Brand on Purpose

Samaritan’s Feet President & CEO Manny Ohonme shares the company’s dedication to deliver shoes to the children who need it most and how receiving his first pair of sneakers became the inspiration for Samaritan’s Feet. After being gifted his first pair of shoes over 30 years ago, Manny has made it his life’s mission to give others the same opportunity of change and impact. Through the gift of shoes, the act of washing feet, and encouragement to those who need it most, Samaritan’s Feet has been able to distribute over 8 million pairs of shoes in 108 countries and over 440 U.S. cities. Tune in to hear about Manny’s journey from Nigeria to the United States, his determination to make a difference and learn more at samaritansfeet.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Blueland CEO & Co-Founder Sarah Paiji Yoo dives into the impetus behind the company, how her maternal intuition inspired the creation of Blueland and the steps she’s taking to educate society around plastic usage. Sarah’s journey to use less single-use plastic began when she became a new mom and learned about the microplastics that live within our drinking water. As a self-made entrepreneur, Sarah became motivated to create innovative products that were both eco-friendly and affordable to the common consumer. Since 2019, Blueland’s cleaning and soap tablets have become the ultimate substitute for cleaning products and have helped to eliminate over 1 billion single-use plastic bottles from landfills and oceans. Sarah and Aaron discuss the company’s innovative mission, how Sarah’s background in business and finance led her to establish her fourth company, and the importance of cutting down plastic consumption. Listen in to hear about Sarah’s Shark Tank experience and learn more about the company’s commitment to the planet at blueland.com.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americares Global Head of Strategic Partnerships Stephanie Kauffman talks about how the global health and humanitarian nonprofit provides quality medical aid, disaster relief and recovery around the world in the face of natural disasters, poverty, disease and civil war. Currently reaching 90 countries, Americares has been on the front line of the international COVID-19 crisis, delivering over 14 million supplies (including PPE and medication) to regions in need. Stephanie and Aaron talk about the organization’s 40 year history of bridging the gaps in equitable access to quality healthcare, working with the CDC as a trusted source of information during the pandemic, and how they work with their 200+ partners around the world to make a true impact. Listen in to hear about Stephanie’s experience joining the organization at the height of the pandemic, and learn more at americares.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paravel co-founder Indré Rockefeller opens up about the journey to found the sustainable travel company alongside co-founder Andy Krantz, which has included bringing the first-ever carbon neutral suitcase to market. Paravel has focused on sustainability, functionality, quality and look, to date upcycling over 2 million plastic water bottles and offsetting 8,150 tons of CO2. Indré and Aaron talk about how a trip to Antarctica with Nature Conservancy inspired her initial interest in sustainability, how the duo approached changing the narrative around sustainable travel, and how the company’s packing cubes grew in popularity during COVID-19 and helped them survive the period of limited travel. Listen in to hear about how Indré’s past as a professional ballet dancer continues to impact her life every day, and learn more at tourparavel.com.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JustLeadershipUSA President DeAnna Hoskins dives into the company’s dedication to decarceration in the United States through policy reform and how her experience as a nationally recognized leader and public speaker influenced her career path. Having been directly impacted by the system of incarceration and the war on drugs, DeAnna’s life experiences have been the driving force to elevate awareness around the racial and social injustices that take place within marginalized communities. In the episode, Aaron and DeAnna discuss racial and social division in American society, how JustLeadershipUSA is tackling systemic change through their Leading with Conviction initiative and the barriers that she faced as a previously incarcerated individual. Tune in to hear how DeAnna’s past continues to impact her everyday life, and learn more at jlusa.org.Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher’s Haven Executive Director Joyce Duvall discusses leading the Boston- and Atlanta-based nonprofit’s apartment communities that provide a home-like environment for pediatric cancer patients and their families. With years of experience in nonprofit and developmental work, Joyce was devoted to Christopher’s Haven’s mission from day one and has brought a new perspective to the organization. Joyce and Aaron talk about the hardships that cancer patients and their families face, how the organization maintained their business during the pandemic and has plans to expand, and the steps that Christopher’s Haven takes to create a safe environment for pediatric cancer patients. Tune in to hear about how actor Chris Evans became the organization’s #1 contributor, and learn more at christophershaven.org. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlantic Sapphire Co-Founder Johan Andreassen shines a light on how the company has incorporated strict sustainability efforts and pioneered Bluehouse salmon farming. Growing up on a salmon farm in Norway, Johan was familiar with the lifestyle of salmon farming, but envisioned a more eco-friendly system using cleaner fish. This knowledge of aquaculture led him to establish the first ever Bluehouse (a “greenhouse” for salmon) in the United States. In the episode, Johan and Aaron discuss the company’s mission to innovate fish farming locally, the advantages of eating Bluehouse salmon and how Atlantic Sapphire is innovating ways to become carbon neutral. Listen in to hear about the steps Atlantic Sapphire takes to deliver sustainable, ocean-safe salmon across North America and Europe, and learn more at atlanticsapphire.com. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly discusses the inner workings of a good business, how he’s successfully managed large corporations throughout his career and why it’s important to lead with purpose. In 2012, Hubert was given the task of a lifetime: to rebuild Best Buy. He focused on rebuilding with humanity and putting employees and customers at the center, ultimately transforming the company’s outlook and growing revenue. In the episode, Hubert and Aaron talk about the ideology behind this business transformation, the importance of transparency and positivity as a leader and advice for pursuing a noble purpose, as explained in his new book “The Heart of Business.” Listen in to learn about Hubert’s personal philosophy for becoming a purpose-driven leader and grab his new book now at hubertjoly.org. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Maria Bayas, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slack’s Head of Slack for Good and Public Affairs Deepti Rohatgi shines a light on the Slack for Good program that’s working to increase the prevalence of underrepresented groups in the tech sector. Joining Slack only two years after founding, Deepti has leveraged her experience at tech companies like Yahoo and as a diplomat with the U.S. State Department to help grow Slack and develop its impact program, including the Next Chapter initiative inspired by Bryan Stevenson’s book Just Mercy that has established a pipeline for formerly incarcerated individuals to join companies like Slack. Deepti and Aaron discuss both of their experiences visiting prisons in California and New York, how Deepti’s focus on policy complements her social impact work, and why it’s important to build tech products with everyone’s perspective included. Tune in to hear where Deepti thinks the biggest opportunity for good lies within the tech sector for the coming years, and learn more at slack.com. Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DSM Animal Nutrition and Health Vice President Christie Chavis discusses the company’s groundbreaking work cultivating a more sustainable animal farming industry and how her experience growing up on a farm in Indiana inspired her to pursue a career in animal production. From her upbringing, Christie was familiar with the cultivation lifestyle of farm animals, but knew there was more to it than meets the eye. Her interest in animal science and technology led her to DSM – a company that is committed to fostering an industry that can meet the nutritional needs of the world’s growing human population. In the episode, Christie and Aaron talk about the company’s scientific foundation to make sustainable animal production possible and how DSM’s #WeMakeItPossible initiative is innovating ways to make more efficient use of natural resources. Listen in to learn about Europe’s different connection to sustainability from the U.S., and learn more at dsm.com.     Production Credits: Aaron Kwittken, Jeff Maldonado, Dara Cothran, Lindsay Hand, Julie Strickland, Nina Valdes, Michael Grubbs, and Mathew Passy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices