Renee is the founder and CEO of Amazi - a socially driven, tropical fruit snack company, on a mission to help you Snack on Purpose with our 100% made-in-Uganda products.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Her early career journey + the inspiration for founding Amazi
• The importance of seeing women-owned businesses thrive
• What being a social enterprise means to Renee, and how Amazi does social enterprise differently
• Why transparency is on the minds of consumers more than ever, and how Amazi ensures they are providing this to their customers

For more info: amazifoods.com

Follow Amazi on IG!

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Jenny Kassan is an attorney, investor, and capital-raising coach who teaches mission-driven entrepreneurs how to fundraise without selling their soul. Jenny believes entrepreneurs are heroes, and wants to help as many as possible turn their world-changing visions into reality. With over 25 years of experience in securities law, and a passion to shift investment dollars from Wall Street to Main Street, she has helped her clients raise millions of dollars from values-aligned investors. She is the author of Raise Capital on Your Own Terms: How to Fund Your Business without Selling Your Soul (Berrett-Koehler, October 2017).

In this episode you’ll learn:

• what led Jenny into her current roles as a Securities Lawyer & Capital Raising Coach
• why venture capital model isn’t a fit for everyone
• how to fund your business without selling your soul
• how anyone can use their investment dollars to build a more equitable, just, and sustainable economy

For more info: https://www.jennykassan.com/ 

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For episode 30 we are joined by Mikaela Kiner - an experienced HR / People Operations professional, executive coach, and founder/CEO of Reverb. In 2015, Mikaela started Reverb by creating a healthy, inclusive culture in startups and growing companies in the Pacific Northwest. A People Operations professional for nearly twenty years, Mikaela enjoys coaching leaders at all levels and promoting gender equality at work. She's been quoted in Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal and The Muse, and is a member of the Forbes Human Resources Council and Puget Sound Business Journal Leadership Trust. A native Seattleite who grew up on Capitol Hill, Mikaela is married to Henry, a musician, artist, and teacher. Their two children, Simon and Sidonie, are good at challenging the status quo and are a constant source of learning and laughter.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Mikaela’s early career journey at top companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Starbucks led her to ultimately founding Reverb People
• The ever-changing workplace climate, and how Covid & working from home has shifted priorities for people
• How companies can ensure they are retaining top talent, and why she hasn’t shied away from hiring part-time employees 
• The ways in which companies can support parents, and why that’s important
• Why being able to identify the injustices women still face in the workplace is imperative to being able to make any significant changes

For more info: https://reverbpeople.com/ 

Connect with Mikaela on IG: @mikaela_firebrand

Connect with Reverb on IG:  @reverb_people

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Connect with us on IG: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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Olayinka Credle (she/her/they) is an award-winning, Social Impact Entrepreneur & Wealth Equity Strategist who works with Economic Justice Organizations and Social Impact Businesses to advance Wealth Equity. Olayinka started her decade-long career working in the United States Congress before she co-founded her first social impact company, Melanin Essentials. She went on to create national social good movements for Dismantle Collective, WeTheChange BCorp Women CEOs, and Common Future, where wealth, capital, housing, are shifted to BIPOC Communities. Today, Olayinka develops strategies all across the U.S. & Canada grounded in shifting capital and agency that is rooted— Empathy & Action.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How seeing her father hustle as an entrepreneur instilled that entrepreneurial spirit in Olayinka
• What social entrepreneurship means, and why it’s so important to support these business models
• How closing the racial wealth gap impacts us all, and how we all have a role to play in working towards closing that gap
• The biggest challenges and rewards that come along with building a B Corp business

Connect with Olayinka: olayinkacredle.com  

Follow on IG: @olayinkacredle 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 28 I'm joined by Jennifer Norman, founder of Humanist Beauty skincare and The Human Beauty Movement.

