Seven Podcasts for Entrepreneurs to Explore

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Case Foundation

Everyone loves a good story of innovation, and entrepreneurs tend to have especially fascinating ones. In her best-selling book, Be Fearless, Jean Case uplifts the stories of entrepreneurs and changemakers who used innovation to change the world. She examines the core qualities of great innovators, past and present, and identifies five surprising traits they all have in common. It isn’t wealth, privilege or even genius. In fact, it is that every leader who broke through and brought forward transformational changes made a “Big Bet,” took bold risks, learned from their failures, reached beyond their bubbles and let urgency conquer fear.

However, sometimes hearing—not just reading—stories can be uniquely powerful. So, we asked the Case Foundation team to share some of their favorite stories of entrepreneurship, as told by podcasts. While there are many great stories out there, we compiled a list of episodes that stand out.

We hope these podcasts inspire you on your entrepreneurial journey. And if you’re interested in more content on inclusive entrepreneurship, we regularly share stories of female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color in our weekly newsletter, Breaking Good. Sign up here!

1. GirlBoss Radio, Building a Business Around Sustainability with Sarah Paiji Yoo of Blueland

GirlBoss Radio dives into what it takes to be a successful female founder through conversations with innovative women in business. Whether you are looking for advice on advancing your career, tips for scaling a business, or just a laugh, this podcast has you covered. Hosted by Sophia Amoruso, CEO and founder of Girlboss and Neha Gandhi, editor-in-chief and COO of Girlboss.

In this episode, host Amoruso interviews co-founder and CEO of Blueland, Sarah Paiji Yoo. Blueland is aiming to reduce the amount of single-use plastic in the cleaning product industry by building concentrated cleaning solution tablets that are water activated. Listen to this episode to learn more about the growing market for environmentally sustainable businesses and how entrepreneurs are tackling global problems while making a profit.

2. Being Boss, First Year of Business at Almanac Supply Co

In this podcast, hosts Emily Thompson and Kathleen Shannon examine what it takes to make money doing what you love. The podcast is geared towards full-time founders, those thinking about their first fearless step and anyone looking to learn from entrepreneurs who have turned their passions into a profiting business.

In this episode, host Emily reflects on the one year anniversary of launching her product-based business. She highlights how she dealt with the challenges along the way, made failures from her past business ventures matter, and developed the skills necessary to be CEO. Emily’s firsthand knowledge and Kathleen’s advice offer a useful case study for those wondering about getting a business off the ground.

3. How I Built This, Live Episode! Walker & Company: Tristan Walker

In this podcast from NPR, host Guy Raz profiles entrepreneurs, changemakers, and innovators whose companies are making significant impacts on the world. The episodes examine the evolution of well-known brands and how successful founders turn ideas into movements.

Guy Raz interviews Tristan Walker, an entrepreneur and CEO of Walker & Co., a company that was recently acquired by Procter & Gamble (P&G), in this special live episode. Walker explains how his frustration with the way razors irritate those with curly hair turned into his first business, a subscription shaving system and personal care product line. His company attracted millions of customers and eventually was sold to P&G. Listen to this episode for an inside look at what it takes to build momentum around your business idea. *Bonus: Check out another episode of How I Built This with Case Foundation Chairman Steve Case!

4. How Success Happens, Tech Pioneer Jean Case on How to Change the World With Your Big Idea

How Success Happens features host Robert Tuchman as he converses with successful entrepreneurs in an effort to learn from their stories. Episodes focus on both successes and failures that the entrepreneurs have faced, and how challenges they encounter along the road can ultimately transform into steps towards progress and profit.

In this episode, Jean Case discusses her bestselling book, Be Fearless, dives into the five universal qualities of great innovators, shares tips for startups pitching to investors, as well as how to turn an idea into a life-changing endeavor. This podcast is perfect for anyone looking for a roadmap for their next breakthrough in business.

5. RISE Podcast, Serving Your Community With Your Business with Charis Jones

Hosted by New York Times best-selling author Rachel Hollis, the RISE podcast aims to offer actionable items to listeners for both business and life outside of work. Through conversations with innovative entrepreneurs and personal development experts, RISE will arm you with real-world takeaways that you can implement directly in your own life.

In this episode, Rachel interviews entrepreneur Charis Jones, founder and CEO of Sassy Jones Boutique. Jones discusses how staying connected to a loyal fan base has been crucial for the success of her business, allowing her to scale the boutique into a seven-figure enterprise. If you are looking to start or expand your business, listen to this episode for useful marketing tips that will help you connect to customers.

6. Side Hustle Pro, How To Get Your Niche Brand Into Major Retailers with Aycee Brown

Hosted by Nicaila Matthews Okome, Side Hustle Pro features stories of Black female entrepreneurs who have turned their side hustles into full-blown, successful businesses. Every week, Black female entrepreneurs such as Lisa Price of Carol’s Daughter and Myleik Teele of CurlBox highlight their startup stories and offer advice for burgeoning side hustlers.

In this episode, Nicaila interviews Aycee Brown, Goodnight Darling Co.’s Chief Sleep Officer. Under Brown’s direction, the niche sleep company has created partnerships with luxury boutiques and companies like West Elm to expand their in-store presence and increase the visibility of their brand. Listen to this episode to learn how Brown scaled her business into a trusted authority in the self-care field and for tips on getting your product onto the shelves of major retailers.

7. The Failure Factor, Bluemercury Co-founder and CEO Marla Beck On Failing Her Way To Success

How do successful entrepreneurs respond to failure? The Failure Factor: Stories of Career Perseverance examines how the low points of careers can motivate entrepreneurs to reach highs that they had never dreamed of. Host Megan Bruneau sits down with founders to identify how they were able to leverage their experiences of both success and failure to overcome obstacles and ultimately reach their full potential.

In this episode, Bluemercury co-founder and CEO Marla Beck talks about the severe downturn the company faced early on and how she was able to turn the company around. Spoiler alert: Bluemercury ultimately secured a $210 million acquisition by Macy’s. Beck explains failure in two distinct ways: how she deals with failure herself and how she responds to failure as a manager overseeing staff. This is a great listen for any entrepreneur looking to make failure matter.

Key Takeaways from a Decade of Millennial Research

Posted on July 26, 2019August 21, 2019 by Case Foundation

The release of the Millennial Impact Report: 10 Years Looking Back celebrates over a decade of research the Case Foundation led focused on increasing our understanding of how millennials connect, give and involve themselves with social and political causes. More than ten years ago, millennials were branded as “Generation Q”–a quiet, inactive, insular group that did not engage with social causes and were often considered self-centered, lazy and too concerned with their devices to think about anyone else. Yet, as a parent of millennials and with a staff largely comprised of engaged members of the generation, this stereotype didn’t ring true. Wasn’t this also the generation that brought us game-changing companies like Airbnb, Instagram and Lyft, and helping to power movements like Giving Tuesday? It was clear we needed to take action to search for ways to ensure that this 80 million strong cohort could be motivated to make a positive impact on the world.

With this in mind, we launched the Millennial Impact Project to learn more about this generation and how they thought about doing good. Together with our partners at Achieve, we surveyed more than 150,000 millennials over the decade, generating one of the most robust data sets on millennials to date. The release of today’s report is the culmination of this decade-long focus on millennials and their attitudes toward social change.

We learned a lot. In particular, we found that millennials are thinking, acting and living their lives like no other generation before them, bringing a more holistic approach to using their time and resources to make a difference. They think about making change across a continuum from the purchasing decisions they make at the supermarket to the petitions they support on social media and the social good opportunities they incorporate into their work. And, in a counterpoint to the “Generation Q” stereotype that sparked the Case Foundation’s interest in learning more about this impactful generation, the research shows a commitment to partnerships and working together, with respondents saying they are more likely to donate if a coworker asks, more likely to volunteer if a coworker also is volunteering. Indeed such as in movement-building, they see their actions, even if they are small, having an impact if they are in concert with a larger active group. These changes in behavior and the breaking down of traditional barriers, coupled with the technological tools that are commonplace, requires everyone–from the social sector seeking their donations, to employers who want to attract and retain talent, and companies that count on millennial consumers to purchase their products–to be nimble, curious and constantly open to revising and improving approaches. As I said when we released our 2014 report on millennials in the workplace, “Millennials are in the business of doing good.”

After a decade of research on millennials, it is clear that the generation is not a monolith, with many different groups in different stages of life, coming from wide-ranging of points of view and interests in activism. And it is important to remember that the oldest millennials are now coming up on 40 — a good reminder that the oldest segment of this generation is raising families now, owning homes and building serious careers. One of the key learnings we take away from this work is to be very wary of those who seek to characterize all of the sentiments and intentions of a generation of over 80 million individuals, particularly with the millennial generation, in a few broad statements or phrases. With that in mind, the decade of research the Case Foundation has led provides important insights into how many in the generation view social change and can provide key guidance to those–millennial or not–who want to engage more people in their efforts to make an impact on the world. Here are a few of the key takeaways:

Millennials Believe All Assets are Equal: They believe their time, skills, talent, money, voice, purchasing power and ability to network all have equal value, and they offer them as such. This generation does not prize being a financial donor above being a volunteer or activating their peer network as more valuable than signing a petition. When they are inspired to do something, they see their behavior (no matter what it is) as significant support.
Millennials are Passionate About Issues, Not Institutions: “Millennial donors are not committed to one single organization; they are more committed to a cause,” according to Justin Wheeler, Funraise CEO. “So, their loyalty is to an issue they care about or are passionate about. And whether they give money or volunteer, it’s not necessarily directed at one organization.” More than 90 percent of millennials said they would stop giving to an organization if they began distrusting it. In a reflection of that trust, more than three-fourths would stop giving if they aren’t told how their contributions help.
Millennials are Influenced by Their Peers: This trend has been seen across many years of our millennial research as millennials have consistently reported that they often invite friends to join their volunteer and fundraising efforts and are more likely to engage in a cause if their peers are already participating.
Millennials Support the Greater Good, Not Partisan Politicking: Millennials are both empathetic to the needs of others and discontented with the status quo. They want situations and conditions that are worsening peoples’ lives to be fixed, but they distrust the government to address social ills effectively. In particular, they expressed no trust at all in the government’s ability to address key social issues like poverty (33%), race and culture (32%) and student loans (30%). Millennials are also impatient with bipartisanship and politicking–a major reason they are developing their own ways to inspire and affect public policy change.
Millennials Believe in Activism: While millennials often come to activism from a different starting point, they continue to believe in tools of traditional activism, such as voting, petitions, protests and marches. In 2017, voting topped the list of the most actions taken by millennials and the action they deemed most likely to be influential; 71 percent responded with voting as activism.
Millennials Believe All Actions Matter–Big and Small: Millennials have engaged in causes back and forth across the spectrum–some remain at the micro-level of involvement, some move to leadership roles and many move within the space in between. One significant, unique notion supported by 10 years of research is that millennials acting in small ways individually often create leverage as a large, active group capable of influencing great change.

As you can see, many of our findings show that millennials are not just trying to change the world, they are actually changing the way that social change is made. Some of these changes may make traditional players uneasy and raise questions about effectiveness, but by acting as force multipliers for the world of cause engagement and social good, and by matching their actions with the times, millennials are changing the communities around them. The nonprofits and companies that successfully engage this group and respond effectively to this new way of pushing for social change will ultimately be better positioned to harness the energy and passion of this large generation. We hope that the summary of insights that we have learned over the past decade will help leaders from all generations work together to make a real impact. You can read the full report here.

SXSW 2019: The Must Attend Sessions and Events

Posted on February 26, 2019August 21, 2019 by Case Foundation

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, it’s SXSW season. The annual pilgrimage to Austin starts soon with more than 430,000 people from across the globe coming for content, concerts, community and good food. This year, SXSW Conference programming is organized into 25 tracks divided among Interactive, Film, Music and Convergence, presented in a variety of session formats.

This year’s keynote speakers are not to be missed and include Michael Pollan and Tim Ferriss, Emmy Award-winning journalist Maria Shriver, storyteller Brené Brown, investor Arlan Hamilton, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, philanthropist Priscilla Chan, politico Alexandria Ocasio Cortez with Briahna Gray, Vox Media’s Jim Bankoff and Soledad O’Brien, Kara Swisher of Recode, WIRED Editor in Chief Nicholas Thompson, actress and producer Olivia Wilde, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger in a conversation with Kevin Systrom and Josh Constine, musician and creative A$AP Rocky and many more.

Each year, SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people expand their knowledge and foster the opportunity to meet fellow innovators on a mission to change the world. It is THE essential destination for social impact leaders, startup founders, investors, philanthropists and innovators. The Case Foundation team is excited to announce that we will join thousands of movers and shakers to take the stage for four sessions this year:

Be Fearless Book Talk and Signing March 9th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center, Room 9ABC

Our CEO Jean Case will take the stage for a Be Fearless book talk and signing, moderated by journalist Soledad O’Brien. Hear her share a mix of storytelling and strategy, practical tips and inspiration to teach you how to put these five principles to work so to spark the sorts of remarkable breakthroughs that can change the world. Copies if the book will be available at the SXSW bookstore. Pick up your copy of Be Fearless and bring it with you!

Be Fearless: A Discussion with Jean Case March 9th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Upstairs at Parkside

Join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and our CEO, Jean Case, for a discussion on all things Be Fearless. Jean Case will bring to life the principles at the center of Be Fearless, which aims to break the myths surrounding the road to success and changing the world. Following Jean’s talk, we’ll hear from an impressive group of women about their fearless endeavors along their professional and personal journeys.

How to Tell Your Startup Story March 12th from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon D

Jade Floyd (that’s me!) will moderate a session on How to Tell Your Startup Story featuring Veronica Dagher of the Wall Street Journal, Jean Ellen Cowgill from Bloomberg’s TicToc and Catherine Clifford from CNBC. Attendees will learn their tips for founders seeking to break their next big story, what makes an effective and compelling pitch, how to build relationships with reporters and how to make your company stand out. At the session’s conclusion, we will invite attendees to share their pitches with the journalists for feedback in real time (one-minute pitch each).

The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx March 12th from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon E

My colleague Jessica Zetzman will moderate a conversation exploring programs supporting Latinx entrepreneurs, what tips they have for recruiting investment and how together we can foster more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystems. Speakers include Dyan Gibbens of Trumbull Unmanned, Marcos Gonzalez from Vamos Ventures and C’Pher Gresham from Seed Spot.

In addition to sessions, attendees can experience an endless number of houses and activations like the #WeDC House (led by the D.C. Economic Partnership), the Jane Club House, the Bumble House, the Google Lab, Capital Factory’s VIP Lounge, the Global Innovation Zone hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation, the Girls Lounge (The Female Quotient), Startup of the Year House, Fast Company Grill and Create & Cultivate. Also, Generation Titans, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Google, Envolve Entrepreneurship, and the Soze Agency will launch the inaugural Titan Generator at Google Austin offices.

And per usual, when in Austin, one must eat–and eat well. In addition to the hundreds of SXSW sessions and parties, you’ll find top-notch Texas restaurants and food trucks to keep you busy. Our team of former Texans here at the Case Foundation recommends a new set of restaurants to check out this year: Darcy’s Donkey, Carpenters Hall, Dean’s One Trick Pony, Domo Alley-Gato and old timers like Holy Roller, Franklin Barbecue, Kerlin BBQ, El Naranjo, Tamale House East, Launderette, La Barbeque, Le Politque, Emmer & Rye, Tiger Fork and Hula Hut. For those looking for a memorable sunset and a scenic drive, try the Oasis on Lake Travis.

But when it does come to sessions, we at the Case Foundation have done our homework so you don’t have to. We researched every single session at SXSW this year and have detailed over 30 that should be on your radar:

March 8th

How Washington DC is Changing Female Funding, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Join speakers Jennifer Abramson of Rethink Impact, Shelly Bell of Black Girl Ventures, Vanessa Dawson of The Vinetta Project and Brian Kenner from the Office of the Deputy Mayor for a conversation on why Washington, D.C. is the capital of inclusive innovation.

Non-Obvious Trends Changing The Future In 2019, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Austin Convention Center

Start your SXSW right by joining this exclusive session filled with highlights from the all new ninth edition of the WSJ bestselling book Non-Obvious, where non-boring trend curator Rohit Bhargava will offer an inside look at some of the latest trends from his popular annual report.

Propelling the Next Gen of Creative Entrepreneurs, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Join industry experts from Barney’s, Etsy, Demestik and Poshmark for an inside look at how online marketplaces have allowed entrepreneurs to find success on their own terms, regardless of gender, age or education.

Equitable Growth Ecosystems for Entrepreneurs, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Explore how we can tackle the funding gap and ensure that future minority and women entrepreneurs don’t face the same funding challenges.

So You Want to be a Change Agent: A Survival Guide, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., JW Marriott

This presentation by a veteran change agent who brought meaningful change to CIA will give you the practical skills to not just overcome organizational obstacles, but to prosper and succeed as a change agent.

Breaking Barriers: Lessons on Diversity in Tech presented by Capital One, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Antone’s Capital One House

Code 2040 and Capital One team up for a conversation with organizational leaders and change agents about empowering diversity champions across the tech industry and increasing representation of Black and Latinx technologists.

Meaningful Conversations with Maria Shriver Podcast, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., JW Marriott

Building on the success of her instant No. 1 NY Times-bestselling book, I’ve Been Thinking…: Reflections, Prayers and Meditations for a Meaningful Life, Maria Shriver continues to explore the life topics, issues and ideas that we’re all thinking about.

PitchTexas Party, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., HandleBar

Grab a cocktail at PitchTexas, the startup pitch competition for university graduate students, with a total of $50,000 in prize money. Immediately following the contest, UT president Gregory L. Fenves invites you to celebrate UT at SXSW with the contestants.

March 10th

Leading Women: Who Run the World? Girls. presented by Amplify Philly, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Pour Choices

This talk explores what a disrupter looks like. Hear stories from female changemakers of finance, healthcare, communications and entertainment to unpack the essential ingredients, challenges, and exhilaration of innovation and learn how gender plays into being a disruptor. Panel includes representatives from Vanguard Innovation Studio, Comcast, Jefferson Health and Chariot Solutions.

Womanhood, Motherhood, and Entrepreneurship, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Gender bias and business has been intertwined in a problematic way. Through real life accounts of gender bias (magnified for mothers and women of color), this innovating panel paints womanhood and motherhood not as a hindrance to entrepreneurship, but as essential to creating a healthier, wealthier and more equitable world. This panel includes individuals from Happy Woman Foundation, Marigold Capital and Gell.

Startup Cities: Puerto Rico, 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This session will explore how Puerto Rico’s business environment is a combination of tax incentives, public policy, support organizations, human capital and infrastructure with a modern Caribbean lifestyle. With the support of local entrepreneurship programs, an international startup accelerator, and a non-profit created to promote innovation in the island, Puerto Rico is becoming a startup city with hundreds of ideas advancing to become globally focused companies. The island’s entrepreneurial spirit has attracted international startups, investors and service providers to view Puerto Rico as an innovation hub. Marie Custodio from Parallel 18 will present.

Black Tech Meet Up, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairmont

This meet up will connect black tech founders, entrepreneurs, investors, professionals and those interested in breaking into the tech space. This event aims to connect companies with diverse talent and start-ups with investors. Avant-Garde Network and Heartspace NYC host.

March 11

All the Startup Ladies: Reimagining the VC Scene, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

The panelists will discuss how they have moved beyond the statistics, and propose practical solutions, debating how to leverage women’s unique traits as founders, funders and customers to create a parallel investment ecosystem. Panelists include Daina Trout of Health-Ade Kombucha, Tosca Musk of Passionflix Inc, Maxine Kozler Koven of LDR Ventures and Sarah Chambliss of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLC.

Startup Journey as Told By Black and Latinx Women, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

ProjectDiane 2018, a report by Case Foundation grantee digitalundivided, revealed that Black women raised only .0006% of the total $424.7 billion of tech venture funding since 2009. The amount for Latinx women is even smaller. Join this panel of Black & Latinx startup founders as they have a candid conversation about the journey through entrepreneurship, from incubators, to pivots, setbacks and first rounds of funding. Panelists include digitalundivided graduates from The Labz, Vamos Ladies, Quirktastic Media and Sola Travelers.

Supporting Youth in Entrepreneurship, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

A recent study stated that 95% of Fortune 500 CEOs are white males. By supporting youth innovation, we can change that statistic. Hear from Gen Z entrepreneurs on why a breeding ground for youth entrepreneurial involvement is critical to shifting the narrative for minorities in corporate culture. These youth will discuss innovative instruments which can be used to challenge inequalities perpetuated by institutionalized forms of bias. Panelists are students at University of Pennsylvania and have created their own companies, including ToxSafe, Threading Twine, ELEVATE Senior and SOAR (Students for Oncological Aid and Relief).

Startup-Corporate Partnerships Key To Austin Innovation, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

According to Boston Consulting Group, 95% of startups wish to develop long-term corporate partnerships. Panelists will discuss how Austin-area companies are approaching innovation differently, what startup-corporate partnerships mean today and how both startups and corporations can find the right fit. Speakers are from Dell, Kilroy Blockchain, Oracle and Bunker Labs.

Remote Entrepreneurship in the Digital World, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., JW Marriott

Session leaders will speak to the learnings, opportunities, and challenges of becoming location independent. Exploring such topics as what it’s like to run a fully distributed team, how life on the road increase productivity, efficiency and communication, as well as all the different ways remote entrepreneurship is changing the way we live and work. Panelists include speakers from Maverick Investor Group, Gallaher Edge, TJR Films & To The Nines Menswear, and Vitaly Design Ltd.

Influencing the Cause Meet Up, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Fairmont

This is a networking session to introduce influencers to digital communicators, strategists, and managers who can potentially collaborate to work on social good issues, causes, and projects. This meet up with Women in Digital and Black Bloggers Connect will discuss the best practices when working on joint projects.

Austin Technopreneurs Changing The World, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Austin is well known for its burgeoning technopreneur scene which got its start with Dell Technologies, built out of a UT dorm room back in the 80s. But local entrepreneurs are going a step further building businesses with a core focus on transforming lives with technology. Come hear from Austin’s own DivInc, along with Dell Technologies, Tiffs Treats and Cuvee Coffee to see how they weave a social mission into the fabric of their business.

Startups, Partnerships, Trends and Google, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Google is know for creating various opportunities for startups to partner and work with- beyond typical funding. Opportunities range from support/assistance on core products to custom partnerships. This session will uncover how Silicon Valley tech companies assess and review the trends driving these partnerships. Panelists include representatives from Google, Anchor and Overtime.

