Today, we’re joined by Clay Brown from B Lab Global to discuss how we can transform the global economy from a system that profits a few to one that benefits all people, communities, and the planet.
Ed Mitzen: Rebuilding Left-Behind Communities
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What is the best way to help rebuild communities that have been left behind and forgotten? And is it necessary to throw out the manual and rather bring new ideas and fresh perspectives? To help answer these questions, we are joined today by the Founder and CEO of The Fingerpaint Group, Ed Mitzen.
The Fingerpaint Group is a full-service healthcare marketing firm aimed at improving the lives of those who need it most, and it has a new little sister which was also founded by Ed and his wife Lisa: Business for Good – on a mission to invest in people to build better businesses, stronger communities, and a more equitable world.
In today’s conversation, we learn about Ed’s unique ecosystem approach to philanthropy, how to identify and prioritize the help that is needed most, what you need to know and understand before seeking to help previously disadvantaged communities, the value of building relationships, the importance of teaching people how to problem-solve, and so much more!
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Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing Philanthropist, Executive Author, Entrepreneur, and Founder and CEO of The Fingerpaint Group, Ed Mitzen. [00:31]
• Ed's professional background, and how he got involved in the work he does today. [01:06]
• Insight into Ed's unique approach to philanthropy. [02:43]
• Business for Good: the business side of philanthropy. [05:05]
• What Ed has learned so far from his ecosystem approach to helping others. [07:44]
• How to identify and prioritize the work that needs to be done in a neglected ecosystem. [10:25]
• The inroads that Ed and his team have made in improving healthcare for others. [14:45]
• Other requirements and considerations for rebuilding left-behind communities. [16:20]
• The story behind Wealthy and White, and what Ed hopes readers will gain from it. [17:56]
• How he navigates failure as an entrepreneur and mentor. [21:30]
• The value of building strong relationships, and how to go about it. [24:25]
• Unpacking the reciprocity of gifting. [26:01]
• How Ed teaches problem-solving, and the importance of learning this skill. [27:13]
• The biggest challenges he faces at work today and how he overcomes them. [28:41]
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Quotations:
“We're not going to solve hunger with more food pantries; we need to get people up the income curve – good paying jobs, good healthcare – and that will help eradicate a lot of the challenges that societies face.” — Ed Mitzen [0:02:16]
“Nowadays, people want to come and work for companies that they know are trying to make the world a better place.” — Ed Mitzen [0:03:04]
“[We're] trying to use our entrepreneurial skills to help people in left-behind communities start or grow their companies.” — Ed Mitzen [0:05:38]
“I'm trying to show other white business owners that there's other ways to help besides just writing a cheque.” — Ed Mitzen [0:13:37]
“Healthcare is a tough one. We've tried to do what we can, but the whole system is a bit of a mess.” — Ed Mitzen [0:15:51]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Ed Mitzen: https://www.edmitzen.com/
Lisa Mitzen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mitzen-81445412
The Fingerpaint Group: https://www.fingerpaint.com/
Business for Good: https://bfg.org/
Wealthy and White: https://www.powells.com/book/wealthy-and-white-9781544540979
Caste: https://www.powells.com/book/caste-9780593230251
Albany Black Chamber of Commerce: https://albanyblackchamber.org/
Goldman Sachs: https://www.goldmansachs.com/
Albany Medical Center: https://www.albanymed.org/
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Vivek George: Building Sustainability With Co-Ops
Vivek George is a founding member and chief catalyst at Yuti Co-op, a sustainable marketplace that is owned by its workers and community. As a company, its mission is to help consumers by giving them a sustainable alternative that they can access and afford. In our conversation, Vivek breaks down the principles that Yuti Co-op was founded on and gives a detailed account of how multi-stakeholder companies like Yuti Co-op can address issues around sustainability, democracy, and inequality.
Joshua Prieto: Impact Entrepreneurs Building Regenerative Economies
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Maryam Ahmed: DEI in Food and Wine
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Paul Zelizer: Opportunity and Impact
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Aseem Das and Janae Lloyd: How World Centric Serves People and Planet
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Ron Carucci: White Men for Racial Justice
Today, we chat with the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Navalent, Ron Carucci. Navalent is a consulting firm that offers executive coaching and consulting for senior leaders to solve organizational problems at the source. Ron’s 30-plus years of experience in helping executives with transformational change at their organizations has seen him become a juggernaut in the field, and a prolific author as well!
Garrett Neiman: Rich White Men and the Path to Equity
In this compelling and thought-provoking episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Garrett Neiman, a Nonprofit Entrepreneur & Social Justice Writer, to delve deep into the themes of his latest book, Rich White Men, and the role that white men can play in constructing an equitable society. As a prominent voice in the realm of social justice, Garrett has dedicated his life to shedding light on the issues of privilege, power, and inequality. His book challenges conventional notions and provides valuable insights into the role that white men can play as allies in dismantling systemic barriers and creating a more inclusive world.
Charles Conn: Unleashing The Imperfectionist Mindset
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Today we are joined by a returning guest and one of Patagonia’s original employees, Vincent Stanley, who currently serves as the company’s in-house philosopher (and, more informally, their chief storyteller). Vincent also co-authored The Responsible Company: What We’ve Learned From Patagonia’s First 50 Years with Yvon Chouinard. The book draws on 50 years of experience at Patagonia to challenge business owners and leaders to reevaluate their businesses in a time of cultural and climate chaos.
Daniel Kurzrock: Addressing the Food Waste Crisis Through Upcycling
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Lisa Kleissner: Reverse-Engineering Economic Resilience
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Next Economy Living: Katy Bowman on Finding Ways to Move More
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Next Economy Living: Christine Platt and The "Less Is Liberation" Movement
Today, we discuss the role that the psychology of ownership plays in our attachment to things, why Christine felt the need to highlight BIPOC experiences in her book, and how scarcity, race, and cultural expectations inform our choices.
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In today’s episode, we are joined by Cheryl Whilby, Communications Director at Soul Fire Farm, who is here to share some of the inspirational work that they are doing.
Next Economy Living: Vincent Medina & Louis Trevino on Reviving & Strengthening Indigenous Foods of SF Bay Area
Learn how Vincent Medina & Louis Trevino are reviving & strengthening Indigenous Foods in the San Francisco Bay Area.
MBA Series Ep. 25: Next Steps for the Next Economy
Today's episode of the MBA Series is focused on the next steps we should all be looking at. The idea of the next economy has an obvious connection to the future, but we also like to bring things into sight in the present and ground what we are doing with what is happening right now, all around us.