Brittany Turner
Founder, Countless LLC
Philly, US
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Resilient. I’ve faced a number of difficulties in my life, from a very young age, and I’ve never given up, lost hope, or become hardened. I have a mindset that truly believes life gets better each day and the best is yet to come.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
Absolutely. Businesses make up a large percentage of our global population and if businesses are not prioritizing social impact in the same way that individuals are, we’ll always fall short.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Yes. Even before taking the pledge with Pledge 1%, I’ve donated at least 1% of our gross proceeds to charity since starting Countless in 2016. That approach was rooted in my personal life where I’ve been an advocate for giving back to the community since my early college days.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Probably from my father – he really drilled it into my head from a young age that I could do anything, be anything, and that it was so important for me to be entirely self-sufficient. I never felt like anything was out of reach for me. He helped make me fearless in my career.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
You can do anything and be anything. And don’t wait to opt-in to your company’s 401k. Compound interest is no joke!
If you’re at a company that doesn’t offer a 401k, encourage them to offer something or look for another position. It doesn’t require much for a company to offer this to their team and if they don’t, they might not prioritize your whole being.
“You can do anything and be anything.”
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Yes! Personally, I am going on a 6-day hike in the Andes mountains this summer that I’m very much looking forward to!
Professionally I am excited about working with more clients in a financial planning capacity. I received my CFP® license in December of 2023.
Original article here
Author: Eddie Pells
NEW YORK (AP) — American Olympic athletes have a new place to turn to lock down college degrees and other skills for life after sports thanks to a partnership U.S. Olympic leaders announced Tuesday with the Denver-based education company Guild.
The deal between Guild, organizers of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is designed to help the Olympic organizations fulfill commitments to help athletes begin the next chapters of their lives after retirement.
Guild says it has more than 250 offerings on its online platform for U.S. athletes, including opportunities for undergraduate and graduate programs, certification programs and career counseling.
“You’d be hard-pressed to think that someone’s going to go in there and not find something that works for them,” said Carrie White, the USOPC’s vice president of athlete development and engagement.
White said in a recent survey of 5,000 Olympic and Paralympic alumni, around 60% of athletes who were 39 and younger said they needed help with career and professional development. She said within days of the program’s launch earlier this month, some 95 athletes had created profiles on the platform.
Guild CEO Bijal Shah said that because Olympic and Paralympic athletes spend most of their time early in life focusing on sports, they sometimes enter the workforce in need of skills for new careers that others in the job market have already acquired.
“We thought that their capabilities and the services Guild provides could be an amazing opportunity for those athletes,” Shah said.
Shah said Guild was formed in 2015 to offer solutions to the reality that “there was a problem in this country around the student-debt crisis,” along with the overall cost of post-graduate studies, that often stymied people’s quest for degrees and other adult education.
Guild works with employers — Walmart, Chipotle and Target are among its big-name clients — that offer programs for their workers through the company’s platform that helps them further their educations, tuition-free.
Shah said people who embark on Guild are 2.6 times more likely to move up in their company and that incremental wage increases earned by Guild learners are around two times larger than for those who don’t participate.
Jess Bartley, who heads the USOPC’s psychological services department, said post-retirement planning is one of the most consistently difficult conversations to start up with athletes. It’s another example of how this deal fits into what the USOPC and LA28 are trying to accomplish in an era in which they are increasingly being pressed to consider athletes’ overall well-being, and not just how they perform inside the lines.
Janet Evans, the four-time gold-medalist swimmer who serves as LA28’s chief athlete officer, said “Guild’s vision … aligns with LA28’s commitment to supporting the whole athlete, from their performance to their total well-being.”
White said the USOPC awarded more than $1.8 million in tuition grants in 2023 to qualified athletes, most worth around $4,500 that were paid directly to the schools they attended.
Those grants will continue, while the partnership with Guild offers a different option and, White said, more benefit because many programs are fully funded. For programs that are partially funded through Guild, the USOPC will cover up to $10,000 a year. Athletes who qualify will be eligible to use Guild for up to 10 years after they retire.
