101 Interviews with Social Entrepreneurs

These Initiatives are Melding Business & Positive Change

— January 31, 2013 — Social Good
This list of interviews with social entrepreneurs is brought to you by SocialBusiness.org, a place to find ideas, people and businesses that are creating positive social change through innovative and novel ideas that meld business principles with a variety of other areas that are typically seen as separate such as philanthropy, charity, human rights, the environment and social justice.

From socially conscious and eco-friendly headphone companies to global maternal health initiatives that are creating and sustaining a marketplace that makes resources more accessible, the projects here have a breadth of people behind them but these interviews with social entrepreneurs get at the inspiration behind one single person. Sometimes it's something typical, say, a yoga cliche, but other times, it's going out in the rain and screaming or something as simple as taking a few deep breaths.
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Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
99
Dwight Chestnut of the Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project (INTERVIEW)
Dwight Chestnut of the Middle Class Financial Empowerment Project (INTERVIEW)
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98
David Robertson, CEO of Talk2One (INTERVIEW)
David Robertson, CEO of Talk2One (INTERVIEW)
Accessible Canadian Communication
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97
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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96
Sam Rye, Community Connector at Bucky Box (INTERVIEW)
Sam Rye, Community Connector at Bucky Box (INTERVIEW)
Social Enterprise Supporting Organic Food
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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
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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93
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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92
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Dave Llorens, CEO of 1BOG (INTERVIEW)
Making Home Solar Affordable
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91
Al Harris, Founder of Blue Ventures (INTERVIEW)
Al Harris, Founder of Blue Ventures (INTERVIEW)
Marine Conservation Organization
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90
Samuel Miller of Bombastic Plastix (INTERVIEW)
Samuel Miller of Bombastic Plastix (INTERVIEW)
Upcycled Goods Made from Balian Plastic Bags
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89
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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88
CharitySub (INTERVIEW)
CharitySub (INTERVIEW)
An Online Platform for Simplified Giving
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87
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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86
Felix Cheung, Founder of DopeHut (INTERVIEW)
Felix Cheung, Founder of DopeHut (INTERVIEW)
Online Store for Socially Aware Streetwear
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85
Peter Cousins, Founder of Brighter Future Workshop
Peter Cousins, Founder of Brighter Future Workshop
Teaching Tech Skills to Disabled Youth
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84
Julie Leach, Member Coordinator of SolarShare (INTERVIEW)
Julie Leach, Member Coordinator of SolarShare (INTERVIEW)
Community Solar Bonds in Canada
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83
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Dana Raviv, Service Officer at Catchafire (INTERVIEW)
Connecting Nonprofits with Professionals
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82
Meg Wirth, CEO of Maternova (INTERVIEW)
Meg Wirth, CEO of Maternova (INTERVIEW)
Linking Doctors & Midwives with Low-Cost Medical Supplies
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81
Sarah Chayes, Founder of Arghand Cooperative (INTERVIEW)
Sarah Chayes, Founder of Arghand Cooperative (INTERVIEW)
Afghanistan-Sourced Materials
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80
Lon Wong, Co-Founder of Unstash (INTERVIEW)
Lon Wong, Co-Founder of Unstash (INTERVIEW)
Collaborative Consumption Platform
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79
Karyn Puller, Founder of Delicate Fortress Creations (INTERVIEW)
Karyn Puller, Founder of Delicate Fortress Creations (INTERVIEW)
Fighting Human Trafficking
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78
Nathan Rothstein, Marketing and Sales at Project Repat
Nathan Rothstein, Marketing and Sales at Project Repat
Artisan-Empowering Enterprise
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77
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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76
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Founders of All of Us Revolution (INTERVIEW)
Shannon Whitehead and Kristin Glenn
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75
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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74
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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73
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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72
Sayan Sarkar, CEO of InvigorateNOW (INTERVIEW)
Sayan Sarkar, CEO of InvigorateNOW (INTERVIEW)
Social Business Fighting Preventable Blindness
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71
Daniel Blake, Co-Founder and CEO of EcoScraps (INTERVIEW)
Daniel Blake, Co-Founder and CEO of EcoScraps (INTERVIEW)
Turning Old Food into Organic Fertilizer
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70
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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69
Emily Hill, Founder of Stop Traffick Fashion (INTERVIEW)
Emily Hill, Founder of Stop Traffick Fashion (INTERVIEW)
Empowering Employment for Women
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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
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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64
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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63
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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62
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Eve Friedman, Founder of Eve Echo (INTERVIEW)
Beauty Products That Provide Microloans
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61
Matt Keller, Founder of 1for1 Water (INTERVIEW)
Matt Keller, Founder of 1for1 Water (INTERVIEW)
For Each Bottle Sold They Give Clean H2O to Haiti
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60
