vLog Archives - Richard Brubaker

Accept the COVID19 Challenge | Episode 013

Regardless of whether or not you believe COVID19 is a hoax, the cure is worse than the disease, or we need to stay at home for 18 more months, it is time to accept the COVID19 challenge for what it is and begin making plans for moving forward.

In doing so, I lay out my vision for how COVID-19 will potentially disrupt everything I had planned to do this year, and what I am going to do about it.

It is a process that , without years of experience as an entrepreneurial, I can safely say would be VERY difficult to process as the emotions of the time would likely be clouding my judgement.

However, as I have experienced nearly every challenge possible over the last 15 years of running businesses and charities, I am finding clarity in the process and have a pretty good idea of what the options are and what I need to do.

That is not to say it will be easy, but unlike 10 years ago, I am seeing this time (and process) as just another part of the journey, and I hope that my quick rant will help you reset yourself and get ready for the disruptions that you are able to see.. and maybe think of a few others that were once hidden from view.

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

by Rich

I Miss Normal Life | Rich Brubaker, vlog Episode 012

It's been 8 weeks since my family and I left ""normal life" in Shanghai for what we thought would be a 2 week "vacation".

Now, while we are based safely in the US, and are all together, we simply look forward to getting back to normal life where we are surrounded by friends, where I am able to drop my kid off at the bus, and I am able to resume working with amazing people around the Asia region.

It's a tall order I know.

Especially as COVID19 continues its spread, and news of border closures, airline shutdowns, and city-level lockdowns are leading stories.

As the reality of the last two months has begun to fully set in, I am fully aware that this crisis could have a lasting impact on the communities we have built, what we had planned for 2020, and could alter "normal" forever going forward.

Something that, in part, I find exciting, but if I am honest, I am really looking forward to getting on a plane back home soon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQsymwwTvgs

Contact Me:
[email protected]

by Rich

It's Time to Do Something About Ocean Plastic | Rich Brubaker, Episode 011

While traveling to Phu Quoc (Vietnam), I was reminded just how bad the problem of ocean plastic is, and why we need to ACT NOW.

Even as I arrange weekly beach cleanups in Shanghai, and work with leading brands on recycling programs, the frustration of seeing the amount of waste strewn across the beach was just so incredibly sad that even in a place this remote, and this beautiful.

It just so clear to me, through the wrappers, Styrofoam pieces of as large as furniture, and random appliances that have washed themselves up and planted themselves under coconut trees, that we are losing this battle.

We need to do something about ocean plastic.

FAST.

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Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

Visiting Social Entrepreneurs in Saigon

After a quick trip to Jakarta, I was lucky to be able to fit in a few days of visiting social entrepreneurs in Saigon

It's been nearly 25 years since my first trip to Ho Chi Minh, and like many of Asia's cities, a LOT has changed. There are shiny glass buildings doting the skyline, metro stations are being built, and the middle class is beginning to take shape.

Underneath the surface of all that those, is a city where social, environmental, and economic challenges are around every corner, and I look forward to getting back there in the next few months to learn about those from the people on the ground.

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

Luxury Fashion and Sustainability at Kering Group - Rich Brubaker, Episode 009

The Kering Group, recently held an event in Shanghai focused on sustainability in luxury fashion and the role of entrepreneurs and innovators in helping big brands do better.

Considered a leader in their industry, the global CEO opened the session with a keynote and a Q&A where he dove into a few of the key challenges they face (as a company) and some of the investments they have made along the way.

It is a process that I found especially interesting as key to their progress has been finding ways to work with entrepreneurs and innovators outside the company, and through this event they highlighted four Chinese firms that they are working with.

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

Visiting Social Entrepreneurs in Bangkok

While visiting Social Entrepreneurs in Bangkok this week, I was reminded that as an "mission driven" entrepreneur, who has spent the last 20 years in Asia, I have been very fortunate to work in an amazing place, with amazing people, and be in a position to scale impact across a number of growing issues the region faces.

One of the best parts of this time has been the travel, and meeting other entrepreneurs in the region, and learning about what the work they are doing, the ecosystem for social entrepreneurship in their city looks like, and what the opportunities are for leveraging entrepreneurship and innovation to solve the social, environmental, and economic challenges their city faces.

More often than not, I leave very inspired by what I am seeing, and after my most recent trip to Bangkok, I decided to put together a short video for why I see amazing opportunities there.

It is a city that I visit every 2-3 months, and while I may be seeing things through glasses that have a bit of a rose tint to them, I very much believe that this is one of the best cities for social entrepreneurs.

It has NEED, there is a great ecosystem, awesome talent, and I am seeing a number of the early entrepreneurs see traction, even PROFIT, in their business models.

Doesn't mean that it is easy, but definitely a place I hold high on the list, and I hope you enjoy this short clip.

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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.

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

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.

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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.

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

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".

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Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

5 Key to Becoming a Successful Social Entrepreneur | Rich Brubaker - Episode 005

In this episode, I introduce what I believe are 5 key steps to becoming a successful social entrepreneur.

Each of them come from my observations of others, as well as through a regular reflection of my own path down social entrepreneurship. A path that was not always straight, or easy, but through the lessons of success, and failure, have born out some of the truths that I share during this video.

A video that I hope will help you find success (and impact) more quickly by leapfrogging the pitfalls that I fell into in my early years, and through the implementation of processes that I have learned throughout the development of multiple organizations.

Organization that regardless of profit motive, were built differently, had different measures of success, but all required me to spend time focusing on each of the five keys prior to making any progress at all.

I hope you will find the video instructive as you look to build your own organization!

Contact Me:
[email protected]

#Richbrubaker #socialentrepreneur #socialinnovation

by Rich

Why I Bet on Social Entrepreneurship over Corporate Sustainability | Rich Brubaker - Episode 004

In this episode, I speak to the fact that while corporate social responsibility, and corporate sustainability, have been hot topics that have produced a lot of really interesting programs, the biggest opportunities for fixing the problems we face will be landed by social entrepreneurs.

Individuals, and organizations, who have a mission for change, can build a platform that actually delivers a solution to the environmental, social, or economic problem faced.