Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show

What if the biggest challenges facing society are not separate problems, but symptoms of the same underlying system? In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Fons Burger, investigative journalist, author, social entrepreneur and systems thinker, about the connections between climate change, inequality, biodiversity loss, food and water insecurity, declining health and eroding trust. Fons explains why...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Julie Gawle, Senior Change Advisor and Change Communications Advisor at Meaningful Change Consulting, about why good strategies still fail when people aren't brought along in the change. The conversation explores the human side of transformation, from communication and stakeholder engagement to organisational readiness, trust, and the gap between simply announc...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with David B. Horne, founder of Add then Multiply and Funding Focus, about why access to capital remains so uneven for female and underrepresented founders. David draws on decades of experience as a CFO, advisor, author, and entrepreneur to explore the structural barriers that shape funding decisions, from investor bias and limited access to networks to the way foun...

Welcome to Season 4 of the Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show . In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Stephen Minix, Vice President of Community at UpMetrics, about why collaboration moves at the speed of trust. The conversation explores how nonprofits can build stronger relationships with funders, why data should serve the mission rather than drive it, and how simple acts of communica...

Every breakthrough begins with an idea, but turning that idea into real-world impact is rarely straightforward. In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Jason West, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of NextGen Scientific. Jason shares his unusual journey from biology to law, executive leadership, pharmaceuticals, and scientific commercialization. The conversation explores why promising ideas fai...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with lifelong cooperative innovator, author and founder of Global Village Co-op, D. G. Safeer Hopton. Drawing on more than five decades of experience, Safeer explains how cooperatives can help communities build and retain wealth rather than allowing outside corporations to continuously extract value. He shares the story of Co-op Village in Pasadena, where residents...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with nonprofit strategist Sharmon Lebby, Founder of Blessed Designs Consulting and creator of the Nonprofit Launch Academy.  With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, movement building, and ethical entrepreneurship, Sharmon shares powerful insights on why many mission-driven organizations struggle, how leaders can avoid mission drift, and why su...

In this episode, Faiz speaks with Gillian Delaunay, founder of NEON ID, about the future of personalized AI and why the next evolution of artificial intelligence may not be smarter AI, but AI that communicates in your voice. A conversation on identity, communication, and building more human-centered technology. For more content, do visit: Gillian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianbret...

In this episode, Faiz sits down with David Homan, founder of Orchestrating Connecting and author of Orchestrating Connection , to explore why authentic relationships are becoming one of the most valuable forms of capital in social entrepreneurship and sustainability.   David has built a global network of more than 2,500 superconnectors spanning investors, entrepreneurs, family offices, creatives,...

In this episode, Faiz sits down with Helen Neal, founder of HN Communications and creator of Zena, an AI platform designed to help organisations avoid greenwashing before sustainability claims go public.   With a career spanning the UK Parliament, Virgin Atlantic, and Nissan, Helen brings a rare insider perspective on how policy, business, and public trust intersect. Today, through HN Communicatio...

In this conversation, Christopher Carter breaks down why most organizations overcomplicate their modernization efforts and how leaders can think about AI, cloud, and new technologies without losing their minds. What makes this episode different? Chris doesn't just talk theory. As a serial founder in the enterprise space, he shares the real challenges of leading through constant technological chang...

What if AI understood not just what you do, but who you are? This episode explores the intersection of identity, technology, and leadership with two founders building something different in the AI space.   Gillian Delaunay (CEO & Founder of NEON ID) and Erika Hanafin Austria (Co-Founder of NEON ID) discuss their personality-powered AI platform that helps people understand themselves, communica...

What if the real impact of funding isn’t just in what it supports, but in the cost of how it’s deployed? Dr Nadait Gebremedhan rejoins the show to share the thinking behind Toll the Funder Footprint Initiative, a movement examining whether funding processes create a net positive or negative impact on society.  Rather than focusing only on outcomes, this approach looks at the footprint of capital i...