Jen Bayford
Co-founder, Growth Animals Marketing | B Corp Certified
West Sussex, UK
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Best-friend (or is that two words?!) – we are often described by our clients as their best friends, allies and confidents, for example, at one client, the marketing manager, said “Working with Jen is invaluable and an absolute pleasure. Jen works with you to agree a solid strategy and provides unwavering support. She genuinely feels like a member of the team!”
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
100% as environmental and social impact are becoming hygiene factors as customers are becoming more and more discerning as to the brands they align with
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Yes we do – our main ‘giving back’ activity is we volunteer regularly. For example, instead of throwing a birthday party for Growth Animals last year, the team spent the day volunteering for Together Co., a loneliness charity based in Sussex, spending quality time with the people in the community they support. And we frequently take on pro-bono projects for causes, where an organization would benefit from our marketing strategy workshop – a fun, time efficient way of adding real value to charities and not-for-profits and a chance for our team to all be involved and get the creativity flowing.
Last year we ran a pro-bono workshop and a short, follow-up brand project for a charity called The Sweater Project, that generates income for families in Afghanistan and helps the poorest children to survive.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
In her book The Source, Dr Tara Swart quoted Henry Ford “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.” which has stuck with me.
I’m careful what I tell myself, as my brain is listening!
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t–you’re right.”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
OMG don’t get me started. The cost of childcare is beyond ridiculous, and although the responsibility of childcare more commonly falls onto women, we know this isn’t exclusively a gender specific issue, so organizations must be flexible with their working practices for all – it grates on me when those ‘at the top’ with nannies or no parental responsibility make the calls as to the WFH or flexible working policies and it’s so archaic. There are millions of bloody talented people out there who would be adding so much value to organizations if only they were treated as grown ups and given flexibility to work and parent, not choose between the two.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
My personal experience of my early career, that unfortunately shaped me until only the last few years, was that I was a ‘Stepford brand manager’. I tried to fit into a mold, to please, to follow the line, to do as I was told and I took on, what in retrospect was, subjective feedback. I wasn’t aware of my strengths to dial up, I just bent myself out of shape, dulling down my creativity, my confidence to ‘fit’ and do things as they’d always been done.
At Growth Animals, we want our team, at all levels, to challenge us and each other in order to bring fresh perspectives and to grow, learn and improve together. This ability, together with resourcefulness, is how we hire!
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Having proudly achieved B Corp certification last year, we are excited to continue to grow our environmental and social impact through our business and the work we do with clients. We will continue to underpin the plans we craft, the brands we build and the growth we deliver for our customers with our responsible and sustainable marketing values.
A personal development goal for me for 2024 include studying Sustainable Marketing through the Chartered Institute of Marketing. And in my plans this year is to share our bread and butter experience of marketing and brand strategy with more client side marketers. So I will releasing bite-sized marketing strategy content to inspire in-house marketers to think strategically about their marketing efforts, and Chris and I are taking Growth Animals on tour, attending events around the country to pass on our knowledge and experience to the marketing industry.
Liz Beggs
Chief Operating Officer (COO), Payments Consulting Network
Melbourne, Australia
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Personable, because I work with many people within my ecosystem and always try to foster good relationships.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
Absolutely, I believe corporate leaders are in a unique position to influence those around them and create a culture for future generations.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
We support many NFP’s through pro-bono work, regular attend and contribute to fundraising charity events. In addition, as a part of our Giving Program, we also provide a free Pricing Comparison service for small businesses that presents information on cost effective service provider options to consider.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Be true to yourself.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Learn as much as you can, follow your passions and be adaptable to change and opportunities.
“Learn as much as you can.”
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I am looking forward to assisting our clients in providing them with more efficient, streamlined, fit-for-purpose and cost-effective solutions.
