Season 242 Episode 8240
S1 E21 - Business Done Right Is Key to Eliminating Poverty and Other Social Problems
"Author Melanie van de Velde Shares Insights for Impact Through Business http://231010.s4g.biz AI Episode Summary The guest on the show is Melanie van de Velde, CEO and founder of Big Tree Global and author of Lead Like a Genius. Melanie's background is in business, but she has always been passionate about addressing poverty in the world. She ran an impact enterprise in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, which taught her about the challenges of balancing commercial sense and making a difference. Melanie spent years researching projects and companies that make a difference and wanted to share everything she learned, leading to her book, Lead Like a Genius. Businesses have a role to play in solving the world's problems by addressing the root causes rather than dealing with symptoms. Examples include the TOMS buy one give one model, which alleviates poverty-related issues but doesn't fix the root cause, and SoleRebels, an African footwear brand that provides jobs and addresses poverty structurally. Business models that have a strong commercial sense while pursuing an impact mission are more successful in driving change. An example is the Brigade Bar and Bistro in London, which provides an excellent dining experience while training and empowering apprentices facing homelessness or mental health challenges. Melanie's superpower is her belief in the inherent goodness of people and their ability to make a positive impact on the world. To learn more about Melanie and her work, her book Lead Like a Genius is available on Lulu.com and Amazon, and she can be reached on LinkedIn or through the website Big Tree Global. http://superpowers4good.com"