How Diversity Became our Implicit Bias, 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., Fairmont

Dailey is one example of a company that went through an administrative shift that changed how employees looked at their deeply-rooted company culture. From the nuts-and-bolts of pay equity audits to socially conscious creative projects, join Dailey’s leadership for a panel discussion about how diverse leadership can create a space in which all kinds of people thrive.

Angel Investor Meet Up, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Fairmont

Are you an angel investor or considering becoming one? Join representatives from Angel Capital Association (ACA) and Alliance of Texas Angel Networks (ATAN) for a conversation about the topics impacting angel investing today. If you’re newer to angel investing, angel groups are a great avenue to build your understanding and confidence as an investor. Join your peers to discuss these topics, make connections, and exchange ideas about the future of angel investing.

A Black and White Perspective on Entrepreneurship, 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

In this interview-style session, Ikechi Nwabuisi, an entrepreneur and son of Nigerian immigrants, will interview Jason Ford, a founder who sold his business in 2014 to Bazaarvoice. Ikechi and Jason bring an insider perspective to the crossroads of entrepreneurship and diversity, highlighting different levels of access and resources that shape their experiences.

March 12th

Cultivating Entrepreneurship in Challenging Places, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

As new tools and technologies enable startup ecosystems around the world, entrepreneurs in these communities are starting to plug themselves into global markets. This panel will draw from their experiences in fostering new ecosystems in Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Latin America to illuminate promising solutions to these challenges. Join this session which including Affinis Labs, Pomona Impact, Samasource and Invest2innovate.

Return on Inclusion: Generations of Women at Work, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This panel of professionals in their 30s, 40s, and 60s will take a generational approach to questions around women in the workplace as they explore the value of gender diversity, why empowering women matters, and how each generation is uniquely suited to effect change. Panelists include women from T3, Women Rising, Facebook and Spredfast.

Welcome to the New Era of Philanthropy, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., The LINE

The field of philanthropy is undergoing a transformation, as new models of giving are empowering more women and communities of color to lead through giving. Case in point: in #GivingTuesday 2017, 65% of all donations came from women. This panel will explore who these new philanthropists are, what motivates them and how they are new models for helping to democratize philanthropy. Join experts from the Women’s Philanthropy Institute, Facebook and the YWCA as they share new research, digital data and real-world insights.

VCs Reality Check for AI Hype, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

Is AI everything? This panel will discuss the types of AI startups VCs look to fund, showing investment dollars are shifting away from unproven futuristic ideas and toward more pragmatic, foundational AI infrastructure. Panelists from Blumberg Capital, Venture Capital Journal, New Enterprise Associates Inc and Verizon Ventures will also discuss the specifics they look for when assessing an AI company in the pitch room.

March 13th

A Blueprint for Corporate Innovation & Inclusion, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

For 132 years, HearstLab has survived within the media sphere, but modern challenges are pressing old companies to evolve rapidly. This presentation will share an insider’s look at Hearst’s blueprint on how they successfully select and integrate startups into their diverse organization. HearstLab goes well beyond the typical accelerator model and puts clear emphasis on the positive impact it has on all constituents including startup founders, Hearst executive leaders and all Hearst employees, and how the Lab has helped identify rising talent, encourage collaboration and create new businesses.

Diversity in Tech and the Future of Black Communities, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Hilton Austin Downtown

This session convenes some of the country’s most forward-thinking scholars to discuss how the lack of diversity throughout the tech ecosystem will impact social equality, employment, prosperity and the future of Black communities. Panelists include individuals from the Inclusion Clearinghouse, The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Kapor Center for Social Impact and Quality Education for Minorities Network

What other sessions are on your radar? Share them with us on on social media @CaseFoundation. We hope to see you at SXSW!

Five Be Fearless Principles for Entrepreneurs

Posted on December 11, 2018August 21, 2019 by Case Foundation

Six years ago, when we started studying the “secret sauce” of those who have created transformational, breakthrough advances in society, we found five surprising common traits. They weren’t wealth, privilege or even genius. It was that they–no matter their time in history, their gender or where they were born–chose to make a “big bet,” take bold risks, learn from their failures, reach beyond their bubbles and let urgency conquer fear. The results became what is now known as the Five Be Fearless Principles and these are the focus of the book Be Fearless: 5 Principles for Breakthroughs and Purpose that will be coming out in January.

I love getting to share the Be Fearless principles with different audiences across the globe comprised of those who are striving to create change or have a big bet they’ve dreamed about but haven’t yet taken the first step. People are often surprised when I share these findings and are excited by the tangible and attainable nature of them—they’re applicable to everyone, no matter their skills, talents or background. While the principles create the framework for the book, they are brought to life around a wide variety of stories of innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers who come from all walks of life who made big bets, learned from failures along the way and took bold risks to make transformational changes.

At the Case Foundation, we recognize that entrepreneurs are often innovative creators, risk takers and problem solvers working to transform industries, products and the world we live in. And yet, entrepreneurs routinely tell us they have found the principles helpful in their own fearless journey, and have been inspired by the stories of others who have overcome fear, moved past failure and turned a really big bet into a breakthrough. Commenting on the role of these principles for entrepreneurs, Tory Burch said: “Starting a business is not easy, but Be Fearless gives entrepreneurs the tools they need to embark—fearlessly—on their own journey.”

And it is clear that we need fearless entrepreneurs now more than ever. So, whether you are just getting started or are farther along on your entrepreneurial journey, I hope you will apply these principles and set your sights high by checking your approaches against the Be Fearless framework:

Make Big Bets and Make History. By nature, almost all entrepreneurs are making bets at some point—including starting a business from scratch or hitting a new ambitious milestone. But to truly breakthrough to something bigger, it requires setting audacious goals. Making big bets and fearlessly going after them is the only way to reshape our world for the better.

Be Bold, Take Risks. Don’t be afraid to experiment or to go first! An entrepreneur who is working hard to build a business can sometimes lose sight of the need for constant risk taking to advance a business to the next level. Whether starting or trying to grow a new business, entrepreneurs would do well to approach risk taking as R&D, applying a proven approach that recognizes the importance of trial and error in bold pursuit of a transformative idea.

Make Failure Matter by using errors or failures along the way to teach you something new by embracing the perspective of Thomas Edison, who famously said, “I haven’t failed. I’ve just found 10,000 things that won’t work.” Making failure matter means staring down both the failure and the fears that accompany it, and applying the lessons as you move forward.

Reach Beyond Your Bubble by identifying the skills and perspectives that aren’t represented on your team or among those contributing valuable advice to you as you take forward your big bet. A study by the Boston Consulting Group released earlier this year found that companies with more diverse management teams had revenue streams that were 19% higher than those lacking. Why? Different views can eliminate blind spots and help lead to more and better innovation.

Let Urgency Conquer Fear by using it as a powerful motivator to seize the moment.

No matter where you are on your own fearless entrepreneurial journey, these principles can be applied to help you breakthrough.

And, by the way, if you need a little help along the way, #FacesofFounders is a great place to start. Our Resources for Entrepreneurs page highlights resources and tools that can be used to help you in mentorship, research, business plans, forming your company, funding and finding networks or events. Entrepreneurs don’t have to go it alone.

The Case Foundation believes that ordinary people can do extraordinary things. You’ll find countless examples of this in my upcoming book, Be Fearless: 5 Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose. Really big problems require really big solutions, and fearless entrepreneurs can help us pave the way to these big ideas and new approaches. As celebrated entrepreneur and founder of Nike, Phil Knight advises: “Dream audaciously. Have the courage to fail forward. Act with urgency.”

Put simply, it’s time to Be Fearless.

The Next Phase of Be Fearless: The Book

Posted on September 20, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

It’s an exciting day at the Case Foundation! Today Simon & Schuster announced the upcoming publication of Be Fearless: Five Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose, a book I’ve written to inform and inspire everyone who wants to a make a difference in their work, their community and in their lives. The book will be released January 8, 2019 and available for presale today.

