Social Impact Leader

On this episode of SIL, we’re joined by the new Executive Director of Plywood People, Matt Reynolds. Matt leads the conversation with a powerful lineup of leaders: Jeff Shinabarger, Founder of Plywood People; Chanel Dokun, co-founder of Healthy Minds NYC, a therapy and coaching practice; and Christina Cummings, Executive Director of Kids2Leaders. Together, they reflect on their experiences i...

In the season finale of the Social Impact Leaders Podcast , host Jeff Shinabarger takes the guest seat as producer LaTasha Brown flips the script and interviews him. They dive into Jeff's journey as the founder and executive director of Plywood People, reflecting on the organization's 15-year impact and the progress it has made. Jeff shares his vision for the future, insights on leadership, and th...

In today’s episode of the Plywood Presents Social Impact Leader Series, we wrap up with our inspiring guest, Chantel Cohen—a licensed therapist and business coach. Chantel shares her insights on the vital connection between maintaining mental health and managing the demands of running a business. She also opens up about the challenges she’s faced as both a business leader and a t...

On today’s episode of the Social Impact Leaders Podcast we return to the  Plywood Presents SIL Series with an inspiring panel featuring three remarkable social impact leaders: Aaron Fender, Co-founder and CEO of Portrait Coffee; Doug Shipman, President of Atlanta’s City Council; and Ericka Brown, Realtor, Entrepreneur, and Investor. This dynamic discussion explores starting from the ground up, nav...

This week, we continue our Social Impact Leader series, featuring incredible voices from the Plywood Social Impact Leaders event. Our guest is Leroy Barber, Executive Director of Word Made Flesh Ministries and former president of Mission Year and Focused Community Strategies (FCS) Urban Ministries. Leroy shares valuable insights on sustaining leadership in the nonprofit sector and delivers motivat...

In this episode, and throughout the next few, we’ll bring you insights from inspiring leaders who spoke at Plywood’s Social Impact Leaders Event. Kicking off this series is Jeff Shinabarger, founder of Plywood and host of the Social Impact Leaders Podcast. Jeff shares valuable lessons on the importance of stepping into the role of a social impact leader and emphasizes why prioritizing mental healt...

In today’s episode, Jeff sits down with Mallory Erickson—fundraiser, author, and executive coach—to explore her journey and groundbreaking strategies in the world of fundraising. Mallory delves into the power of aligning fundraising practices with personal values and the value of fostering genuine relationships with donors. She addresses the drawbacks of transactional fundraising methods, shedding...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Mark Hubbard, the visionary leader behind Renew Venture Capital. Mark shares his deep commitment to social impact investing, aligning venture capital with sustainable growth and measurable positive impact. Together, they dive into his unique approach, blending finance expertise with a passion for empowering underrepresented founders and communities. Curious abo...

On today’s episode, Jeff speaks with Kishshana Palmer—speaker, TEDx alum, and author of Busy is a Four-Letter Word. Kishshana dives into reigniting passion, embracing purpose without second-guessing, and navigating the unique tensions faced by social impact leaders. She shares valuable insights on making intentional choices to reduce stress, creating more freedom and impact as a leader. Plus, Kish...

In this episode, Jeff interviews Ali Horriyat, founder of Comppastive, a non-profit focused on building a more compassionate society. Ali reflects on his journey as a successful day trader, how it brought him wealth but not fulfillment, and how his views on money and human value have evolved. He also offers insights on the nonprofit sector, emphasizing the need for long-term, permanent solutions t...

In today’s episode, Jeff sits down with Katya Hancock, Executive Director of Young Futures, to explore how her organization is addressing the growing anxiety among young people related to social media. Young Futures stands out by not only supporting youth but also empowering nonprofits and grassroots organizations that share their mission of uplifting families in the digital age. This insightful c...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with James Marlow, President of Southface Institute, to discuss his journey from tech employee to non-profit leader. James reflects on how his experiences in the tech world shaped his path toward the non-profit sector, where his commitment to sustainability now drives his efforts to make other organizations more environmentally responsible. He also highlights the im...

