small business | BIG Impact

I’m super excited to share this episode with you, because you’re about to hear from Miki Agrawal. If you’ve been paying attention to the social impact business scene in the US, you’d know that Miki is a social entrepreneur known for breaking taboos and disrupting the status quo for over a decade.She was named one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People”, “Young Global Leader” by World Economic Forum, “Social Entrepreneur of the Year” by the World Technology Summit, and was one of INC Magazine’s “Most Impressive Women Entrepreneurs.”She is the founder of several acclaimed social enterprises - notably THINX (period-proof underwear), TUSHY (modern bidet brand) and Wild (NYC’s first gluten-free pizza concept).TUSHY is her most recent project. It’s a company that is revolutionizing the North American toilet category with a modern, affordable, designer bidet attachment that both upgrades human health & hygiene as well as reducing wasteful toilet paper consumption. She and her team are also helping fight the global sanitation crisis by bringing clean latrines to underserved communities in India through their partnership with Samagra as well as funding resoiling and reforestry projects all throughout South America.Miki has written two books, “Do Cool Shit” and “Disrupt-Her" both of which made the #1 Amazon best seller list.In this episode, Miki shares lessons she’s learned while Pushing Back on Shame.

As the Founder and CEO of Leverage Lab, Sara Blenkhorn dedicates her time and energy to the intersection of business and sustainability. She helps companies achieve B Corp certification, honing their ethical business practices and baking them into the DNA of their companies. With 20 years of experience in the field, Sara helps businesses capitalize on declaring, measuring and monitoring their impact.Her passion for engaging people has gifted her a vast network and an uncanny ability to lead productive workshops; finding ways of working across silos, and building collaborations that are in service to a wider agenda. Over the last five years, Sara has had the pleasure of working with: The City of Vancouver, the Government of Alberta, Lululemon, H&M, UBC and over a dozen others.In this episode, Sara shares how she and others worked hard to establish a project, only to have its growth cut short due to factors outside their control. Listen in to discover the powerful lessons she gained on her way to Finding Fertile Ground

Vichi Jagannathan is the Co-Founder of the Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI). She started her career as a high school science teacher in North Carolina, before spending two years expanding Microsoft’s TEALS computer science education program into California. Then she worked with the design firm IDEO to develop “Real Talk,” a mobile sex education app with over 10,000 downloads. After graduating from Yale School of Management with her MBA in 2017, she co-founded Rural Opportunity Institute (ROI) with Seth Saeugling.ROI builds the capacity of rural communities to support people’s healing from generational trauma to achieve health, safety, connection, and self-determination. To date, they have reached over 15K people in those communities with training and support, and have big plans to scale their efforts.The success of ROI quickly launched Vichi and her co-founder into the position of having staff. They found that running the business demanded very different skills than those needed to get it started. Listen to Vichi share her experience of learning how to run a business “like a boss.”

Kelly Terbasket of IndigenEYEZ & kinSHIFT and Andrew Greer of Purppl share the story of how they met and how their relationship continues to evolve in the context of indigenous-settler dynamics. Kelly is an indigenous woman who serves indigenous communities through IndigenEYEZ and settlers through kinSHIFT. Andrew coaches and collaborates with social entrepreneurs to build enterprises and initiatives that address systemic inequity. Theirs was a natural fit that others around them noticed before they did. Their beginning had a bumpy start, but their openness and courage provided a path for connection, growth and ongoing learning. Listen to their story to get insight into how to work towards building authentic relationships between settlers and indigenous people.

Nina Perez is the founder of Thrive Today, and a Somatic Connection coach. She’s also a master Latin dance instructor, a best-selling author of The Musical Imprint, and a proud mother of two. She has dedicated herself to helping people become skillful in the dance of connection so they can create the epic relationships and the fulfillment they deeply desire.You will typically find this self-identified shy woman facilitating large and small groups of people. She’s equally at home on stage, in a workshop, a dance class or group coaching environment. She creates engaging & interactive experiences that get the whole room on their feet… smiling, feeling and moving… all of this in service to learning how to relate more deeply and effectively to themselves, each other and the world.In this episode, Nina shares her experience with Uplevel Whiplash, which is a form of resistance that can arise as we reach for the next step in realizing our dreams.