It wasn’t long ago that we at the Case Foundation engaged a team of experts to determine the “secret sauce” that propelled those rare individuals, organizations, and movements to breakthrough and achieve extraordinary impact. What we discovered would become known as the Be Fearless principles—five principles that are consistently present when transformational breakthroughs take place—across sectors and across the world. With a mix of storytelling and strategy, practical tips and lessons, this book makes clear that fearlessness is not the lack of fear, but rather the strength and courage to overcome it.

When we first introduced the research, we engaged hundreds of partners to help us spread the word, including many of you, and we have remained committed to encouraging changemakers everywhere to Be Fearless in their endeavors to make the world a better place. Since the founding of the Case Foundation, I’ve had the privilege of engaging with thousands of individuals and organizations across the world who are making big bets, taking risks, applying lessons of failure, building unlikely partnerships, and letting urgency conquer fear. The people and stories I have witnessed have greatly inspired our work, and now I am excited to share some of them with the world. In addition, this book reaches back to other stories from leaders and changemakers over the last hundred years that demonstrate the power of the Be Fearless principles at work. This book even includes your stories! Through Finding Fearless, people across the world wrote in and shared their stories of fearlessness, both their own and the stories they admire. You’ll find some of their stories throughout the chapters. It is truly my hope that you’ll find inspiration as you learn about ordinary people who ended up doing extraordinary things.

Be Fearless is deeply personal for me too. In it, I share my own Be Fearless journey—highlighting those moments that have transformed my life and my work, including some of my own big bets, risks I took, and yes, my own failures.

We know many of you have worked hand-in-hand with us on Be Fearless before, and we hope that you will continue to embrace these principles and help spread the word to a larger audience—working alongside us to build a fearless movement of changemakers who will boldly work to change the world. If you’d like to work together with us in this mission, here’s how you can help:

Pre-order your copy of Be Fearless today for yourself or someone you know;
Identify ways to work Be Fearless into an upcoming event and reach out to BeFearlessBook@CaseFoundation.org so we can be of assistance with your planning;
Help us spread the word about the Be Fearless message. Sign up to receive emails on how you can become part of our Be Fearless community, with updates and resources to keep you inspired.

It is with immense gratitude to our partners and larger Be Fearless community, as well as all of those whose stories have inspired us, that we bring this book to life in 2019. When we set out to share the Be Fearless principles in 2012, we could not have imagined the incredible outpouring of support and engagement in this work. We are grateful that you have taken this journey with us so far, and are excited to take this next step.

Together, we can change the world.

…

Be Fearless: Five Principles for a Life of Breakthroughs and Purpose will hit shelves at a bookstore near you on January 8, 2019. In the meantime, learn more by visiting the book website, watching inspiring stories on our Be Fearless Facebook Show, or downloading resources on the Be Fearless Hub. All proceeds will be driven back into the Case Foundation’s core work: Investing in People and Ideas That Can Change the World.

SXSW 2019 PanelPicker—Cast Your Vote by August 30!

Posted on August 13, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

Each year, we enjoy getting together with innovators and changemakers at South by Southwest (SXSW) to discuss important and compelling work and share some of our learnings on the SXSW Interactive stage. Last March, members of the Case Foundation team lead four panel discussions with incredible experts about developments in areas such as diversity in entrepreneurship, making movements through user generated content and business journalism. Each provided us with insights and inspiration we have tapped since to inform our ongoing work.

This year, we’ve identified 12 panels to recommend for the 2019 SXSW stage that could bring together engaging panelists and leaders who will bring to life timely topics such as the role fearlessness plays in the work of leaders from all walks of life, what the future of Latinx entrepreneurship looks like, how startups can get their story out, the importance of young voices in our society and at the voting booth and opportunities for organizations to harness the power of data, analytics and open source to increase their impact.

We believe that these will be a valuable addition to the important dialogue that will take place in Austin at SXSW 2019—and we need your help getting these discussions the time they deserve on stage! Below you’ll find information on each panel and how you can vote for them. While casting your vote, don’t forget to spread the word with the social messages below and encourage your friends and networks to vote as well.

See our panels below and be sure to vote before SXSW PanelPicker voting ends August 30th!

Fearless Changemakers Tell All

What does it mean to be fearless? It means experimenting, taking risks, being willing to strike unlikely alliances and accepting the possibility of failure while still pressing forward. Meet the fearless changemakers setting audacious goals and acting urgently and boldly. Jean Case of the Case Foundation sits down with three leaders who explore the extraordinary core qualities of great changemakers and find out how being fearless helped them succeed. They’ll share their stories and strategies to inspire attendees to fearlessly tackle the world’s most pressing issues.

Speakers

Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
Enric Sala, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society
Jordyn Schara, Founder and Executive Director, HOPE (Helping Our Peers Excel)
Loretta Claiborne, Vice Chair and Chief Inspiration Officer, Special Olympics

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How to Tell Your Startup Story

Take a deep dive during this interactive session featuring leading journalists covering startups, venture capital and technology. Seasoned journalists will be moderated in a discussion by the Case Foundation. You’ll learn their tips for founders seeking to break their next big story, what makes an effective and compelling pitch, how to build relationships with reporters and how to make your company stand out. At the session’s conclusion, we will invite attendees to share their pitches with the journalists for feedback in real time. Please come to this session with your media pitch in hand.

Speakers

Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation
Veronica Dagher, Host, WSJ Secrets of Wealthy Women podcast; senior wealth management reporter, Wall Street Journal
Emily Chang, San Francisco-based anchor and executive producer of “Bloomberg Technology”

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The Fearless Story Behind José Andrés’ Success

What does it mean to be fearless? It means experimenting, taking risks, being willing to strike unlikely alliances and accepting the possibility of failure while still pressing forward. Meet the fearless changemakers setting audacious goals and acting urgently and boldly. Jean Case of the Case Foundation sits down with chef José Andrés as they explore the core qualities of great changemakers and find out how being fearless led to his success. They’ll share their stories and strategies to inspire attendees to fearlessly tackle the world’s most pressing issues.

Speakers

Jean Case, CEO, The Case Foundation
Jose Andres, Founder, World Central Kitchen

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Listen Up! Young American Voices Matter

Marches. Protests. Tweets. Votes. These are just a few of the many ways that young Americans made their voices heard in 2018. With fearless passions and the drive to create meaningful change, they brought a national spotlight to the issues they care about. Now, it’s your turn. Join our workshop, share your story and learn how to elevate your voice from some of today’s most innovative young activists and organizers.

Speakers

Sean Tennerson, Director, Social Innovation, the Case Foundation
Amanda Nguyen, CEO and Founder, Rise
Derrick Feldman, Managing Director, Influence SG

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Facebook Watch—a New Tool for Social Movements

At the end of 2017, Facebook rolled out a new feature: a platform to stream shows. Facebook Watch has become a key tool for organizations to tell their stories and bring big issues to light in a new way while reaching a broader audience—with some even going as far as to call it “the new Netflix.” What are the benefits of this new platform and how might it work for your organization? The Case Foundation, ATTN and The Influencer Collective share how organizations with a variety of resources and needs can make Facebook Watch work for them. Together they bring knowledge from working on shows with a wide range of budgets, production levels and audience sizes and will bring high level takeaways on how to get started, evaluate show needs, build a story arc and analyze success.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, The Case Foundation
Clare Stein, Creative Director, ATTN:
Jennifer Sherman, Founder and Chief Strategist, Influencer Collective

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Making Data and Analytics Work for Your Brand

Data-informed decision making is only as good as an organization’s understanding of the data on hand. Faced with that challenge at the Case Foundation, the team responsible for digital analytics and reporting set out to construct a dashboard that directly and efficiently compiled key data from multiple websites in one place. Using this tool, project and program leaders can see real time performance using key filters like top blog authors, page views, time on page, new users, downloads, top performing pages and posts and email campaign performance. Hear from the team that designed this tool and learn how the organization uses it, their efforts to adapt their work to best fit what the data indicates, and how attendees can launch their own version of the dashboard for free.