Original link here
Author: Alex Collmer
When we started our 501c3 foundation in 2017, the thinking was simple. It seemed like the rinse and repeat nature of striving to hit ever-expanding bookings and revenues numbers quarter after quarter would eventually get boring, and we wanted Vidmob to be more than just a company. I remember our lawyers laughing at us at the time, and politely pointing out that a 3 year-old start-up probably didn’t need a foundation. But we were steadfast in our vision to build a purpose-driven company, and Vidmob Gives was born. Shortly after that, we hired Burr Purnell as the first Executive Director, and started down the path of figuring it all out. In the years since, we’ve worked with hundreds of charities all over the world, working with causes aligned with all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. We also formally joined Pledge 1%, donating 1% of our equity to the foundation and committing to donate 1% of annual revenues in perpetuity. This was already a lot, but another of Burr’s contributions was to convince us to start doing annual service trips. The first trip saw 17 Vidmob employees go to Brazil to build houses for 2 homeless mothers. I’ll never forget watching the video recap of the trip during our end-of-year holiday all-hands, and promised myself that if I had a chance to join the next one, I was going to figure out how to make it work.
That opportunity came in February of this year, as Vidmob’s Jamie Bradley (Senior Director of Enablement) pieced together the details for an even more ambitious 2nd service trip. For the last few years, we’ve been working with an organization in Rwanda called Komera, which focuses on developing self-confident young women in the Kayonza district of the country, through education, community development and health. Their simple belief that investing in young girls is the fastest way to improve the world, resonated deeply with me, so I cleared my calendar, got my shots, and 2 days after a last-minute trip to London, headed off to Africa.
We spent a week working with the staff at Komera’s Leadership Center in Rwinkwavu. We were ostensibly there to do two things; (i) build a playground for the children of teen mothers so that they could continue their education, and (ii) build a chicken hatchery to provide a source of food through their eggs and a source of income through the selling of chickens. But it ended up being much greater than that. On one rainy morning, we taught a group of current students how to use gen AI tools, and collectively made children’s books, howling with laughter as a group when the miraculous images rendered on a projector in real-time in front of the class. We danced together with the staff and girls. We did yoga together. We laughed and shared stories together. But above all else, we carried rocks together. Big rocks.
Now I’ve long believed that there are few things more wonderful than doing hard work. But doing hard work with a grateful counterpart that has completely different life experiences that they’re happy to share is about as good as it gets. Day after day, we moved the supplies necessary to build the hatchery and then assisted in the construction – side-by-side with the women who would be benefiting from it. We painted, learned how to skin bark off of trees to get usable timber beams, mixed cement, learned how to make a cement-like grout from just the local mud and water, helped build the foundation, stacked, shaped and grouted the bricks for the wall, and at one point, I even talked them into letting me do some welding.
It is not a stretch to say it was one of the best weeks of my life. And as I sit back in New York reflecting on the trip, here are a few of the takeaways from the week:
Service work is a key pillar of company culture. Put simply, more companies should do service trips. They can be tied to performance reviews, and there is no better way to get close to some of your co-workers. I cherished the opportunity spend so much quality time with a bunch of Vidmob’s rising stars.
Komera is an amazing organization. I cannot imagine a charity where our dollars would have more impact. To put a little math behind it, the average rent in Rwinkwavu is around $6-8 per month. Each mature chicken from the hatchery we helped build will have a value of about $1-2. And it will hold hundreds of chickens. Again, I am more proud of the work we did during this week than any other week I can remember.
There is no better investment than young women. We met one after another current students and alumni, and their stories are incredible. As just one example, on the weekend after our service work, we went on a tour of Akagera National Park, guided by one of the park rangers. Midway through the day, she told us her story. It turned out that she was a Komera graduate. When she was 12, her mother told her that they couldn’t afford to send her to school. So she begged her mother to reach out to Komera. After many interviews, she was accepted and they helped her complete primary and secondary school, and then get into college. Now in her mid 20’s, she had graduated, gotten her dream job, paid to build a new family home, and is hoping to soon begin re-investing any overflow income back to Komera to support future versions of herself. Now multiply that by the hundreds of girls that Komera works with, and you can see how quickly entire towns and districts can be impacted. Talk about girl power!
Some secrets are too valuable to keep to yourself. I believe this is the case as it relates to corporate service trips. If anyone wants to learn more about how we run these, about Komera, or how to set up sometime similar for your own organization, send us a note. We’re happy to share everything we’ve learned.
And if you want to join me and Vidmob in making a donation to Komera, here’s the link. I promise you it will be going to a great cause.