Kemp Edwards has been dedicated to supporting, growing and consulting businesses on a path to sustainability. He has taken several businesses from launch to become multi-million dollar enterprises and, in so doing, have negotiated partnerships and/or developed programs for globally recognized Companies such as COCA-COLA, TELUS, The UNEP, The IOC, FIFA, and DISNEY. More recently, Kemp has become the Chief Development Officer of Food Security Structures Canada. This is an organization that aims to help end food insecurity and world hunger by providing controlled environment growing systems, equipment, and support, and to empower people to grow fresh, nutritious, affordable food locally, 365 days a year, regardless of location or climate.14 years ago, he was able to set his mission apart from others by virtue of having a strong ethical and environmental dimension to his offering. These days, there are SO MANY hot topics and an incredible amount of competition for attention in the marketplace, Kemp will share his recent experience with attempting to Cut Through the Noise.

Hey there change makers. I hope you’ve been enjoying this podcast series as much as I have. It’s been amazing to meet so many incredible people. The interview I planned to share with you this week didn’t go as planned. Understandably, people’s schedules can be unpredictable at times. So, instead of leaving a gaping hole in this series, I thought I’d share a spoken word piece that has been meaningful to me for over 20 years. The original work was written by Rob Brezsny, of Free Will Astrology fame. Back in 2001 he wrote a few versions of this piece in response to the 9/11 tragedy. I discovered it later that year and read it to a group of friends at a potluck, and it resonated powerfully with us all. I have since revised it and added my own touch, and I typically share it with good friends at special occasions. Sadly, 20 years have passed and it is even more relevant today. I offer it to you to console, connect and affirm our commitment to what we know is true… together we will rise, and that our collective efforts can create “the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible”.

Karley Cunningham is a big thinker as well as the Creative Strategist & Growth Accelerator at BigBoldBrand. She is inspired by entrepreneurial creativity, ingenuity and sheer grit. She aims to inspire and support those leaders who strive to grow their businesses and change the world while they do it. She’s written for well-respected publications and is a sought-after speaker and mentor for several national and international businesses, and she’s a dedicated community builder who lives the “giver’s gain” philosophy on a daily basis. In this episode Karley shares how her personal journey of Building from the Inside Out has provided a powerful template for supporting business leaders to create the alignment that fosters success on all levels.

Jonathan Varkul is a facilitator, coach and advisor who helps senior leaders and leadership teams. His work integrates his senior-level business experience with his study of the science behind our thought patterns and his 25-year mindfulness practice. He helps clients fish what’s relevant out of their ocean of highly complex situations so they can find clear next steps and make practical progress.In this way, Jonathan helps leaders access their deeper wisdom with greater ease to address some of their toughest challenges. Today we’ll hear Jonathan share a story that served as one of his pivotal learnings around the critical value of equanimity.

Shivani and Jessica are the dynamic duo behind Pathfinder. They are currently eight years into their work on innovative approaches to global development and they continue to choose to see themselves as a startup. In this episode they were willing to talk about the thorny but all too familiar topic of "imposter syndrome." While they insist that the path to self-realization and confidence is a arduous one that is paved mostly through hard work and diligence, it became clear to me that the major ingredients in their secrete sauce has been their resolute determination and the strong chemistry of their partnership. Together we explore the experience of imposter syndrome.

Jacinthe is the founder of Koddo & Co., a business financial literacy and fractional CFO service provider. She’s also a serial business owner, was trained as an interior designer and learned business finance the hard way over the last decade. Seeing the same pattern of money stress and shame in dozens of her clients has fueled her passion for financial literacy for small business owners, especially for women and creatives.Jacinthe is also a long-time yogi and meditator. This, along with her personal and professional development efforts, has been part of her toolkit to stay present, minimize the emotional dips, and lean into the lessons on the entrepreneurial roller coaster as they inevitably come up. Listen in on what she's learned as she busts some 6-figure myths.

Kristy O'Leary is a co-founder of Decade Impact, which is a boutique consulting firm that helps businesses measure and improve their social and environmental impact. Her expertise lies in designing impact business models, and defining purpose and future actions for businesses that drive positive change.Before co-founding Decade Impact, she worked in various fields related to sustainability and social impact, ranging from impact measurement in the cacao supply chain to campaigning for community investments for wind farms. Kristy has been a B Corp power user since 2013 and continues to deepen her dedication to the B Corp movement.Guided by a sobering recognition that we live in times where our choices are shaping whether future generations will have a livable future, Kristy has drawn upon allies she found when she moved to Vancouver BC from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. That and her own “pig-headed stubbornness” has helped to claim her calling… to play a significant role in supporting the sustainability revolution.Listen to Kristy’s story and discover how your epic failures can be super valuable, and can transform into your greatest strengths especially when you’re committed to getting back into the game.