Duncan So, Founder of Phinklife (INTERVIEW)
Duncan So, Founder of Phinklife (INTERVIEW)
Non-Profit Building Potential Through Community
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59
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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58
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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57
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Alicia Lai, Founder of Bourgeois Boheme (INTERVIEW)
Ethical Vegan Shoes
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56
Marc Sachdev, Founder and CFO of Aquavation (INTERVIEW)
Marc Sachdev, Founder and CFO of Aquavation (INTERVIEW)
'Motivation Through Hydration'
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55
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Amanda Fisher, Designer at Bachhara (INTERVIEW)
Beautiful, Ethical Fashion from Indian Slums
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54
Sarah Gross, Founder of Rescue Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Sarah Gross, Founder of Rescue Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
100% of Profits go to Animal Shelters
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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
Dave Goodman, Founder of Collaborative World Brand (INTERVIEW)
Dave Goodman, Founder of Collaborative World Brand (INTERVIEW)
Co-Profit Fashion Business
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48
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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47
Connie Duckworth, Founder of ARZU (INTERVIEW)
Connie Duckworth, Founder of ARZU (INTERVIEW)
Offering Employment to Weavers in Afghanistan
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46
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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45
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Adrien Edwards, Founder of The Naked Hippie (INTERVIEW)
Microloans Through T-Shirts
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44
Alaina Paradise, Owner of One World Flowers (INTERVIEW)
Alaina Paradise, Owner of One World Flowers (INTERVIEW)
100% Fair Trade Certified
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43
Worldstock (INTERVIEW)
Worldstock (INTERVIEW)
In Commemoration of the Passing of World Fair Trade Day
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42
Iman Fadaei, Founder of Ethical Art (INTERVIEW)
Iman Fadaei, Founder of Ethical Art (INTERVIEW)
Fair Trade Artwork Supporting Education
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41
Anna Sidana, Founder of One Million Lights (INTERVIEW)
Anna Sidana, Founder of One Million Lights (INTERVIEW)
Replacing Kerosene Lamps with Solar Ones
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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
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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35
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Kristin Johnson, Co-Founder of Global Mamas
Empowering Women Through Employment
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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
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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31
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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30
Marc Palmer, CEO of Fashion Hope (INTERVIEW)
Marc Palmer, CEO of Fashion Hope (INTERVIEW)
A Social Business Against Human Trafficking
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29
Alli Blum, Director of Marketing (INTERVIEW)
Alli Blum, Director of Marketing (INTERVIEW)
What's New with United By Blue's Partnerships
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28
Alexander Aquino, CEO/President of Barnabas Clothing (INTERVIEW)
Alexander Aquino, CEO/President of Barnabas Clothing (INTERVIEW)
Lifestyle Brand
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27
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Zehra Abbas, Founder of YTGA (INTERVIEW)
Youth Troopers for Global Awareness and Studio89
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26
Judy Logback, Founder of Kallari Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Judy Logback, Founder of Kallari Chocolate (INTERVIEW)
Sweets that Support People and Planet
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25
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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24
Erik Spalding, Co-Founder of Bullets2Bandages (INTERVIEW)
Erik Spalding, Co-Founder of Bullets2Bandages (INTERVIEW)
Healing Jewelry Made of Real Ammo
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23
Ann Oliver, Founder of XENI Collection (INTERVIEW)
Ann Oliver, Founder of XENI Collection (INTERVIEW)
Couture Fashion for the Physically Disabled
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22
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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21
Consuelo McAlister & Anne Pringle, Founders of Local Buttons (INTERVIEW)
Consuelo McAlister & Anne Pringle, Founders of Local Buttons (INTERVIEW)
Fashion Social Enterprise
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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
Nick Foley, Founder of Celebrate the Hero (INTERVIEW)
Nick Foley, Founder of Celebrate the Hero (INTERVIEW)
Anti-Bullying Initiative
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12
Jimmy Ostholm, Founder & CEO of The Porteur Foundation (INTERVIEW)
Jimmy Ostholm, Founder & CEO of The Porteur Foundation (INTERVIEW)
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11
Naomi Hirabayashi, Director of Marketing at Do Something (INTERVIEW)
Naomi Hirabayashi, Director of Marketing at Do Something (INTERVIEW)
Youth-Focused Cause Community
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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
Brooks Dame, Founder of Proof Eyewear (INTERVIEW)
Brooks Dame, Founder of Proof Eyewear (INTERVIEW)
Sustainable Wood Sunglasses with a Cause
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6
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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5
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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4
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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3
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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2
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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1
Shannon Keith, Founder of the International Princess Project (INTERVIEW)
Shannon Keith, Founder of the International Princess Project (INTERVIEW)
Punjammies to End Slavery
<