Humanist Beauty skincare is a company that champions inclusive beauty and wellness for all. Before that, Jennifer spent over 20 years as a marketing executive in the beauty industry. Jennifer is the single mom of a boy who has a severe chronic illness. As such, she is passionate about encouraging people of all ages to be their most exceptional, regardless of ability, race, religion, or gender. Jennifer is the author and publisher of the award-winning children's picture book series, The Adventures of SuperCaptainBraveMan, which promotes early-age friendship, kindness, and understanding of individuals presenting physical or neurological differences.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The ways in which her son has been her biggest teacher in life
• Her experience in early life as an adoptee, and how experimenting with beauty was always something she explored
• How she parlayed her love of beauty into an illustrious career, and why she eventually founded Humanist Beauty
• How Humanist Beauty is creating a community surrounding beauty positivity, inclusivity, and self-love, and what those 3 words really signify to her
• Why she decided to start a children’s book series

Connect with Jennifer: : www.the-hbm.com | www.humanistbeauty.com

Follow on IG:  @thehumanbeautymovement |  @humanistbeauty | @iamjennnorman

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Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 27 I'm joined by Urvashi Agarwal, founder of JP’s Originals.

JP's Originals was born in 2020, with a mission to revolutionise the tea industry. Named after the founder's grandfather, Mr. JP who was a tea grower in Assam, Urvashi struggled to find the same quality of teas in an accessible form in the UK. All of our teas are plastic free and after an unexpected health condition, CBD wellbeing teas were born.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What life was like growing up with first generation immigrants as parents, and how much she learned from her father’s determination and grit
• Her early career journey + what drew her into the world of tea
• What sleep hygiene and why it's so important to your overall health
• The ways in which sustainability is at the forefront of JP’s Originals

Connect with JP’s Originals: www.jpsoriginals.com

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Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 26, I’m joined by Christy Rogers - a seasoned sales professional who’s helping us continue to support Our Gorongosa’s mission to significantly elevate the standard of living of communities around Gorongosa National Park by dedicating 100% of profits to support sustainable development and conservation initiatives.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Her early life in a typical, quant city in the U.S
• How her love of wine and her competitive nature led her to her first role in sales
• Why working for an impact based company aligns with her values
• Her selling style and core values when  it comes to selling

Use code GIRLS for 20% off your first purchase!

Connect with us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/ourgorongosa/  

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 25 we are joined by Rachel Kois,  CEO & Founder of SimpleSwitch.org - an online marketplace for ethical and impactful shopping. (Think “like Amazon” except every one of the 3,000+ products has a positive social or environmental impact.) They aim to shift some of the HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS spent online this year to everyday products and gifts that support orphan care, plant trees, combat climate change, and more. Simple Switch exists to bring ease and convenience to ethical and impactful online shopping, and change the world through positive impact purchasing. Rachel believes deeply in the power of entrepreneurship to solve some of our most serious global problems.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• what her early career journey looked like + first entrepreneurial venture selling Harry Potter scarves
• where she came up with the concept for Simple Switch, and how she got started
• why it's important to normalize + destigmatize ethical shopping
• the power of harnessing capitalism for positive impact

Use code GIRLS for 20% off your first purchase!

• Connect with Rachel: https://www.instagram.com/rachelfromsimpleswitch 
• Connect with Simple Switch: https://www.simpleswitch.org/ 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 24, we’re joined by Lisa Cooper, CEO & Founder of Figure 8 Investments. Lisa Cooper has worked in sustainable and impact investing before people even started using those terms. For over three decades, Lisa has been a trailblazer in the ESG investing space, managing portfolios for high net worth and institutional investors at Smith Barney Asset Management (now Clearbridge Investments) in New York and Trillium Asset Management, based in Boston, before founding Figure 8 in 2016. Figure 8 is an SEC-registered investment advisory firm founded in 2016, with a diverse staff hailing from three continents, speaking six languages, and having earned decades of investment experience. From their headquarters in Boise, Idaho, Figure 8 manages hundreds of millions of dollars for clients across 20+ states. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• what led her into the investment world, and to founding Figure 8 Investments
• the wonderful name origin story behind Figure 8 
• the most common misconceptions people have around investments
• why it’s important for Figure 8 to be woman-led
• her top tips for anyone looking to get started in investing

Connect with Figure 8: https://figure8investing.com/ 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 23, we are excited to be sharing this inspiring interview featuring Sarah Jordan.

