Social Impact Pioneers

If you are working on delivering social change or trying to address social norms, digital technology seems like a good way to scale, influence behaviours, deepen impact, collect and analyse data – and so much more. Doing this in practice is another thing. Jocelyn Williams, Director for Business Development at Every1Mobile, shares 10 years of experience that they have built up implementing programm...

During this conversation I talk with Fred Brown. There aren’t many people who I might call a visionary – but it’s the word that comes to mind as Fred his thoughts. Fred inspires, shares leading edge ways for organisations to be more effective and shows us how to lead. Fred is the President and CEO of The Forbes Funds. A capacity builder and catalyst for non-profits in the Pittsburgh area, USA. The...

Merten Sievers leads value chain and enterprise development with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). During our podcast conversation Merten shares his insights on the effects COVID-19 is having on small and medium sized enterprises, in particular the impacts on decent work. Merten then deep dives into the practical ways businesses of all sizes can help create and capitalise upon quality j...

Meet Chris Anderson and David Nash. They are instrumental within the Zurich Floods Resilience Programme. With floods affecting more people than any other natural hazard. They are 8 years into a 10-year programme. Their aim: to enhance flood resilience. With a focus on pre-event risk reduction. What is interesting about this conversation is the openness and willingness of Chris and David to share t...

This podcast conversation with Samie Al-Achrafi explores why, more than ever, we need to bring our humanity to business. If you feel in need of a coaching session, to deepen your understanding of others or to expand your leadership skills, then this podcast episode is for you. Samie’s career spans the public and private sectors and now he leads his own values and culture consultancy, Marmalade Fis...

This podcast interview hears from Vic Van Vuuren, the Director, of the Enterprises Department at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. Vic is also the Chairman of The Committee for the Promotion and Advancement of Cooperatives and he Chairs the Partnership for Action in the Green Economy. He is a member on the United Nations Task Force of the Social and Solidarity Economy and a me...

Meet Dr. Nicky Black, Director at the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM). During this podcast we talk with Nicky about the work she has been leading in helping the mining sector respond to COVID-19 and the newly released, Building Forward Better Framework. The Framework provides practical tools and resources for use by the mining industry and other sectors to help guide them through...

Peg Willingham is the Executive Director of Fairtrade America. Fairtrade’s mission to work with businesses, farmers and workers certifying products as ethically and sustainably sourced is more important than ever. Listen to this podcast to hear Peg share her insights of the compounded effects of COVID-19 on many of the world’s poorest farmers; As a health and livelihood issue. She shares why we ma...

During this podcast we hear Alexis Geaneotes and Kathy Mignano from IFC share the latest thinking on inclusive business. There are an estimated 2.7 billion people who live on less than $2.50 a day (Ref. UNDP, 2014) and 6 billion people live on under $8 a day. This is half the world’s population, but due to their low-income levels they are often overlooked in terms of products, services, and suppor...

Blockchain is banded around as a silver bullet to solving transparency and traceability challenges. This podcast reveals what this means to reality. Meet award winning serial entrepreneur Ashish Gadnis – as he demystifies blockchain, shares the trends he thinks we should all be thinking about and why his father said to him – “If you want to get out of poverty you can either programme or you can be...

If you need some motivation and inspiration today – meet Sizakele Marutlulle. South African born Sizakele is a marketing and brand leader, entrepreneur and influencer. Her personal experiences and career have seen Sizakele part of the team working on the ANC campaign as South Africa emerged from apartheid. She has led businesses big and small to deliver their brand purpose. But our conversation to...

There is a huge gender gap in technology – 17% fewer women compared to men have access to the internet globally* and only 5% of leadership positions in the technology sector are held by women.** Natalia Cano and her team at Google are on a mission to change this. During this podcast hear from Natalia as she shares her story and expand on why it is so important to close the gender gap in technology...

If you want to find a partner, there is no better person than Darian Stibbe. Partnering for a sustainable future that is. Darian was once a quantum physicist for NASA, with a PhD from London and Harvard. 16 years ago, his career pivoted, and he hasn't looked back. Today he is one of the leading thinkers and practitioners on delivering sustainable development through partnership. During our convers...