Speakers

Jessica Zetzman, Senior Director, Marketing and Communications, Case Foundation
John Jones, VP Interactive Strategies, Case Foundation

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How B Corps Are Leading Open Source

In a time when trust in technology is in question, B Corps are finding a way to deliver innovative technology to their customers without sacrificing trust: through open source. By doing so, these companies are not only establishing a stronger level of trust but also democratizing technology for many. Hear from open source leaders, Zach Burke of Exygy, Jason Wilkinson of Firespring, and John Jones of the Case Foundation in a panel moderated by the Case Foundation’s Jade Floyd.

Speakers

John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, the Case Foundation
Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation
Jason Wilkinson, Chief Technology Officer, Firespring
Zach Berke, Founder and Managing Partner, Exygy

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The Overlooked Future of US Entrepreneurs: Latinx

The Latinx community accounts for more than half of the population growth in the US, but Latinx founders represent less than 2% of venture-backed companies. Hear from Latinx entrepreneurs and the investors who back them to understand who they are, what they’re building and why they’re going to make you money. Attendees will learn what funds and resources are available for Latinx entrepreneurs and how you can support more inclusive startup ecosystems.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Dyan Gibbens, CEO, Trumbull Unmanned
C’pher Gresham, VP of Communities, SEED SPOT
Marcos Gonzalez, Managing Partner, VamosVentures

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Social Impact Meet Up

Join the Case Foundation, Kapor Center for Social Impact and Sunshine Sachs as we unite social sector leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropy practitioners for a SXSW Meet Up. Connect with fellow changemakers and share new ideas, collaborate and ideate on how you can create meaningful change together. We invite everyone in the social sector—from foundation staff to philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, social entrepreneurs and social impact businesses to gather. Meet those like you who are changing the world.

Speakers

Jade Floyd, Vice President of Communications, the Case Foundation

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Is Texas the Silicon Valley 2.0?

Venture capital investments may be focused on the coasts, but some of the largest and most successful companies have been started in middle America in cities like Houston, Dallas and Austin. Learn from the entrepreneurs, investors and supporters who have created bustling startup ecosystems across Texas. Find out what kind of partnerships and resources your city may already have to lead the way for startup growth in your community.

Speakers

Sarah Koch, VP, Social Innovation, Case Foundation
Naji Kelley, Founder & CEO, BLNDED Media
Saleha Khumawala, Professor – Robert Grinaker Professor of Accounting and Founding Director, SURE Program, University of Houston

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Philanthropy’s New Role In Open Source

As technology continues to define shifts in society, it is essential that the social sector has access to the best technology. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Case Foundation see a future in this as leaders in creating useful, open source tools for entire sectors to use that open doors for changemakers to unlock innovation, better achieve their missions, and ultimately, change the world. Hear from the Case Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and GitHub on how that’s starting to happen.

Speaker

John Jones, Vice President of Interactive Strategies, the Case Foundation
Kosta Peric, Deputy Director, Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Admas Kanyagia, Senior Director of Social Impact, GitHub

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With your support, we hope we’ll get to take the stage next March in Austin and share our work and insights on these exciting movements. To catch up on our presence at SXSW in 2018, check out our Twitter moments which featured live updates from each of our panels, and watch these video interviews with some of the founders, funders and ecosystem builders in attendance who shared their exciting work with us. We loved getting to make a splash at SXSW this past spring and get wait to get the chance to do it again!

A Clarion Call to #BeFearless

Posted on July 23, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

As summer is in full swing, it’s easy to put graduation season behind us. But as students across the nation now prepare for the next step in their life journeys—many of them with a passion to turn their idealism into action to create a better world—they have a timeless treasure trove of advice heard across campuses and across the country from esteemed leaders whose wisdom could be summed up in two worlds: Be Fearless. Indeed, the messages in the commencement addresses in 2018 can be a clarion call to ANYONE who wants to make a difference in this world, no matter age or stage. Here are some highlights:

Tim Cook at Duke University

Apple CEO Tim Cook challenged Duke University graduates to Be Fearless saying:

Fearlessness means taking the first step, even if you don’t know where it will take you. It means being driven by a higher purpose, rather than by applause. It means knowing that you reveal your character when you stand apart, more than when you stand with the crowd. If you step up, without fear of failure… if you talk and listen to each other, without fear of rejection… if you act with decency and kindness, even when no one is looking, even if it seems small or inconsequential, trust me, the rest will fall into place. More importantly, you’ll be able to tackle the big things when they come your way. It’s in those truly trying moments that the fearless inspire us. Fearless like the students of Parkland, Florida—who refuse to be silent about the epidemic of gun violence, and have rallied millions to their cause. Fearless like the women who say “me, too” and “time’s up”… women who cast light into dark places, and move us toward a more just and equal future. Fearless like those who fight for the rights of immigrants… who understand that our only hopeful future is one that embraces all who want to contribute. Duke graduates, be fearless.

Cook inspired the graduates to stand strong against challenges and stay fearless in their fight for justice, equality and a better world. He ended his speech with fearless words of wisdom from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: “The time is always right to do right.”

Abby Wambach at Barnard College

Soccer star and activist Amy Wambach gave a widely heralded speech to Barnard College graduates calling on them to make “make failure [their] fuel,” highlighting her own struggles and the struggles of many women coming up against the wage gap—and her vision of overcoming it.

It is well worth watching as Wambach used the Little Red Riding Hood story to weave in a metaphor for fearlessness, urging the women at Barnard to challenge expectations, to fight the “archaic ways of thinking about women, about people of color,” and to seek leadership positions so they could make a greater impact.

Chadwick Boseman at Howard University

When actor Chadwick Boseman spoke at his alma mater, Howard University this year, he spoke candidly about being typecast and asked to play into a racist stereotype for a TV role early in his career. He shared how he stood up to those who were trying to pigeonhole him—a decision that had an immediate impact on his career, yet paved the way for the iconic roles he’s known for today, like Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and T’Challa. And this journey has given him some great insight about overcoming failure:

Sometimes you need to get knocked down to realize what your purpose is.

Boseman punctuated his speech with an important lesson of perseverance, saying:

Sometimes you need to feel the pain and sting of defeat to activate the real passion and purpose that God predestined inside of you.

Jacqueline Novogratz at New York University

Jacqueline Novogratz, the founder and CEO of Acumen, spoke at the New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service 2018 Commencement. She highlighted how in her quest to better the world and philanthropy in her own way, she faced many obstacles where she had to overcome her own fears to persevere.

Novogratz encouraged the graduates to have courage in their own lives. She said,

Remember that each time you practice courage, you gain courage. Think of it is as a muscle you build for when you most need it.

In addition, Novogratz pushed the graduates to become not just professional leaders, but moral leaders, “because we need leaders who care about the world, not just themselves.” In her closing words, she acknowledges the struggle she went through in her endeavors, and invited the graduates to follow. She said,

The work of change is not easy. But you know that already. If you are here, you didn’t sign up for easy.

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah took the stage before the students of the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Oprah focused on the importance of speaking out against hatred and deceit—a truly fearless task facing today’s journalists. She inspired the graduates to be fearless in their endeavors to spread truth, wisdom and justice through journalism, declaring

You will become the new editorial gatekeepers, an ambitious army of truth seekers, who will arm yourselves with the intelligence, the insight, and the facts necessary to strike down deceit.