Sarah Jordan is a multi award-winning entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Y.O.U underwear, a sustainable underwear business that was recently certified as the top-scoring B Corp in the UK and highest-scoring fashion brand globally. Sarah’s previous experience includes more than 25 years and senior leadership roles across the not-for-profit, commercial and publishing sectors, as well as successfully running her own strategic digital consultancy business for many years. Sarah was volunteering in Uganda in 2016 when she discovered the challenges faced by women and girls who didn’t have access to underwear. She changed direction completely and set up Y.O.U underwear as a social enterprise trying to change lives one pair of pants at a time.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How her 20+ year career gave her the experience and knowledge to start her entrepreneur journey
• The incredible ways Y.O.U Underwear is giving back to communities with their 2-1 give back ratio
• Why sustainability is the focal point of everything Y.O.U. Underwear stands for, and what they attribute their top-scoring B Corp certification to
• How underwear and period poverty are linked to girls’ education, and what Y.O.U Underwear is doing to combat this issue

Connect with Y.O.U. Underwear: https://www.instagram.com/youunderwearuk/?hl=en 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 22 we are thrilled to be chatting with Lyn Wineman, President & Chief Strategist at KidGlov. You will be hard pressed to find anyone more passionate about marketing than Lyn Wineman. As founder of B-Corp Certified, full-service, boutique advertising agency KidGlov, she is surrounded by a talented team with the mission of helping the organizations that are changing the world. Lyn is a member of her local AMA Hall of Fame and has been named Marketer of the Year. She has been recognized with AAF Lincoln’s Silver Medal, Inspire Women’s Leadership Awards for Excellence in Entrepreneurship, and is a member of the AMA National Diversity, Equity and Inclusion CoHort.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How her lifelong affinity for creative pursuits drew Lyn to the advertising industry
• The many positive aspects of marketing & advertising, and how they can be used as a force for good
• Why creating a company culture centered around people and sustainability is so important
• The surprising marketing trend Lyn is most looking forward to for 2022

Connect with Lyn: https://www.instagram.com/lynwineman/ 

Connect with KidGlov: https://www.instagram.com/kidglov/ 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 21, we are thrilled to be joined by Dr. Marisa Rodrigues -  Director of Sustainable Development at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique.  Dr. Rodrigues earned a PhD in Animal Breeding and Genetics from São Paulo State University, Brazil. 

The Gorongosa Sustainable Development department catalyzes economic benefits for the communities that live near Gorongosa Park through the sustainable use of natural resources– including eco-tourism, forestry, and agricultural products. The Department creates access to the market value chain for farm families. The Department has two core missions: create inclusive value chains and support livelihoods that restore and protect biodiversity. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• What growing up in a small village instilled in Marisa
• How she started her career, and what ultimately led her to Gorongosa National Park
• The long standing connection Marisa’s family and GNP
• What the Sustainable Development Department does, and what she’s most excited about that’s in the works 

Connect with Gorongosa National Park: https://www.instagram.com/gorongosapark 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 20, we’re excited to be bringing you Sarah Goodman, founder and CEO of Chiwis. Sarah is a nutritionist and serial entrepreneur with a ridiculous love of snacks. She spent seven years in tech before making the switch to the CPG food biz when I launched Chiwis February 2021! 

At Chiwis they’re passionate about creating 100% natural snacks that taste amazing and pack a nutritional punch. They use upcycled fruits and use as much of the fruit as possible (including the skin!) for a fiber filled delicious superfood snack to bring for your lunch bag, on the go, or on top of a mountain.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Tips for securing financing as a female entrepreneur
• What being a serial entrepreneur has taught Sarah
• How the idea for Chiwis was years in the making
• The biggest challenges she’s experienced while growing Chiwis
• Why remaining women-owned is a huge priority for Chiwis as they continue to grow

Buy Chiwis: https://chiwis.co/ 

Connect on IG: https://www.instagram.com/chiwis_snacks/ 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

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With over 17 years of experience leading non-profits, Anna developed a passion to address the issues facing under-resourced families and communities, through looking deeper into the policies, practices and mindsets requiring change. She holds a degree in Sociology: Criminal Justice and Peace and Justice Studies and completed a Fellowship in Policy at Furman University. Invested in engaging community and building supports, Anna is invested in closing the opportunity gap for children and ensuring access to mentors with skills in nourishing the social, emotional and mental health of youth.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Anna’s journey to creating a career in non-profits
• what strategies can work well for communities when they're looking to address the disparities in access to extracurricular programming
• the positive effects of extracurricular + enrichment programming

