Social Impact Pioneers

In this episode, we welcome Social Impact Pioneer Josh Wheeler — founder of Be Broadcast, award-winning broadcast PR strategist, and one of the UK’s leading voices on reshaping how we talk about climate change and how to move the conversation from climate fear, stalling and inaction, to something everyone can take positive action on. Josh joins us to dive into Be Broadcast’s latest data-driven rep...

What are the real-world impacts of inclusive economic development, gender equity, and the transformative power of entrepreneurship? Social Impact Pioneers Nguyet Tran Thi Minh in Vietnam and Tanvi Jaluka in California. Nguyet is CARE Vietnam’s Women’s Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion Manager. She leads the Strive Women program—a collaborative initiative with the Mastercard Center for Inclu...

How can businesses and their partners design programmes to tackle multiple societal issues whilst making economic sense? Listen in to this conversation between Social Impact Pioneers: Amanda Smith, Global Head of Social Impact at Diageo; Amayaa Wijesinghe, Climate and Resilience Advisor at CARE International UK; and Thomas Ongogo, Program Manager at CARE International Kenya – as they explore how b...

How can technology, in this case mobile technology help people in hard-to-reach places and can it ever make our world fairer? These are two questions our Social Impact Pioneer this week grapples with daily. In this episode of the Business Fights Poverty podcast series – Social Impact Pioneers, we sit down with Max Cuvellier Giacomelli, Head of Mobile for Development at the GSMA, the global industr...

Work should be the most reliable path out of poverty. But for many, low wages, job insecurity, bureaucratic red tape, and the benefits cliff create barriers to financial stability. Social Impact Pioneers Megan Spurgeon and Scott C. Miller are transforming economic empowerment by revolutionising workforce development and breaking systemic cycles of poverty in the U.S Megan Spurgeon is the Director...

How do you scale support for smallholder farmers, in hard to reach locations, harvesting a slow maturing crop? Social Impact Pioneer Christina Mawuse Gyisun, Co-Founder of Sommalife, joins us to talk about the shea industry in West Africa and how she and her team are increasing market access, and securing the future of an industry, by better supporting female smallholder farmers. Though women shea...

Listen in to explore how microentrepreneurs can be the catalyst for economic growth, the systemic shifts needed to empower them, and the emerging trends shaping their future. Social Impact Pioneers - Werner Wallner, Managing Director of the Hilti Foundation; Amalia Johnsson, CEO of Hand in Hand International; and Payal Dalal, Executive Vice President of Global Programmes at the Mastercard Center f...

Dive deep into the transformative world of social work, with Social Impact Pioneer, Peter Buturo. As Peter champions the vital force social work offers to strengthen communities, combat poverty, and champion justice. Peter is a seasoned social worker actively engaged in the field. During this conversation hear Peter’s inspiring journey into social work, sparked by personal tragedy and fuelled by a...

How can we measure impact and outcomes from social programmes that work for business? Our Social Impact Pioneer today believes that ESG initiatives need a unified impact measurement scale – impact per dollar. Meet Gilad Tanay, Founder and Chairperson of the ERI Institute. “Impact per Dollar gives investors a tangible percentage figure or impact unit of a particular initiative, i.e. how many people...

Social Impact Pioneers Antoinette Marie, Director of Heifer Labs, and Sander de Jong, Managing Director of Fairfood talk blockchain, supplychains and food. Antoinette is a trailblazer in digital transformation and humanitarian development, whilst Sander is a serial social entrepreneur with a passion for food. In this episode, we delve into the heart of social entrepreneurship and its pivotal role...

Welcome to this episode of the Social Impact Pioneer podcast, where we explore the intersection of business and social good through transformative partnerships. Social Impact Pioneers - Taryn Davis, the Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Stakeholder Relations at Cargill and Chris Noble, Associate Vice President of Corporate Partnerships at CARE discuss what makes the long-term partnersh...

In this episode, we’re hearing David Nicholson of Mercy Corps and Thomas Beloe from the UNDP talk human centred climate action. David Nicholson is the first-ever Chief Climate Officer at Mercy Corps. David joins us from the climate COP29 in Baku to share where he thinks business and human centred climate action have gotten to. Whilst Thomas Beloe, the Acting Director, Sustainable Finance Hub, UNDP...

