100 Inspirational Social Entrepreneurs

From Founders to Community Managers and Designers

There is not much more required of a Sunday than to provide some much needed rest to recharge and stimulate creativity and this SocialBusiness.org top list of inspirational social entrepreneurs is the ultimate in that regard. All the same, with all of the Twitter accounts hashtagging #socent (our favorite hashtag), there seems to be an inspiration overload.

However, these inspirational social entrepreneurs say in their own words what resets their dials. They're all interviews where a number of different people from all over the world in all different positions, from founders to community managers and artists and designers, discuss the either complex or simple approach to inspiration. If anything, we know now that inspiration isn't something to have and to hold but rather it's a practice and a process.
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98
Dwight Chestnut of the Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project (INTERVIEW)
Dwight Chestnut of the Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project (INTERVIEW)
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97
David Robertson, CEO of Talk2One (INTERVIEW)
David Robertson, CEO of Talk2One (INTERVIEW)
Accessible Canadian Communication
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96
Jes McKay Gilmore, Creator of Species Spectrum (INTERVIEW)
Jes McKay Gilmore, Creator of Species Spectrum (INTERVIEW)
Animal-Aware Greeting Card Company
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95
Madeleine Shaw, Founder of LunaPads (INTERVIEW)
Madeleine Shaw, Founder of LunaPads (INTERVIEW)
Creator of the Pads4Girls Initiative
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94
Dave Simnick and Eric Vong, Founders of SoapBox Soaps (INTERVIEW)
Dave Simnick and Eric Vong, Founders of SoapBox Soaps (INTERVIEW)
1 for 1 Soap that Gives Back
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93
Conchy Bretos, Company Principal and Founder of Mia Senior Living Solutions (INTERVIEW)
Conchy Bretos, Company Principal and Founder of Mia Senior Living Solutions (INTERVIEW)
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92
Sandra Goldmark, Creator of Pop Up Repair (INTERVIEW)
Sandra Goldmark, Creator of Pop Up Repair (INTERVIEW)
An Eco-Friendly Mending Store
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91
Dan Gigante, Founder and President of You and Who (INTERVIEW)
Dan Gigante, Founder and President of You and Who (INTERVIEW)
Conscious Wearable Art
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90
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Making Home Solar Affordable
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89
Jay Boolkin, Founder of Promise or Pay (INTERVIEW)
Jay Boolkin, Founder of Promise or Pay (INTERVIEW)
Online Motivation Benefiting Charities
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88
Al Harris, Founder of Blue Ventures (INTERVIEW)
Al Harris, Founder of Blue Ventures (INTERVIEW)
Marine Conservation Organization
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87
Samuel Miller of Bombastic Plastix (INTERVIEW)
Samuel Miller of Bombastic Plastix (INTERVIEW)
Upcycled Goods Made from Balian Plastic Bags
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86
Kimberly Robertson, Chief Seed Sower at Light of Mine (INTERVIEW)
Kimberly Robertson, Chief Seed Sower at Light of Mine (INTERVIEW)
Tees Eradicating Global Hunger
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85
CharitySub (INTERVIEW)
CharitySub (INTERVIEW)
An Online Platform for Simplified Giving
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84
Tyler Gage, President and Co-Founder of Runa (INTERVIEW)
Tyler Gage, President and Co-Founder of Runa (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Ecuadorian-Sourced Guayusa Tea
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83
Chase Layman, Creator of ISSSUE (INTERVIEW)
Chase Layman, Creator of ISSSUE (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable Subscription Services
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82
Brian Postlewait Executive Director of Mission Possible (INTERVIEW)
Brian Postlewait Executive Director of Mission Possible (INTERVIEW)
Vancouver Social Enterprise
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81
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Connecting Nonprofits with Professionals
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80
Sarah Chayes, Founder of Arghand Cooperative (INTERVIEW)
Sarah Chayes, Founder of Arghand Cooperative (INTERVIEW)
Afghanistan-Sourced Materials
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79
Stephen King, Founder of SocialBusiness.org (INTERVIEW)
Stephen King, Founder of SocialBusiness.org (INTERVIEW)
A Place to Find Positive Social Change
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78
Lon Wong, Co-Founder of Unstash (INTERVIEW)
Lon Wong, Co-Founder of Unstash (INTERVIEW)
Collaborative Consumption Platform
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77
Karyn Puller, Founder of Delicate Fortress Creations (INTERVIEW)