Connect with the Idaho Out-of-School Network: https://www.instagram.com/idaho_outofschool/ 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 18, I’m joined by Kelly Beattie, President at FirstStar Consulting Group and an expert in Train-the-Trainer programs for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Kelly started FirstStar to help individuals and organizations develop their staff and build their leadership teams - Emotional Intelligence is a key element in the way she teaches and trains. With nearly three decades of experience training top teams and executives on Emotional Intelligence, she has become a renowned leader in the area of leadership development

As a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expert, Kelly's approach to culture-building and change focuses on the importance of communicating difficult topics and having difficult conversations in the workplace. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• IQ vs. EQ, and why both are important for success
• The value and Importance of having difficult conversations at work, and how to have them
• The transformative power and value of diversity

Connect with Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellybeattie1ststar/ 

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Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 17, I’m joined by Sam Price - Manager, Operations & Finance at Our Gorongosa. 

About Sam, from Sam: “I was born into a family of New York Jews, raised in Los Angeles, and came into adulthood in a sleepy beach town in Northern California. I am an eternal optimist through and through. I believe that a walk in the woods, a dip in a body of water, and some time spend in the sun will cure most, if not all, of my woes. True to my Sagittarius nature, I would like nothing better than to spend my life traveling the world, meeting people from all walks of life, and getting to experience other cultures. If through my work I can give back and add value to this world along the way, I would call that a win!”

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How saying yes to things has created huge growth in her career
• What changing cities has done to shift her perspective, and figure out what’s truly in alignment for her
• What a B Corp is, and why it’s so important for Our Gorongosa

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 16, I’m joined by Mayor Lauren McLean. She is the 56th mayor of Boise, and the first elected female Mayor in the city's 150-year history. Lauren moved to Boise, Idaho shortly after graduating from Notre Dame and marrying her high school sweetheart, Scott.

As Mayor, she has led the fight against climate change, setting ambitious goals to lead the city into an environmentally and economically resilient future. Her vision is to create a city that is truly for everyone – one that offers equitable access to housing, living wage jobs, transportation, and a seat at the table for residents when decisions about the future of Boise are being made.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How public service has been an integral part of Lauren’s career and personal life
• What navigating the challenges of a global pandemic has looked like for her
• Her passion for the environment, including the plans for Boise's Climate Action Roadmap
• What she loves most about the Boise community, and what drew here there originally
• The power of unity and community, especially during difficult times

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with Mayor McLean: https://www.instagram.com/boise_mayor 

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 15, I’m joined by Makayla Keely. As the PR & Marketing Coordinator at Our Gorongosa, Makayla spends her time creatively telling our story of coffee and impact. In her spare time, you’ll find Makayla spending time with her friends and family, or outdoors enjoying all that Boise has to offer.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How playing outside in her childhood helped fuel her creativity
• Why taking risks has been so important in her life so far, and how to just go for it
• How to not let rejection impede your career trajectory
• The reason she loves marketing as a field, and her advice for any recent college grads for finding a great opportunity

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 14, I’m joined by Patty Connor. As the Product Director at Our Gorongosa, she drinks coffee every day (more cups than she cares to admit), is a master problem solver, and lover of beautiful product design. In her spare time, you’ll find Patty digging into some true crime and spending time with her family.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Patty got into product, and her career journey that got her to this point 
• What she loves most about working with product, and the biggest challenges she faces
• The concept of 360 degree product design, and why that’s super important to her
• Why partnering with a company she’s in alignment with was a top priority for Patty

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

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For episode 13, I’m joined by Dawn Averitt -  activist, mother, consultant, board member, and founder. Dawn has worked on HIV in women and women's health for almost 30 years, started 2 non-profit organizations, all while being a mother of 3 daughters. Her passion for supporting women with HIV started when she was diagnosed with the virus in 1988.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• The impact of having HIV in Dawn’s life; both positive and negative
• How she’s overcome her diagnosis and built an incredible life with so much impact
• The stigma that still lives today around HIV + aids
• Common misconceptions around HIV/AIDS, and why it’s important to dispel them
• The inspiring work Dawn contributes to through The Well Project, the Women's Research Initiative on HIV/AIDS, and Grassroot Soccer

For more information, please visit www.thewellproject.org  & www.grassrootsoccer.org 

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For more information on Our Gorongosa, please visit ourgorongosa.com

Connect with us on Instagram: http://instagram.com/ourgorongosa

Use code PODCAST for 15% off your first order!