Meet two global experts on gender equality and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) at home and work – Jane Pillinger and Alice Allan. This is a tough podcast to listen to, but vital. As Alice explains: “Sadly COVID-19 is exacerbating gender inequality.” Prior to the pandemic evidence shows that one in three women experience gender-based violence. During the lockdown the estimates are that globa...

What are the skills we need for the future? Meet Joyce Mbaya-Ikiao, founder and CEO of Zydii – the digital learning platform contextualized for the African learner. Joyce is a former star of The Apprentice Africa, 2008, acclaimed author and now business leader focused on skills and Standard Chartered Futuremakers Alumni. During our conversation Joyce reveals that she really believes the future of...

The Power of Nutrition estimates the more than more than 45% of children’s deaths are linked to undernutrition and the cycle of undernutrition continues to prevail – 40% of pregnant women are anaemic, increasing the likelihood of their child being undernourished. Why is nutrition still such a problem? What’s the impact of COVID-19 on these already frightening statistics? And what can we do about i...

Meet Alexa Roscoe. Alexa leads a team exploring disruptive technology for the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Gender and Economic Inclusion Group. Part of the World Bank. During our conversation Alexa deep dives into the latest research on ride hailing, the gig economy and the transport ecosystem. Explaining that better understanding of these topics can help women access jobs, support th...

Even the most active people have gone into lockdown and perhaps started to support their local community or gotten involved in a wider social movement. The most proactive may have even written a book. Dr Myriam Sidibe has done all of these things! Myriam is the woman behind the multi award winning and UN recognized Global Handwashing Day. She has focused her professional life’s work on handwashing...

If you want to hear first-hand insight of the impact of COVID-19 on factory workers in emerging markets, this podcast is for you. Meet Dominic McVey; Entrepreneur, Board member and adviser with companies, INGOs and governments in Sri Lanka, Ethiopia and Kenya. During our conversation Dominic provides candid insights of the effects of COVID-19 on vulnerable workers, value chains and the systems tha...

Sasha Dichter is co-founder of the impact data-focused social enterprise 60 Decibels. During our conversation Sasha explains why, during the COVID-19 crisis, understanding the social impact this is having on people globally is vital but more difficult to do in practice. Most impact data is collected during times of lockdown via the internet. This is massively limited. 40% of the global population...

Dan Neale heads up social transformation within the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA). With money, time and energy flowing in all directions at an unprecedented scales during the COVID-19 crisis – Dan explains why data and measurement are vital to ensure business impact is positive, real and lasting. The WBA are on a mission to boost companies’ motivation and efforts towards achieving the UN susta...

Neil Fleming shares his first-hand insight into what it’s like supporting small and medium sized businesses globally during the COVID-19 pandemic; highlighting the vital importance of SMEs in job creation now and in the future and the real risk of many businesses going under. Neil is Director at The Challenges Group, working across 66 countries, with five offices in sub-Saharan Africa. As an inter...

The COVID-19 global pandemic leaves people and systems vulnerable to bribery and corruption. Rachel Cooper, Director of Transparency International’s Health Initiative is a leading expert in understanding the causes and cures of ethically dubious bad practice. In normal times it is estimated that $75 Trillion is spent globally on healthcare, of which, approx 7% is lost to corrupt practices. For pro...

During this podcast we hear from Sinead Duffy. Sinead is the Head of NGO Engagement at one of the world’s major life science companies focused on health and agriculture, Bayer. Sinead shares with us how business can support those most vulnerable during the COVID-19 global crisis. She talks about the support to people across the world through their medicines, livelihoods and food security through t...

How does a business like Avon – the multinational ‘more than beauty’ compony, deal with coronavirus? Hear first-hand from Natalie Deacon, Avon’s Executive Director Corporate Affairs and Sustainability and the President Avon Foundation for Women. During our conversation Natalie talks about Avon’s responsibility to help their representatives to maintain their livelihoods, and also the importance of...