Original post here
Author: Plan HR
Plan HR, a female-founded boutique Human Resources consultancy, is set to launch operations this week. Their focus on AI and real-world business outcomes aims to disrupt traditional HR practices. In today’s business landscape, where technology and social responsibility take center stage, Plan HR will be a force for change.
Committed to its mission, Plan HR will offer pro bono services to qualifying non-profits and donate 10% of its first-year profits to charity, supplementing its participation in the Pledge 1% movement. The firm is not just reimagining Human Resources; it is shaping its future while giving back to local communities. This philanthropic approach reflects Plan HR’s core values of social responsibility and community engagement.
Driven by a team with experience supporting Fortune 100 companies, large non-profits, and startups alike, Plan HR is uniquely positioned to meet the needs of today’s evolving business climate, embracing innovation while leaving outdated practices behind.
For more information about Plan HR and its innovative approach, visit: Plan HR Website. Or follow Plan HR: LinkedIn or Instagram.
About Plan HR:
Plan HR is a forward-thinking boutique HR consultancy specializing in Executive Staffing, HR Support, AI, Culture, and Data strategy. Committed to innovation and social responsibility, Plan HR aims to reshape the future of HR while positively impacting communities across the United States.
Original link here
Author: Nicole Brose, Director Of Marketing, LiquiDonate
We’re thrilled to announce that LiquiDonate has been chosen as one of the 12 semi-finalists for Accelerate at Circularity ’24! This recognition highlights our dedication to advancing the circular economy through innovative technology.
Accelerate is a coveted pitch competition that takes place at the GreenBiz Circularity Conference each year. It is renowned for spotlighting entrepreneurs who are spearheading scalable solutions that create a more sustainable future. From compostable menstrual pads to innovative crop input solutions, the semi-finalists represent a diverse array of industries and innovations. As a female-led startup, we’re truly honored to be among this esteemed group!
Accelerating Towards a Circular Economy
At LiquiDonate, our mission is clear: to accelerate the transition to a circular economy through scalable technology solutions. Approximately 80% of returns are currently landfilled. By matching excess items from brands with underfunded nonprofits and schools, our platform reduces landfill waste while helping communities in need. Additionally, LiquiDonate helps brands cut costs, tell a positive ESG story, and address Scope 3 emissions all through a singular software solution.
Scope 3 emissions, often the largest portion of a company’s carbon footprint, encompass indirect emissions from sources outside of a company’s control, such as transportation, waste disposal, and supply chain activities. By partnering with LiquiDonate, companies can seamlessly donate their excess and unsellable inventory, thereby reducing waste and the associated emissions.
Looking Ahead
As semi-finalists for Accelerate, we’re grateful to GreenBiz for providing a platform that amplifies the voices of early-stage startups committed to circularity. While we await the selection of finalists for the pitch competition, we’re honored to be part of a community driving positive change. The finalists will give their pitch on the global stage of Circularity ’24, taking place in Chicago, IL from May 22nd to May 24th, where votes will determine the ultimate winner.
A huge thank you to each of our partners and friends who enthusiastically believe in and support our mission. We hope you’ll help us celebrate this incredible milestone by sharing this blog with your network and tagging @LiquiDonate on any social platform.
Aylin Albayrak
Marketing Executive, Zumzum
Stockport, UK
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
If I were to describe myself in one word, it would be “organized.” I like planning and methodically following the steps in everything I undertake. Preferring not to leave anything to chance, I maintain regular notes to ensure I never miss important dates or updates.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
It is important for business leaders to prioritize social impact because they inspire many people. Their successes and reputation inspire both individuals and other organizations. A leader’s success in embracing social impact not only influences those currently following them but also serves as an inspiration for others to align themselves in a similar direction.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Zumzum takes pride in its dedication to social impact and supporting the community. Through our membership in the Pledge 1%, Zumzum is committed to making a positive difference through corporate philanthropy.
At Zumzum, we donate our time, products, and unique skills in cloud computing to empower nonprofits, enhancing their collaboration and productivity. As an example of our commitment to the Pledge 1% movement; Zumzum has donated time and services to a special nurturing school based in Stockport, UK. With the help of Zumzum, the school has saved £30,000 by avoiding the hassle of spending money on expensive systems. We are delighted to see the impact Zumzum has on communities, contributing to their goals and success.