In today's episode, Jeff sits down with Josh Penny, Social Impact Director at Hinge. They dive into how Josh's background in education and community work led him to social impact at Hinge. Josh shares insights on aligning your career with meaningful, impactful work and discusses Hinge's mission to address the loneliness epidemic. This is an inspiring conversation you won't want to miss! Follow:  i...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Zach Levenenz, CEO of SEED SPOT, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that empowers social entrepreneurs to create products, services, and technologies aimed at improving lives and making the world a better place. Zach shares how his upbringing sparked a transformative shift in his approach to business and leadership. He also discusses the importance of adaptability in an eve...

Jeff sits down with Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Surge for Water, a non-profit dedicated to providing safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to break the cycle of poverty. Shilpa shares how she was inspired from a young age to make a difference in her country, realizing that many of the challenges her community faced were tied to water access. She reflect...

In today’s episode, Jeff sits down with Katharine Wilkinson, author, teacher, and Founder of The All We Can Save Project. Katharine shares how a pivotal moment in her youth ignited her passion for addressing climate change and building a more sustainable future. She explores how humanity can align with nature and life itself. Jeff and Katharine also discuss the significance of human connection and...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dave Gibbons—speaker, pastor, and author of The Shape of My Eyes. Dave shares his evolving perspective on success and reflects on his fight against injustice as an Asian American. They delve into his experiences with racial and cultural divides in the U.S. and the journey to embrace his full identity. This conversation is powerful and thought-provoking—one you...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Amanda Rhein, Executive Director of the Atlanta Land Trust. Amanda and Jeff explore the innovative ways she is transforming home ownership in Atlanta, focusing on sustainability and affordability. Amanda shares insights into how her leadership style has evolved and the importance of aligning her intentions with her leadership. She also discusses how she balance...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Afua Bruce, a renowned author, engineer, and thought leader in the realm of public interest AI. Afua shares insights on how we can effectively train individuals on emerging technologies, regardless of their resources or access. Together, they tackle the complex issue of bias in AI, emphasizing the critical need to establish ethical standards for AI tools. The c...

Joining us this week is Diana McLain Smith, co-founder of Action Design, author, and Partner at the Monitor Group. Diana's work delves into the complex dynamics of strategic choice and change within organizations, with a particular focus on human behavior. Together, Jeff and Diana explore the impact and causes of fear-driven engagement in news, media, and politics, uncovering the deeper truths beh...

In this episode, we welcome Courtney Johnson, the founder of Culinary Care . Courtney shares the heartfelt story of how she started the organization, opening up about her journey driven by a personal connection and a vision to address an unmet need in the community. Courtney discusses the delicate balance of caring for her employees while maintaining a strong work ethic and the importance as a lea...

In this insightful episode, we are joined by Jessica and Chris Toews, the co-founders of Brainvive . They share their compelling journey, detailing how they met, the obstacles they have overcome, and the experiences that led them to working in therapeutic cognitive training. Jessica and Chris engage in a thought-provoking discussion on social work, the growing anxiety epidemic, and the evolving de...

This episode features Brett Hagler, CEO and Co-Founder of New Story , an international housing nonprofit. Brett emphasizes the importance of innovation and planning in order to achieve adequate expansion within the nonprofit sector and highlights what it means to choose between doing what is easy, versus doing what is courageous to drive impactful change. Join Jeff and Brett as they share their ow...

This week, Don Golden, a consultant, pastor, and theologian, shares his insights as someone dedicated to helping businesses become more impactful and sustainable. He underscores the economy as the primary driver of change, focusing on global missions and combating threats to Earth's life support systems in a business context. Golden elaborates on how large and small businesses alike can achieve po...

In this episode, Jeff is joined by Hallease, a video producer, editor, and digital storyteller, to go over the intricacies of content creation and the common knowledge gap among creatives regarding business management and self-promotion. They discuss the challenges of being an artist, the benefits and drawbacks of content creation, and the vulnerability that comes with maintaining an online presen...