Dureen Shahnaz

You Can't Teach Entrepreneurship | Durreen Shahnaz, Impact Investment Exchange

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Durreen Shahnaz, Founder of Impact Investment Exchange and Shujong, about the work she has done to launch the world's first (and only) socially oriented stock market.

Born out of the recognition that the finance industry, which is largely run by Western/ white male executives, was not working for a large portion of the world, she has spent the last 10+ years developing a solution.

A solution that has not come easy, was largely built out of her own vision for what the system should look like, but for her there was no other choice or way.

She is a true entrepreneur.



About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.

To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.

About Durreen:
Durreen Shahnaz is a global leader of social impact and impact investing. She is also the founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and IIX Foundation. IIX is the home of the world’s first social stock exchange and the largest impact investment private placement platform. IIX is also a leader in impact assessment methodology and innovative financial structures such as the world’s first Women’s Livelihood Bond. The company bridges the gap between finance and development by carving out a third space for social and environmental solutions through financial mechanisms and subsequently driving forward the Sustainable Development Goals. IIX and IIX Foundation’s work has a particular focus on women empowerment, climate action and community resilience.

Follow Durreen:
Website: https://iixglobal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iixglobal
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/durreen-shahnaz-3158101
Twitter: https://twitter.com/durreen

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]

 

 


Weekly News: Busting Myths on Vegans and Volunteers, IKEA goes Green, and SE Asia Battle with Water

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.


5 Surprising Myths About Volunteers and Donors - Some of these will come as no surprise to you, the educated and experienced Change Maker!

When You Burn Out While Changing the World - This is a big issue for many I know in the space.

Why a hipster, vegan, green tech economy is not sustainable - I am not sure the hipsters have ever tried to proclaim their vegan / green tech economy was sustainable.  I think it was more about the hipsters looking for better ways to act on their convictions, which at times meant transitioning to veganism and supporting cleantech (EV cars, solar panels, etc).

The milk industry is changing. We meet the man giving dairy a run for its money - In this article, the hipster vegan is behind the milk industry's decline.

In Shanghai, every Ikea delivery is now made with an electric vehicle - Awesome news, and STAY TUNED... I am going to tru and arrange an interview and drive along on one of these trucks!

Mekong water level lowest in 10 years - The lack of water will be THE challenge faced in Asia, and while we have only started speaking about Chennai's issues, the lower Mekong struggles to reach the sea.

The Sea Is Consuming Jakarta, and Its People Aren't Insured -  The poor always lose.


Brand Building

Thought Leadership & Brand Building for Entrepreneurs | Behind the Grind, Episode 007

In this episode, Brian and I speak about brand building as an entrepreneur, why the best path is to position themselves as a thought leader for their domain, and a few of the tips, tricks, and mediums that we have found most useful for ourselves.

It is a session that gets pretty tactical, but will require a number of followups where we speak more deeply and about tactic and tools.


About the Behind The Grind Series:

Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich

Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:

Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:

Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:

Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/


Weekly News: Feeding 10b People, 2030 SDG Update, 3D Printed Hearts, and AI Solves Urban Challenges

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.


Can Planet Earth Feed 10 Billion People? - This is a question I am beginning to spend a lot more time considering, not as a function of population itself, but of the challenges that are going to be faced by urbanizing the next 2 billion Asians and supporting their dietary shift.

The world will not meet the 2030 Agenda goals - I never thought they would.  Glad someone is willing to admit it.

The Man With the $13 Billion Checkbook - This is an amazing article that looks into Darren Walker, head of the Ford Foundation.  Less about the foundation itself, and more about his rise through Ford Foundation,and his vision for the organization, with some very interesting insights into the world of high net worth philanthropy.

World’s First 3D Printed Hearts And Functional Beating Hearts Grown From Stem Cells - Advances like these will have a dramatic impact going forward.

Bali officially bans all single-use plastic to curb ocean pollution - I'll get excited when they officially stop using plastic bags

Google-backed Bali start-up tackles waste crisis with AI - This is something to get excited by, but hope they are able to scale quickly.  Billions, in Asia, are looking at very uncertain water futures.

Using AI to make cities more responsive to their residents - Some interesting work and insights in this article

Some of the best places to eat, shop and sleep in Bangkok if you care about sustainability - Found this guide while doing a little research for my upcoming trip to Bangkok, and thought you might find it interesting as well.


Social Entrepreneurs Need to Shake Things Up! | vLog, Episode 007

I have spent a SIGNIFICANT time recently looking at the work I am doing, and that of other "social entrepreneurs", and have come to the conclusion that we have become too safe.

We have become too guarded with our ideas, with our business plans, and with how we communicate the work.