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
To foster equality in workplaces, organizations must believe in the strength of diversity and inclusion.
To do this, companies may try to educate their team about the significance of equality and its value. Implementing specific activities, campaigns, or initiatives geared towards empowering women professionals can also be a good step. I believe that nurturing diversity and equality will create positive outcomes for both individuals and organisations.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
My advice is to believe in yourself and in the value you bring to your work. Take challenges as a learning experience, continuously refine your skills, and build a strong professional network. Believe in equality and do your best to empower women.
“My advice is to believe in yourself and in the value you bring to your work.”
Original link here
Author: Good Stuff Partners
“Our work at Good Stuff Partners is about so much more than just designing a brand or campaign, it’s about capturing the true essence of a cause to evoke emotion, intrigue, and action, and that’s what drives us every single day.”
— AIMEE KILMER, CO-FOUNDER AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Our agency’s milestone anniversary fuels next phase of community buildings and partnerships.
Recently, we celebrated 10 years of impact-driven work supporting local communities as well as global initiatives. On a mission to “build brands that give a damn,” our team at Good Stuff Partners has elevated campaigns and causes spanning social and political justice, sustainability, healthcare access, and more.
- For The Many, a grassroots movement seeking to transform New York experienced a 155% increase in fundraising.
- Pivotal, an agency in Silicon Valley supporting young adults in and from foster care, received $750K in unsolicited donations in less than a year.
- Community Action Marin, the county’s largest nonprofit, grew from a $17M organization to a $29M in just four years.
- Global Fund for Women, a nonprofit funding women’s human rights, continues to see a 500% increase in social media engagement year after year
You can find the full story 
Bijal Shah
CEO, Guild
Denver, CO USA
If you could describe yourself in one word, what would that be and why?
Kind. I deeply believe that treating people with respect, empathy, directness, and generosity of intent is kind, even when you have to make tough decisions as a leader.
Pledge 1% provides a framework for businesses to do good. Do you think it’s important for today’s corporate leaders to prioritize social impact? If so, why?
It is important, and always has been, for companies to be intentional about building businesses that deliver value for their shareholders and their communities alike. In the U.S. in particular, corporate leaders hold a lot of power, influence, and funds to make the communities and societies we live in better, more resilient, and future-focused.
Do you give back to the community with your team and work? If so, what does this look like?
Individually, I am a champion for Girls as part of Girls Inc of Metro Denver, which inspires girls to be “strong, smart, and bold” and an avid supporter (along with my husband) of Judi’s House, a non-profit that focuses on grief and bereavement.
Our teams at Guild receive up to 5 days of paid “VTO” (Volunteer Time Off) for volunteer/civic activism, helping them earmark time to give back to the communities where they live and work. I’m proud of the long list of organizations that our Guilders support on the local and national level.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
Satya Nadella said, “Don’t wait until your next job to do your best job.”
This year’s International Women’s Day themes are focused on investing in women and inspiring inclusion. What can we do to make today’s workplaces more equitable and inclusive for women?
You can’t talk about an equitable and inclusive workplace without talking about the need for increased access to reliable and affordable childcare in this country. This is the number one reason that women leave or change jobs.
In fact, a 2022 report by Motherly showed that a total of 46% of mothers who remain unemployed left the workforce due to childcare issues. Earlier this year, I shared a photo on LinkedIn of my son watching me practice for a keynote at Guild’s Opportunity Summit. I’m grateful that we set a standard at Guild that makes it possible, five months postpartum, for my son to travel with me as I attend a flagship event for Guild. That’s not the case everywhere- and we collectively must do better.
What advice do you have for women who are just starting their career?
Don’t worry so much about the title and pay of the role you take starting out. Instead, focus on working somewhere that will provide you with great training, mentorship, and access to learning and stretching yourself.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
This year, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow and learn as both a leader and a mom of 2. We are working on some really exciting projects at Guild that I can’t share quite yet, but that are high on my list of things I’m looking forward to, especially as employers continue to need to transform their workforces.
Feel free to follow me over on LinkedIn and I promise you’ll know what I’m talking about in the coming months!
“Don’t wait until your next job to do your best job.”