of greenwashing altogether

Convenience at times can cause us to think in the short-term, but what Jaclyn and Michelle are building creates a convenient and conscious shopping experience, allowing people to buy according to their values and support the businesses that are doing the work to create long-term change.

Connect with Jaclyn & Michelle:

https://www.theverticale.com/

https://www.instagram.com/theverticale/?hl=en

Our intro theme song is “Pico & Westwood” by Esbie Fonte. Check her out here:

https://www.esbiefonte.com/