Speaking to the soon-to-be-journalists, Oprah reminded the graduates of the power they had to give voice to those who otherwise would be without it, encouraging them to use the platforms they have been given to “give voice to people who desperately now need to tell their stories.”

Mindy Kaling

The actress and comedian spoke at Dartmouth’s 2018 Commencement, integrating her funny, lighthearted style with poignant lessons for the recent graduates and calls to be fearless.

She encouraged graduates to go out into the world with fearless confidence.

“You are entering a world which we have toppled like a Jenga tower, and we’re relying on you to rebuild it (…) I’m giving you permission to root for yourself. And while you’re at it, root for those around you too.”

And Kaling called on the graduates to see themselves as change agents:

Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something, but especially not yourself. Go and conquer the world. Just remember this: Why not you? You made it this far.

In short, she reminded them to Be Fearless.

These leaders told different stories and brought different perspectives, yet they all spoke to the 2018 graduates about being fearless, standing up for what’s right and speaking out about what’s wrong—even when a lot is on the line. As students begin to prepare for the start of another school year and we all look to make a difference, I hope their stories inspire you as much as they inspired me to Be Fearless in pursuit of your audacious goals and ideas.

Social Good in April: Stories You Don’t Want to Miss

Posted on April 30, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

April was full of breaking news in social good, so we’re bringing you another edition of “This Month In Social Good,” rounding up our favorite stories from our Breaking Good newsletter so you don’t miss anything.

Of particular note this month, we saw a lot of great stories across the podcast circuit. Case Foundation CEO Jean Case talked to Wall Street Journal Podcasts about the importance of fearlessness in her journey to spark innovation in the social sector, and our VP of Social Innovation, Sarah Koch, was on Silicon Hills News and EU Now to talk about the need to support women in tech and entrepreneurship. We also revisited our roundup of Seven Fearless Founder Podcasts for those of you looking to brighten your daily commute.

April also brought us stories about industry leaders attaining B Corp certification, local communities embracing Impact Investing and female founders and investors coming together to change the face of entrepreneurship.

B Corps in the news

This month, a major player jumped into the world of B Corps: Danone North America. The certification, which makes them the world’s largest certified B Corp, comes just one year after Danone legally registered as a benefit company as part of their acquisition of WhiteWave. The North American entity is the eighth company under the Danone umbrella to be certified. The company has long been a proponent of corporate social responsibility and socially conscious business and the speed with which this large company achieved certification is a signal to other companies with social-impact goals that B Corp certification is attainable no matter their size. As an added bonus, the company worked with B Lab to create a case study of the steps they took throughout the year so other multinationals could learn from Danone’s experience and, hopefully, follow in their footsteps.

In April, we also got to hear firsthand about how Greyston Bakery, another B Corp, is making waves. For 30 years, Greyston Bakery has been focused on a big bet: to hire anyone, regardless of their background, as they bake gourmet brownies and cookies, including many of the brownies you see in Ben & Jerry’s Brownie Ice Cream, at their for-profit bakery located just north of New York City. On our latest episode of Be Fearless, we talked to CEO Mike Brady and the Greyston team about the success open hiring practices has brought for their company and their community and how they’re helping other companies do the same.

Impact Investing making inroads in local communities

From Atlanta to Lancaster to Baltimore, local foundations and governments are testing the waters with Impact Investing and alternative funding structures. At the beginning of the month, the Lancaster County Community Foundation announced that they would invest $500,000 in two local organizations aiming for both a social and financial return. The recipients were a housing and neighborhood revitalization organization and a financial inclusion organization. The investment is part of an ongoing effort from the foundation to leverage new funding mechanisms to support their community.

In Atlanta, the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta made a splash with a $10 million impact investment fund—the first local Impact Investing fund in the city. The fund, named GoATL will be distributed over the next two to three years and focused on five impact areas: arts, community development, education, nonprofit effectiveness and wellbeing.

Atlanta also is trying out innovative investing models with efforts to raise $12.9 million for an environmental impact bond through Neighborly, the municipal bond broker-dealer. The funds will go toward minimizing flooding and improving drainage. Baltimore is following suit with efforts to raise $6 million for an environmental impact bond aimed at reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

Seeing communities across the country take on Impact Investing to tackle local but large-scale challenges is a great reminder of the field’s potential to grow and scale globally as it continues to move to the mainstream.

Female founders and the changing face of entrepreneurship in America

In the world of Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Vanity Fair’s April feature gave us both something to celebrate and something to work on. The magazine teamed up with Kathryn Finney and digitalundivided to feature the 26 Black women who have raised $1 million or more in venture funding. And while these groundbreaking women are truly worth celebrating, this was yet another reminder of the need to support all women of color launching business, many more of whom deserve to join the ranks of this “million dollar club.”

Also on the founder side, we heard the stories of inspiring female founders like Maneesha Mukhi, a social entrepreneur who created an online marketplace called ImmiGo to help individuals and businesses find high quality immigration attorneys. We also heard from GirlCrew cofounder, Aine Mulloy, who took to #FacesofFounders to tell the story of launching a platform to connect women across the globe, while fighting for female representation across industries.

Female investors are taking a stand too. April also heralded the launch of AllRaise, a group of 34 women investors—representing over $1 billion in investable capital—who are committed to helping women entrepreneurs raise money. Recognizing that there’s a robust pipeline of female entrepreneurial talent, the group is committed to increasing the percentage of venture funding going to women while doubling the number of female partners at venture firms.

These stories have inspired us and motivated us to get to work this month and beyond—and we hope they’ve inspired you too. To stay up to date on all things social good sign up for our newsletter, Breaking Good. 

Is there anything we missed this month? Tell us about your favorite social good story you saw in April!

Don’t Put Millennials in a Box

Posted on March 16, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

For the last 10 years, the Case Foundation has studied, supported and celebrated how the Millennial generation engages with social issues and causes. Much has changed over a decade and we’ve learned a lot. When the foundation started this work, we spent a lot of time explaining the relevance of studying the new approaches Millennials were taking to social change, and who they wexre as a population. 10 years later, the Millennial Impact Report—the cornerstone of our decades long work—is the largest body of data and analysis on Millennial cause engagement, with information on how more than 100,000 U.S. Millennials engage with social issues and causes.

cultural generation gap — Source: Brookings Report, The millennial generation: A demographic bridge to America’s diverse future

Through the Millennial Impact Report, we’ve gained a wealth of important knowledge which we’ll be sharing over the next few months. But one of the key elements that we think is central to this work is the deepening of the understanding that the Millennial generation isn’t a monolith. It’s actually the most diverse adult demographic in the U.S. According to the Brookings Institute, the Millennial generation is more than 10 percent less white than all older generations (44.2 percent minority compared with 31.6 percent minority).

Millennials are also far more likely to identify as LGBT than older generations, according to January 2017 findings from Gallup. Specifically, 7.3 percent of adults aged 18 to 36 identified as LGBT, while 3.2 percent of those aged 37 to 51; 2.4 percent of the 52 to 70-year-old respondents; and 1.4 percent of the over 70 respondents identified as LGBT.

Many Millennials are influenced by common experiences, such as the aftermath of 9/11 and coming of age during the Great Recession, yet—unlike the Greatest Generation’s experience with the Depression and then World War II—these society-wide experiences have not had the same impact on the degree of activism and attitudes of everyone in this age group.