Karyn Puller, Founder of Delicate Fortress Creations (INTERVIEW)
Fighting Human Trafficking
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76
Nathan Rothstein, Marketing and Sales at Project Repat
Nathan Rothstein, Marketing and Sales at Project Repat
Artisan-Empowering Enterprise
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75
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Shannon Whitehead and Kristin Glenn
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74
Stacey Horowitz, Founder of Shopping for a Change (INTERVIEW)
Stacey Horowitz, Founder of Shopping for a Change (INTERVIEW)
Supporting Global Artisans
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73
Kelli Dunavant and Gaston Javurek, No One Without (INTERVIEW)
Kelli Dunavant and Gaston Javurek, No One Without (INTERVIEW)
For-Purpose Fashion Brand
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72
Amanda Judge, Founder of The Andean Collection (INTERVIEW)
Amanda Judge, Founder of The Andean Collection (INTERVIEW)
Colorful Beads That Empower Women
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71
Dr. Ashton Kaidi, Co-Founder of Marula Beauty (INTERVIEW)
Dr. Ashton Kaidi, Co-Founder of Marula Beauty (INTERVIEW)
A Cosmetic Product with Social Benefits
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70
Sayan Sarkar, CEO of InvigorateNOW (INTERVIEW)
Sayan Sarkar, CEO of InvigorateNOW (INTERVIEW)
Social Business Fighting Preventable Blindness
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69
Joanne Gouaux, Founder and President of Penelope Poet (INTERVIEW)
Joanne Gouaux, Founder and President of Penelope Poet (INTERVIEW)
Socially Responsible Jewelry
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68
Katie Jeanes, Founder of A Little More Good (INTERVIEW)
Katie Jeanes, Founder of A Little More Good (INTERVIEW)
Helping People in Vancouver Give Back
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67
James Murphy, Founder of KereKere (INTERVIEW)
James Murphy, Founder of KereKere (INTERVIEW)
An Aussie Social Enterprise Cafe With Heart
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66
Torkin Wakefield, Co-Founder of BeadforLife (INTERVIEW)
Torkin Wakefield, Co-Founder of BeadforLife (INTERVIEW)
A Fair Trade Non Profit in Uganda
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65
Tony Fitzpatrick, Creator of Little Footsteps (INTERVIEW)
Tony Fitzpatrick, Creator of Little Footsteps (INTERVIEW)
Early Childhood Educational Campaigns
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64
Eric Shumny, Partnership Manager of Sevenly (INTERVIEW)
Eric Shumny, Partnership Manager of Sevenly (INTERVIEW)
A Generosity-Focused Clothing Company
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63
Ann Skydell Harmon, Founder of Ann-Made, LLC (INTERVIEW)
Ann Skydell Harmon, Founder of Ann-Made, LLC (INTERVIEW)
Upcycled Social Cause Jewelry
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62
Tara Rogerson, Director of Social Enterprise at Evergreen Brick Works (INTERVIEW)
Tara Rogerson, Director of Social Enterprise at Evergreen Brick Works (INTERVIEW)
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61
Leslie Beasley, Co-Founder/Managing Director of The Open Arms Shop (INTERVIEW)
Leslie Beasley, Co-Founder/Managing Director of The Open Arms Shop (INTERVIEW)
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60
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Beauty Products That Provide Microloans
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59
Duncan So, Founder of Phinklife (INTERVIEW)
Duncan So, Founder of Phinklife (INTERVIEW)
Non-Profit Building Potential Through Community
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58
Alex Mark, Founder of One Hundred Apparel (INTERVIEW)
Alex Mark, Founder of One Hundred Apparel (INTERVIEW)
100% of Profits go to charity:water
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57
Emily Holdridge, Co-Founder of Everything Happy (INTERVIEW)
Emily Holdridge, Co-Founder of Everything Happy (INTERVIEW)
Kid's One-for-One Blanket Business
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56
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Vegan Shoes
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55
Marc Sachdev, Founder and CFO of Aquavation (INTERVIEW)
Marc Sachdev, Founder and CFO of Aquavation (INTERVIEW)
'Motivation Through Hydration'
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54
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Beautiful, Ethical Fashion from Indian Slums
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53
Jill Doucette, Founder of Synergy Enterprises (INTERVIEW)
Jill Doucette, Founder of Synergy Enterprises (INTERVIEW)
Eco Business Consultant
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52
John Paul de Silva, Founder and Managing Director of Social Focus Consulting (INTERVIEW)
John Paul de Silva, Founder and Managing Director of Social Focus Consulting (INTERVIEW)
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51
Greg Seaman, Founder of Eartheasy (INTERVIEW)
Greg Seaman, Founder of Eartheasy (INTERVIEW)
