Subscribe to Next Economy Now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you find your podcasts.
What if you didn’t have to choose between generating profits and facilitating change? World Centric is on a dual mission to support sustainable practices and empower communities experiencing poverty. CEO Aseem Das and Director of Impact Janae Lloyd join us in conversation to discuss World Centric’s unique model and ongoing evolution.
During this revelatory discussion, we compare World Centric’s origins to its output in 2023 and talk about how the initial mission to replace plastic and foam remains built into its identity. Our guests share examples of the projects and programs they are involved with today and explain how World Centric’s culture infuses education and sustainability into its daily operations.
Unpacking the belief that those immersed in the problem are best positioned to solve it, Aseem and Janae weigh in on the future of World Centric and how it will continue to prioritize sustainability and empowerment by drawing on community expertise and leadership. After this episode, you’ll be motivated to think outside the box as well as reconsider your own sustainable habits.
---
Key Points From This Episode:
• The career journeys of World Centric CEO Aseem Das and Director of Impact Janae Lloyd. [0:00:44]
• How World Centric has evolved from a non-profit organization to producing feature documentaries. [0:05:07]
• Measuring the impact of World Centric’s original model to replace plastic and foam. [0:08:48]
• Impact projects, including a partnership with Raising the Village. [0:09:51]
• Benefits of choosing community-led programs with the example of Malawian partner Acades. [0:14:45]
• Prioritizing long term projects such as Ofrenda A’bunna and how to donate. [0:20:21]
• Practices ensuring impact for employees and supply chain partners. [0:24:57]
• How World Centric encourages healthy and sustainable habits as part of its culture. [0:30:38]
• Sustainable and price-competitive projections for World Centric’s upcoming chapter. [0:36:31]
• Approaching the next round of grants while continously working to improve. [0:39:25]
---
Quotes:
“Our focus is on helping communities that are experiencing poverty meet their basic needs, gain self-sufficiency, and have opportunities to thrive.” — Janae Lloyd [0:11:50]
“The people closest to the problem are best equipped to find the solution.” — Janae Lloyd [0:14:46]
“We are committed to the belief that indigenous people are the best protectors of our most biodiverse places.” — Janae Lloyd [0:21:33]
“It’s not a true hierarchical organization which leads to much more open communication between people across departments.” — Aseem Das [0:25:41]
“It’s all the small things we do in our daily lives which slowly percolate and create change.” — [0:33:05]
---
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
World Centric: https://www.worldcentric.com/
Raising the Village: https://raisingthevillage.org/
Ofrenda A’Bunna: https://www.ofrendaabunna.org/
2022 Impact Partners: https://www.worldcentric.com/our-impact/our-mission/2022-impact-partners/
Song for the Forests of Yasuni: https://www.instagram.com/p/CwJMNz0sDHR/
Acades Malawi: https://acadesmw.com/
---
Stay Connected To Next Economy News with our Newsletter!
Interested in receiving the latest news from the Next Economy? Sign up for our newsletter and receive monthly tips, advice, and resources from our team and partners: https://lifteconomy.com/newsletter
---
Dive Deeper With The Next Economy MBA
Interested in exploring Next Economy principles in a community of practice with other entrepreneurs, changemakers, and impact leaders? Offered in the spring and fall, the Next Economy MBA is a nine-month online course for folks who want to learn key business fundamentals (e.g. vision, culture, strategy, and operations) from an equitable, inclusive, and regenerative perspective.
Join the growing global network of 500+ alumni who are catalyzing a global shift towards an economy that works for all life. Learn more and sign up for news about upcoming cohorts: https://lifteconomy.com/mba.
---
Show Notes + Other Links
For detailed show notes and interviews with past guests, please visit https://lifteconomy.com/podcast.
If you enjoy Next Economy Now, please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify — it really helps folks interested in Next Economy work discover our show.
Stay Connected With Us On Social:
X: https://twitter.com/LIFTEconomy
Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifteconomy/
Facebook: https://facebook.com/LIFTEconomy/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/Lifteconomy
Music by Chris Zabriskie: https://chriszabriskie.com/