This is a special International Women’s Day episode, so get comfortable because we cover a lot of ground in this episode with my guest Madeleine Shaw. I think of Madeleine as a titan in the social impact world. She has launched and led multiple impact ventures for over 30 years. She and her business partner Suzanne Siemens founded Lunapads in 2000, and rebranded as Aisle in 2020. Their company was one of the first in the world to champion natural menstrual care products and sustainable menstrual equity, and has proudly been a B Corp since 2012.Madeleine is also a speaker, mentor and the author of The Greater Good, Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World. This book, and Madeleine herself, is an invitation and support to “everyday people” to find their own way to empowerment and change-making through social entrepreneurship.It becomes quickly apparent that Madeleine is profoundly committed to an expansive vision. She’s not just focused on creating social benefit through business, she’s working to redefine what success as a social entrepreneur means in a 21st-century world. So, settle in and listen to what can happen when you commit to playing the long game.

Ivelisse Morales is our guest today. Her company is “Bombilla” which means lightbulb in Puerto Rican Spanish, and this company shines bright with its all women-of-color staff and is fueled by a national network of diverse co-conspiring creatives on their mission to make the world brighter. In less than five years, this small & mighty team has served over 60 clients in the Bay Area and across the US with brand strategy, visual identity and graphic design.Ivi is a recognized speaker, poet and writer and an award-winning entrepreneur who brings a decade of experience in using marketing as a force for good—for brands of all sizes. From inside major creative agencies like IDEO and Ogilvy and beyond, Ivi has sharpened her creative skillset in public relations, media, design, marketing and communications all in the service of positive change.When you listen to her, she comes across super chill, bright, and thoughtful, but don’t let her seemingly casual demeanor fool you, she’s a high-achieving dynamo that has recently learned the hard way that even a beautiful vision can crush you.

In today’s episode you’ll meet Harmony Ziegler of Akoya Lifestyle & Wellness Therapy. Akoya offers an innovative therapeutic approach to online therapy, therapy & wellness outdoors, and personal luxury retreat therapy. Harmony is an accredited wilderness guide, and she’s also a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Science in Counselling. She specializes in therapy for leaders, entrepreneurs, creatives, and game changers to maximize their social impact.You’ll notice the cadence of this conversation with Harmony is a little slower and intentional than usual. I think this, in part, comes from the qualities, pace and presence that she has cultivated in order to create spaciousness for people and their stories to unfold. Harmony shares the journey she took so that she could Give From a Full Cup.

This week’s story is about Being on the bleeding edge of culture. At the age of twenty-five, Sandra Nomoto founded Conscious Public Relations Inc., an award-winning virtual agency that certified as a B Corporation. After a decade in business, she authored and self-published The Only Public Relations Guide You’ll Ever Need. Living vegan since 2018, Nomoto is now The Content Doctor, a content writer and editor for vegan businesses who also helps vegan and spiritual non-fiction authors. She recently released the world's first vegan marketing book titled, Vegan Marketing Success Stories, and aspires to eat vegan food around the world and blog about it. It’s clear that Sandra is passionate about systemic change, and in particular the adoption of vegan business practices.

Sharon Marshall is helping Indigenous women to find their voice and create better economic opportunities through virtual administration. Her company, DEVA Training & Staffing Solutions, trains and contracts Indigenous women as virtual assistants. She talks about her connection to the strands of her "braid," her strong alliance with PowHERhouse, and reGEN Impact Media. These companies and many others have been pivotal in DEVA gaining traction. DEVA's emerging success is a testament to the value of embracing interdependence.

Cheryl LeBarr has had a lifelong obsession with high quality outdoor gear. Now, they are the operations anchor of the 3 member co-founding team at MADE Outdoor. MADE creates customized performance outerwear at the same price point as off the shelf equivalents. Then they take it a few steps further. They ignore gender by focusing on the perfect fit, and they create their products with a deep commitment to a more sustainable and socially responsible future. In this episode, Cheryl shares her experience of dancing with timing.

Eric Franzo and the Purposely team help companies find volunteer opporunities for their employees. They facilitate and coordinate purpose-built events that bring employees from local companies to help nonprofits with ambitious projects. Purposely is a startup that is finding its place, in part, with the generosity of people in the business world who recognize the contribution that they are determined to make.

Carolyn Wiliams owns and runs The Bar Method fitness studio in Vancouver. Navigating the COVID years provided her with a number of lessons in "rolling with the punches." She shares how she kept her head above water and found the strength to keep moving forward in the face of multiple "character-building opportunities." Here's a hint... it has something to do with remembering the past and imagining the future.