Family-Run Green Ecommerce Business
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50
Zack Rosenberg, Founder and CEO of DoGoodBuyUs (INTERVIEW)
Zack Rosenberg, Founder and CEO of DoGoodBuyUs (INTERVIEW)
'Marketplace for Social Good/s'
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49
Bianca Bartz, Editor-in-Chief of SocialBusiness.org (INTERVIEW)
Bianca Bartz, Editor-in-Chief of SocialBusiness.org (INTERVIEW)
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48
Dave Goodman, Founder of Collaborative World Brand (INTERVIEW)
Dave Goodman, Founder of Collaborative World Brand (INTERVIEW)
Co-Profit Fashion Business
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47
Tammy Allen, Founder/CEO of Do Good Get Rewards (INTERVIEW)
Tammy Allen, Founder/CEO of Do Good Get Rewards (INTERVIEW)
Platform to Encourage Volunteers
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46
Yahya Fallah, CEO of Equal for All (INTERVIEW)
Yahya Fallah, CEO of Equal for All (INTERVIEW)
Learn More about the Socially Driven Business Model
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45
Connie Duckworth, Founder of ARZU (INTERVIEW)
Connie Duckworth, Founder of ARZU (INTERVIEW)
Offering Employment to Weavers in Afghanistan
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44
Edouard de Broglie, Founder of Dans Le Noir (INTERVIEW)
Edouard de Broglie, Founder of Dans Le Noir (INTERVIEW)
A Restaurant Where You Dine in the Dark
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43
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Microloans Through T-Shirts
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42
Alaina Paradise, Owner of One World Flowers (INTERVIEW)
Alaina Paradise, Owner of One World Flowers (INTERVIEW)
100% Fair Trade Certified
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41
Iman Fadaei, Founder of Ethical Art (INTERVIEW)
Iman Fadaei, Founder of Ethical Art (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Artwork Supporting Education
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40
Katie Harris, Co-Founder and Design Director of The Amazings (INTERVIEW)
Katie Harris, Co-Founder and Design Director of The Amazings (INTERVIEW)
Social Enterprise
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39
Eric Cope, Founder of Smile Squared (INTERVIEW)
Eric Cope, Founder of Smile Squared (INTERVIEW)
One for One Toothbrushes
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38
Mike Radparvar, Co-Founder of Holstee (INTERVIEW)
Mike Radparvar, Co-Founder of Holstee (INTERVIEW)
On Using a Manifesto, Not a Business Plan
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37
Alok Appadurai, Founder of Fed by Threads (INTERVIEW)
Alok Appadurai, Founder of Fed by Threads (INTERVIEW)
Providing Meals to Americans in Need
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36
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Empowering Women Through Employment
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35
Katie Fewings, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Ethical Weddings (INTERVIEW)
Katie Fewings, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Ethical Weddings (INTERVIEW)
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34
Ajay Godhwani, Founder & CEO of Intuary (INTERVIEW)
Ajay Godhwani, Founder & CEO of Intuary (INTERVIEW)
Verbally for iPad
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33
Bridget Hilton, Founder of LSTN Headphones (INTERVIEW)
Bridget Hilton, Founder of LSTN Headphones (INTERVIEW)
Socially Conscious and Eco-friendly
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32
Stephanie David, Founder of PopNod (INTERVIEW)
Stephanie David, Founder of PopNod (INTERVIEW)
Learn More About This Entrepreneur's Journey
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31
Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director of Global Goods Partners (INTERVIEW)
Jennifer Gootman, Executive Director of Global Goods Partners (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Online Store
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30
Stacy McCoy, Co-Founder of Give to Get Jobs
Stacy McCoy, Co-Founder of Give to Get Jobs
Social Enterprise and Nonprofit Job Board
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29
Marc Palmer, CEO of Fashion Hope (INTERVIEW)
Marc Palmer, CEO of Fashion Hope (INTERVIEW)
A Social Business Against Human Trafficking
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28
Matthew Clough, Founder of Stone + Cloth (INTERVIEW)
Matthew Clough, Founder of Stone + Cloth (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Backpack Designer for Tanzania
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27
Alexander Aquino, CEO/President of Barnabas Clothing (INTERVIEW)
Alexander Aquino, CEO/President of Barnabas Clothing (INTERVIEW)
Lifestyle Brand
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26
Omer Khan, Founder of Social Startups (INTERVIEW)
Omer Khan, Founder of Social Startups (INTERVIEW)
A Program for Global Change Makers
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25
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Youth Troopers for Global Awareness and Studio89