What if philanthropy could operate through a for-profit model designed to help people at scale?  Dr Janelle Thompson, founding partner and board member of The 144k Collective, joins the show to discuss a new approach to collective giving built on socially responsible capitalism. The 144k Collective operates as a for-profit philanthropic social enterprise where members contribute small daily amount...

What if the clean energy breakthrough isn’t new infrastructure, but old oil wells? Kemp Gregory, Co-Founder and CEO of Renewell Energy, is converting idle oil wells into gravity-powered energy storage systems to support renewable power at scale.  In this episode, we explore an important truth about the energy transition: it isn’t about starting everything anew. Instead, it’s about thoughtfully bui...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Sharon Elefant, founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Plug. Dr Sharon helps nonprofit leaders and social impact entrepreneurs become truly funder-ready by strengthening their financial systems, compliance practices, and strategic foundations. We unpack what it really means to build financial credibility, the common mistakes organisations make before applying for grants...

In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Kennedy III, a leadership communication expert who helps entrepreneurs and organisations turn clarity into confidence and purpose into performance. We explore why great ideas often fall flat without strong communication, how storytelling builds trust and influence, and what leaders can do to show up with confidence and authenticity. Drawing on his experience t...

The electrification of vehicles is advancing rapidly, but scaling it responsibly requires more than new technology. It demands systems thinking, collaboration, and long-term vision. In this episode, Mats Larsson, Founder of the Global Energy Transformation Institute, shares insights from over three decades at the intersection of energy transformation, vehicle electrification, and sustainability. T...

In this episode, Ushma Pandya, co-founder of Think Zero, reveals how companies can meaningfully reduce waste and emissions without sacrificing profitability. Drawing from her experience advising global firms, serving on NYC’s Solid Waste Advisory Board, and working across corporate, nonprofit, and policy spaces, Ushma breaks down what actually drives long-term sustainability change. We explore why...

In this episode, we head to Riyadh for the inaugural Beyond Profit Forum held on the 3rd and 4th of December 2025. Hosted by the National Center for Non-Profit, the forum brought together over 3,300 leaders, innovators, and philanthropists from 93 countries to reimagine the future of social impact amid global uncertainty. This episode features insights from the opening keynote panel, When Belts Bu...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Nicholas Michels, founder of Michels Family Financial and the voice behind the Rich by Choice movement. From growing up in a trailer park to becoming a bestselling author and trusted financial advisor, Dr Nick brings a rare blend of humility, clarity and purpose to the world of money. We explore how values-driven decision making shapes true wealth, why peace mat...

Recorded live at the Social Enterprise World Forum 2025 Fringe Session in Taipei, Taiwan, this episode features Wan Dazriq, Shugo Urata, and Azima Dhanjee as they explore sustainable gateways linking Taiwan, ASEAN and beyond through social innovation, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration. For more content, do visit:   Wan Dazriq’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wandazriq Shugo’s Lin...

In this episode, we sit down with Maria Gallucci, a trailblazing real estate broker, advocate, and founder of Gallucci Homes and ASL Realty. Maria shares how growing up as a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) shaped her lifelong commitment to inclusive communication and accessibility in the real estate industry. We explore how she integrates social entrepreneurship, sustainability, and community empowerm...

In this episode, we speak with Daniel McCaulley , Founder of Ultimus Engineering, about his journey from athlete to engineer. With a focus on structural and aquatics engineering, his firm is 100% Made in America and committed not just to technical excellence, but to building stronger, more resilient communities. We’ll explore how Daniel channels the lessons of sports into entrepreneurship, integra...

In this special episode, we take you to New York City during the United Nations General Assembly, where Catalyst Now launched the 2025 Impact Report . This episode shares the panel session, The Importance of Collaboration in Complex Environments: Learnings from Catalyst Now , moderated by Kamilah Sanders (CEO, Greater Than Equal), featuring Su Balasubramanian (International Development and Mental...