Too few of us are swinging for the fences in an attempt to SOLVE a big problem, and it's time to shake it up.

It's time we bold actions to solve the growing challenges we face in our communities, economies, and environments, and through this video I hope to inspire to look at the work you are doing in a different way.

To take steps that you feel might be uncomfortable, but may lead you (and your organization)  closer to achieving something big.



About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I’ve spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve “the big” challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I’m focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

 


Jeet Singh

Edtech Entrepreneurship in India | Jeet Singh, Selfstudy

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Jeet Singh, Founder of Selfstudy, to speak about the work he has been doing over the last few years to provide a better future to the next generation of Indian students.

It is a great conversation, and one where, as a consultant who quit to build a "better" way, I really found myself identifying with very easily, and I hope that you will find inspiration in his work.



About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.

To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.

About Jeet:
Persainjit Singh (Jeet) is a seasoned management consultant with more than 12 years of consulting, industry and ed-tech experience. He has envisioned and created a digital learning platform which is used by more than 1 lac students in India.

Follow Jeet:
Website: http://www.selfstudy.co.in
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/persainjit/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/persainjit
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/persainjit

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Work Life Balance

Productivity and Work Life Balance | Behind the Grind, Episode 006

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I speak through the difference between hustle and productivity, which leads into a deeper conversation about work life balance.

It is an episode that I thought aligned well with current conversations about hustle, and how that term has changed into something negative when it is in fact something positive when it is productive.

As always, would love your thoughts on the conversation!

 


About the Behind The Grind Series:

Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich

Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:

Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:

Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:

Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/


Weekly News: Shanghai's Bold Waste Regulations, Circular Economies, and Awesome Ag Entrepreneur

With so much going on in the realm of sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and only a limited amount of bandwidth for professionals in this space, I have created this post to highlight articles that I feel are (1) important, (2) relevant, and (3) interesting in the areas of social innovation and entrepreneurship.

If you have an article, or event, that you feel needs to be mentioned, please do so in the comments section.


Shanghai rubbish rules: New law sends Chinese city into frenzy -  This regulation has been the talk of Asia, and for good reason... Shanghai went BOLD with their new waste separation program.  Only a week in, a lot of articles are focused more on the fines than on the efficiency, but I have a plan for that!

Reduce, reuse, and recycle: can we achieve a global circular economy? - Once we collect the waste, we need to do something with it.  Something, through my consulting work, is something MUCH easier said than done.

Urban farming company seeking to help the poor one bayong at a time - Sometimes it's the simple ideas.

America’s first urban ‘agrihood’ feeds 2,000 households for free - Delivering safe, affordable, and accessible food in 2050 is going to require we look at urban farming.  Over the last few years, that concept has largely been dominated by the vertical movement, but in many (more) parts of the world the model may be more "agrihood"

Engineer Quits US Job, Builds Sustainable Homes From Agri-Waste In Villages!   Tying the themes of waste and food together, this article highlights the work of an amazing entrepreneur who is using agri waste as a way to build homes.


Interface Flooring

Interface Flooring (China) Factory Visit | Rich Brubaker, vlog Episode 006

In this episode, I go to the Interface Flooring factory in Taicang, China to learn more about what makes them one of the most sustainable companies in the world.

It's founder Ray Anderson was not only a pioneer in proving the business case for sustainability, but over the last 20 years has shown that through the lens of sustainability, Interface was able to achieve the full potential of a firms people, product, and processes can be achieved.

I have had a number of opportunities to work with them, and every time I do am inspired by the people, the culture, and the commitment of the organization to creating a truly circular economy where no waste is created and no virgin materials are required for the production of their products.

There are so many lessons to be learned through studying Interface, and I hope through this video you will be inspired to take the time to learn more about their work and find ways to apply what they have done so that you too can summit your own "Mount Sustainability".


About Me:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a former Adjunct Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Me:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

 


Chris Oestereich

Teaching Social Entrepreneurship in Thailand | Chris Oestereich, Circular Design Lab

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Chris Oestereich about his work in Bangkok teaching social entrepreneurship at  Thammasat University while standing up his own social enterprises, Full Circle Filament and Circular Design Lab.

Lot's of lessons in here about how to engage students on topics, and why we should be optimistic about the future!

 


About #EntrepreneursForGood Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action.

To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market.

About Chris:
Chris helps communities and organizations shift towards the circular economy. He’s also a writer, publisher, and the director of the ASEAN Social Innovation Review, the publishing unit at Thammasat University’s School of Global Studies where he lectures on topics related to sustainability, social innovation, social enterprise, and advocacy.

Follow Chris:
Website: https://chrisoestereich.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisoestereich/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.oestereich

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]