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24
Sissy Rooney, Founder of Street Style Surgery (INTERVIEW)
Sissy Rooney, Founder of Street Style Surgery (INTERVIEW)
UK-Based Creative Workshops for Youth
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23
Erik Spalding, Co-Founder of Bullets2Bandages (INTERVIEW)
Erik Spalding, Co-Founder of Bullets2Bandages (INTERVIEW)
Healing Jewelry Made of Real Ammo
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22
Ann Oliver, Founder of XENI Collection (INTERVIEW)
Ann Oliver, Founder of XENI Collection (INTERVIEW)
Couture Fashion for the Physically Disabled
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21
Nikhil Arora, Co-Founder of Back to the Roots (INTERVIEW)
Nikhil Arora, Co-Founder of Back to the Roots (INTERVIEW)
DIY Grow Your Own Organic Mushroom Kits
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20
Todd Masonis, Co-Founder of Dandelion Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Todd Masonis, Co-Founder of Dandelion Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
'Bean-to-Bar' Production
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19
Tim Jahnigen, Co-Inventor of One World Futbol (INTERVIEW)
Tim Jahnigen, Co-Inventor of One World Futbol (INTERVIEW)
Buy One Give One Multi-Sport Balls
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18
Matthew Clough, Founder of Benson Backpacks (INTERVIEW)
Matthew Clough, Founder of Benson Backpacks (INTERVIEW)
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17
Camille van Gestel, Co-Founder and Business Director of WakaWaka (INTERVIEW)
Camille van Gestel, Co-Founder and Business Director of WakaWaka (INTERVIEW)
Safe Light Sources
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16
Cissy Deluca, Co-Founder of Bersatu Designs (INTERVIEW)
Cissy Deluca, Co-Founder of Bersatu Designs (INTERVIEW)
Bali-Inspired Jewelry Social Business
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15
Lily Lapenna, Founder and CEO of MyBnk (INTERVIEW)
Lily Lapenna, Founder and CEO of MyBnk (INTERVIEW)
Financial Education Social Enterprise for Youth
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14
Liz Forkin Bohannon, Founder of Sseko Designs (INTERVIEW)
Liz Forkin Bohannon, Founder of Sseko Designs (INTERVIEW)
Sandals for Tuition in Uganda
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13
Alex Hyssen and Andrew Lenjosek, Co-Founders of Koge Vitamins (INTERVIEW)
Alex Hyssen and Andrew Lenjosek, Co-Founders of Koge Vitamins (INTERVIEW)
Changing the Industry
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12
Nick Foley, Founder of Celebrate the Hero (INTERVIEW)
Nick Foley, Founder of Celebrate the Hero (INTERVIEW)
Anti-Bullying Initiative
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11
Jimmy Ostholm, Founder & CEO of The Porteur Foundation (INTERVIEW)
Jimmy Ostholm, Founder & CEO of The Porteur Foundation (INTERVIEW)
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10
Josie Warden, The Thread Project (INTERVIEW)
Josie Warden, The Thread Project (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable and Ethical Design and Manufacturing
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9
Merete Mueller, Writer & Producer of The Tiny Documentary (INTERVIEW)
Merete Mueller, Writer & Producer of The Tiny Documentary (INTERVIEW)
Small Home Movement
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8
Sharon Schneider, Founder & CEO of Good Karma Clothing for Kids (INTERVIEW)
Sharon Schneider, Founder & CEO of Good Karma Clothing for Kids (INTERVIEW)
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7
Calvin Kwok, Designer of STITCH & LOCKE (INTERVIEW)
Calvin Kwok, Designer of STITCH & LOCKE (INTERVIEW)
How This Vegan Men's Wallet is Standing Out
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6
Brooks Dame, Founder of Proof Eyewear (INTERVIEW)
Brooks Dame, Founder of Proof Eyewear (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable Wood Sunglasses with a Cause
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5
Bridget Hilton and Ben Richardson, Co-Founders of Jack's Soap (INTERVIEW)
Bridget Hilton and Ben Richardson, Co-Founders of Jack's Soap (INTERVIEW)
1 for 1 Soap
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4
Adriana Herrera, Founder and CEO of Fashioning Change (INTERVIEW)
Adriana Herrera, Founder and CEO of Fashioning Change (INTERVIEW)
People- and Profit-Driven Brands
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3
Sam Bruce, Co-founder of Much Better Adventures (INTERVIEW)
Sam Bruce, Co-founder of Much Better Adventures (INTERVIEW)
Planet-Friendly Travel Company
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2
Eric Reynolds, Founder and Executive Director of Inyenyeri (INTERVIEW)
Eric Reynolds, Founder and Executive Director of Inyenyeri (INTERVIEW)
Rwandan Energy Company
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1
Vivien Johnston, Founder and Managing Director of Fifi Bijoux (INTERVIEW)
Vivien Johnston, Founder and Managing Director of Fifi Bijoux (INTERVIEW)
Luxury Ethical Jewelry
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