Welcome to Social Impact Pioneers – in this episode we delve into the intersection of climate change, human rights, and modern slavery. This conversation forms part of the Business Fights Poverty Climate Justice Series (links below) and takes place at the tail end of the climate COP29, Baku. In this episode, we hear from Social Impact Pioneers: Chiara Soletti and Sizakele Marutlulle. Chiara Solett...

As the climate COP29 in Baku concludes without much fanfare, understanding what was really going on is more important than ever. Business Fights Poverty Youth Ambassador, Malkia Johns sits down within the COP and speaks with two women’s health activists, Niona Nakuya and Terry Owino. Niona, a reproductive health specialist and climate change advocate from Uganda, serves as the Programme Officer fo...

Meet two Social Impact Pioneers as they talk international development, climate resilience and the climate COP29 in Baku, Azebijan. Simon Crittle, Director of Global Communications at iDE, brings nearly 30 years of expertise in journalism, government, and nonprofit communications. From his time as a New York correspondent for Time Magazine to serving as the UN World Food Programme’s spokesperson i...

In this special episode, we bring you exclusive insights straight from COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, with long-time Business Fights Poverty community members, Justin Perrettson and Katarina Kahlmann. As global leaders and changemakers convene to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, Justin and Katarina share their experiences, expertise, and perspectives from inside the conference. Justin...

Welcome to a special episode of the "Social Impact Pioneers" podcast, where today, we're not just discussing change; we're living it. In this episode you will hear from Malkia Johns, Business Fights Poverty Youth Ambassador who is in Baku for the climate COP29. In this conversation Malkia talks with Zach Lubin, a recent graduate from the University of Glasgow and an environmental enthusiast. Haili...

How do you turn an ambitious corporate commitment on social impact and inclusivity into reality? Meet Social Impact Pioneer Amanda Smith. Amanda is the Head of Community Impact at Diageo. Diageo is a global leader in premium drinks, renowned for its portfolio of over 200 iconic brands, including Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Guinness, and Smirnoff. Operating in nearly 180 countries and employing over...

Is sustainability now a choice between compliance and innovation for business? During a time of regulation, (CSRD, CSDDD to name just two), ESG scepticism and increasing societal pressures. In this episode of Social Impact Pioneers, we talk with Dr. Mary Johnstone-Louis, Senior Fellow at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and Co-Director of Oxford’s Sustainable Business Programme. Dr....

How does financial inclusion transform lives? And what is the role of listening and agility in the success of inclusive financial products and services? Meet Social Impact Pioneer – Atul Tandon. Atul is the visionary CEO of Opportunity International. Opportunity International is a pioneer in developing microfinance products that empower the underprivileged. They are proof of the significant impact...

What is the business case for corporate volunteering and employees sharing their expertise for social good? And how can corporate philanthropy make a social impact? Social Impact Pioneer, Anthony Sanchez, Vice President and Global Head of Community Impact at Moody's, shares his wisdom. Anthony's career spans over two decades, during which he moved from corporate communications into corporate socia...

What does gender-smart climate finance mean in practice and how can gender lens investing make any kind of difference during the green transition? Sana Kapadia, Chief Catalyst at Heading for Change, is a key figure in unlocking capital at the intersection of climate and gender finance. With a diverse background in impact investing, venture capital, and gender finance, Sana is a trailblazer in leve...

How can innovative finance and philanthropy to help solve the world’s biggest problems? What are the innovations in finance that can better tackle poverty, address climate change and create equity? And how can philanthropy go beyond a simple donation to charity? Meet Alix Lebec, the visionary founder and CEO of LEBEC, a women-owned and led firm that specialises in innovative finance and philanthro...

Social Impact Pioneer, Bill Omondi is on a mission to build a generation of young Africans with great leadership and communication skills. As the CEO and Founder of the Debate Circle in Kenya, Bill is working to empower young people – so that they can lean in and articulate their response to the global challenges – from poverty to climate change. Creating the change and actions that they need. Bil...

Improving our health starts a long time before we get sick. Social Impact Pioneer Dr. Jan Carney has dedicated her career to public health - tackling the biggest morbidity and mobility issues society faces on a scale that makes a big difference to all our well-being. Listen in to learn how to make positive social impacts at scale as Jan shares tried and tested community and society scale wellbeing...