In the last year, we dug deeper into the impact that this demographic diversity had on the way Millennials responded to key issues the nation is facing. Once again, we partnered with Achieve to conduct the research, including a nationwide survey of 3,000 Millennials in the summer of 2017. We sought to gauge how Millennials’ perception and actions were changing in light of the new political landscape in the United States, and how demographic diversity impacted their responses to issues that are now in the forefront of national dialogue. Achieve found that demographics matter and influence priorities and engagement, for example:

Race and ethnicity influence Millennials’ top social issues of concern. In aggregate, civil rights, employment and healthcare reform were priorities, ranked in that order. However when you look at the responses broken out by race, priorities vary according to the survey:
- “White/Caucasian: The top three issues of interest among this group turned upside down from the prioritization of the aggregate’s top three issues. Healthcare reform topped their list, followed by employment (job creation) and then civil rights/racial discrimination.
- Spanish/Hispanic/Latino(a): Unlike any other racial/ethnic group, this segment chose immigration as the number one issue of interest. This group identified civil right/racial discrimination as its number cause of most interest.
- Black/African American: This group is in line with the overall sample, identifying civil rights/racial discrimination as the top area of interest, followed by employment (job creation).
- Asian: This is the only group that named climate change as their top area of interest, though it was followed closely by employment (job creation), civil rights/racial discrimination and healthcare reform.
Gender also influences cause engagement and activism, as Achieve’s director of research, Amy Thayer explains in her powerful piece on Millennial women, Millennial Women: Hear them Roar. For example, self-identified women reported lower levels of cause engagement and confidence in their own—and the ability of organizations—to create the change they want to see compared to their male counterparts. (41 percent of women believed strongly in their ability to address social challenges compared with 65 percent of men).
Education influences the methods and frequency of cause-related actions among Millennials with the least educated being most likely to report taking no action and the most highly educated reporting taking a greater number of more diverse actions, including: contacting representatives, participating in marches and joining a nonprofit board.

Politics also matter. The 2017 survey revealed that the majority of Millennials are dissatisfied with the current president and it is a key factor behind their post-election activism. They’re taking actions against policies and practices they don’t support, like the animated response to the 2017 travel ban. But, not all Millennials think the country is going in the wrong direction, and that segment who voted for and continues to support the president, reported the most active cause engagement in 2017. Their support for the president also correlated with different methods for engagement as well as a greater propensity to identify with activist labels, compared with non-Trump supporters.

In short, by trying to label Millennials with a broad brush—whether it is slacker or activist, engaged or apathetic—misses the essential nature of the generation. At its core, the Millennial generation is diverse and their opinions and insights and perspectives reflect that diversity of background, experience and lifestyle.

Why the details are important and how they impact you, whether you are a Millennial or not

In our 10 years of sharing research on how to engage with the Millennial generation as social changemakers, we’ve had a front row seat to witness a rise in the Millennial voice about the issues they care about and the way they perceive their power to create change. We’ve all seen how that voice is influencing greater social responsibility in corporate practices and modernizing nonprofit outreach. Now, the latest Millennial Impact research from Achieve identifies the important nuances between specific segments of the Millennial population.

This research shows the issues that matter to one group of Millennials don’t necessarily matter to everyone; therefore, to communicate effectively and activate Millennials, it’s essential to dig in beyond just their age-group. According to the findings, if you want to connect with Millennials on causes and engage with them, it matters where they live, their education level, their gender, their race and even their opinion about the president. Not only do the social issues that matter most vary by these factors, their level of confidence in their capacity to create change, their willingness to act on behalf of others and their interest in national or local causes are correlated. And many of the leading marketing firms and brands have sought to connect with these distinct groups through extensive micro targeting and by designing products and outreach for specific subgroups. To find success, it’s imperative that the non-profit world design messaging in a similar way. The 2017 Millennial Impact Report is one tool to help begin to build those relationships with Millennial cause supporters and we urge you to download your copy here.

Stay tuned for further learnings that we have gleaned over the past ten years of Millennial focused work and details on MCON, the annual conference where the Millennial Impact Report learnings are brought to life and tens of thousands of passionate individuals come together online and in-person to channel their enthusiasm into action for today’s most pressing issues.

Finding Light in the Darkness

Posted on January 10, 2018October 25, 2018 by Case Foundation

Devastating hurricanes that have taken lives and left untold numbers without power, food and water. A catastrophic earthquake in Mexico that left hundreds dead and thousands more homeless. Deadly fires leapfrogging across regions in California that included populated neighborhood streets, destroying everything in its path. These are just some of the stories of human toll in 2017. Perhaps even harder to grasp are the deadly rampages that cut short the lives of too many people across the world. Add to these truly horrific events that destroyed lives, property and precious natural resources, the revelation that across industries and across continents, sexual harassment and abuse, some targeting the young and vulnerable have run rampant. The political news of our day only adds to an already discouraging sense that the world is aflame.

It’s no surprise that people, even those not personally affected by the events, are struggling to make sense of it all—trying not to let hopelessness or despair set in.

However, to characterize 2017 exclusively from this perspective would be a mistake. There are true rays of hope that shine but are often not given light amongst the more dramatic news of our day.

As we have moved beyond the holidays—known to many as “the season of light”—we would do well to turn our eyes to the inspiring stories of individuals across the globe whose selfless and fearless actions lit a path to bring hope and inspiration in the midst of darkness. And, as this New Year dawns, recognize the heroes all around us. I have written about some of the signs of hope that I saw in the responses of citizens to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and am always inspired by the way that citizens continue to answer the call to provide aid and support when times are tough.

Take, for instance, the courageous and selfless actions of celebrated chef, José Andrés, who upon learning that the island of Puerto Rico was experiencing power outages and food and water shortages, set out to make a difference. José is no stranger to disasters. Since his experience with providing disaster relief following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, José has mobilized an army of chefs ranging from local to world-renowned, as he scaled World Central Kitchen (WCK) he founded, to deliver millions of meals to date, in settings and regions others feared to go. In 2017, WCK delivered 3.1 million meals to the people of Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria, provided 35,000 meals to Californians impacted by this Fall’s fires and over 100,000 meals to the people of Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey while also supporting the first responders and National Guard personnel in the field. The New York Times called WCK “the largest emergency feeding program ever set up by a group of chefs.” WCK has also improved health, increased education rates, provided career skills and has helped to create food businesses in regions where it operates.

When José was asked to give a commencement address at George Washington University in Washington, DC, he told the moving story of coming to America from Spain with just $50 in his pocket. He spoke of coming to the country in pursuit of the American dream. Then he continued: “Today you are doing something much more important,” he said. “You are shaping the new American dream. It’s not about having high paying jobs, big houses, fast cars. There is nothing wrong with that, but the new America Dream is bigger. It’s about how to achieve your success while also making an impact in the world. What you create for yourselves you must also create for others.”

And José is not alone as he embodies a #BeFearless spirit and works tirelessly in times of crisis. You can see that same spirit in the volunteers who mobilized as California’s fires raged, including two women who jumped into action to help rescue 150 horses left behind when their owners had to flee fast moving fires in Northern California; the small business people like “Mattress Mack” who opened his mattress stores to provide shelter those who were forced out of their homes when Hurricanes hit; heroic citizens, like concertgoer Jonathan Smith, who helped others escape America’s deadliest mass shooting in modern history while incurring severe injuries themselves; and even Frida, the trained rescue dog who worked alongside the Mexican Navy following the 7.1 quake that rocked the nation, as she helped save numerous earthquake victims and symbolized the Mexican volunteer citizen rescue groups from working class families that were founded after the 1985 earthquake and now aids in disasters worldwide. I am also inspired by those young individuals like Amanda Nguyen of RISE, who used her own experience as a rape survivor to get unanimous passage of the Sexual Assault Survivors Bill of Rights in Congress.

These are just a few of the lights I see shining through the darkness as we turn the calendar from 2017 to 2018. And I look forward to hearing, seeing and featuring more of these positive and inspiring stories throughout 2018. Day by day, across the nation and across the world, it is the fearless and selfless acts of citizens taking action that can inspire hope and allow us to confidently look to the New Year with optimism.

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