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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