Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Liz Rhodes
COO, Art of Cloud
Liz Rhodes, COO, Art of Cloud
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
Ensuring the success of the team and business by supporting both my colleagues and all our customers to achieve the best results possible.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?
Look beyond the obvious. We pro-actively support the alternative options and look for what each person can bring to the table which may not be paper qualifications but life experience, not a first class degree but a mind full of ideas, you may not be outwardly vocal but can express yourself through mind maps. I personally see a huge part of my role is helping people see their talents as we see them and leveraging them for growth at their own personal rate. One person may want letters after their name for others recognition and thank yous make them tick – by encouraging and embracing inclusivity and creating a culture of affirmation and equality for all ideas and opinions it allows everyone an opportunity to grow.
Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?
Lots – friends who inspire me, family who have taught me self belief and love, my colleagues now and in the past who I learn from every day. My teenage daughters whose outlook on life gives me a new perspective. There is something to learn from everyone who crosses our paths in life be they on our life train for one stop or the whole journey.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
No is a complete sentence , you don’t need to justify it.
The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?
The everyday differences and challenges are always a chance to learn something or make a change. Even the hard days don’t last and you come out the other side knowing something new
Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
I think it’s so important to get involved, if everyone looks the other way communities don’t change, society doesn’t move forward and being part of a bigger whole is a good feeling. At Art of Cloud we have worked with local community groups and charities – we work closely with a local bed poverty charity, Zarach, by not only building their Salesforce System but also practically collection donations, making hampers and delivering Christmas parcels. We sponsor local sports teams and dance troupes. We raised money through sponsored activities for local activities – our team get involved through volunteering their time as well as financial support as being part of a community is definitely better than navigating life’s journey solo.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Empathetic -kind caring and really giving a damn.
Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?
Make a list! Then tick them off – it makes you feel good.
Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?
Too Good To Go – an app to prevent food waste in local area – get some great bargains
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
We are looking forward to do a charity skydive to raise funds for Zarach and then personally I am going to be undertaking the cold water dip every day in March to raise money for cancer research. Goals wise I look forward to seeing my team continue to grow both at their role and as people.
Natalie Rekstad
Founder & CEO, Black Fox Philanthropy & B Corp
Boston, MA & Paris, France
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
Set the long-term direction of the firm while empowering team to execute the day-to-day. Create and embody our culture and commitment centered in Black Fox Code.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?
Beyond our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we recognize the necessity of doing the internal and external work needed to ensure racism, sexism, and any other -isms are not present in our interactions. This requires deep inquiry and commitment, and a willingness to get your ‘nose bloodied’ yet keep staying in the conversation. I also focus upon changing the face of philanthropy through funding Black Fox Fellows.
Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?
I loved the ‘Playing Big’ course by Tara Mohr; I would call her a mentor to many women seeking greater impact and fully expressed lives.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
If you have to ask, you already know the answer (applies to fashion & life i.e. “Does this make me look fat?”)
The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?
Our team and the NGO leaders we serve and the incredible global missions we help resources through our services.
Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
As a B Corp it is our imperative to contribute to social good, but we elected to become B Corp because it was in our DNA already. So much more found here on my views!
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Resilient. The last 3+ years have been a mental and emotional monkey-knife-fight while company doubled in size while concurrently having a teen daughter navigate covid and life and so much more I cannot disclose here for her privacy’s sake.
Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?
YES! I am writing to you from the pool of the Ritz in Paris, Place Vendome. Membership to this club is less expensive for the year than We-Work. CRAZY! & I get awesome workout classes, yoga, etc.
Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?
Insight Timer. EVERY. DAY. Also a Gratitude App, and that has been terrific.
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Focusing upon impact initiatives beyond Black Fox Philanthropy, and having tons more time to nourish my spirit and sense of adventure.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Jennifer Willey
Founder and CEO, Wet Cement
Matawan, New Jersey USA
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
As the founder and CEO, I wear many hats! Most of my time is focused on building the strategy, content and delivery of our programs. This means I’m consulting with clients to help them drive inclusive cultures of growth, delivering keynotes (especially with International Women’s Day in March) and creating content for our “Fearless in 5” microlearning videos, newsletter and curriculum.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “Embrace Equity.” What does this mean to you? How can we build workplaces that are more equitable and inclusive?
This is at the core of everything I do! In fact, I’ll be delivering keynotes and workshops specifically on this topic across the US and global companies and organizations. “Embracing Equity” means cultivating an inclusive culture where everyone feels safe, like they belong, and has equal access to opportunities and achieving their potential. It’s about empowering those who identify as women to understand the external barriers and how to navigate around them, which knowing which internal barriers are more likely to hold us back. It is enlightening leaders with a ‘playbook’ on how they can foster equitable teams and allies with how they can help as upstanders.
Do you have any mentors or role models who have helped you on your personal journey?
There have been so many–of all genders–but the most consistent is Jennifer Shelley Zalis of The Female Quotient, Jennifer DaSilva of Berlin Cameron and Mita Mallick of Carta.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
The most valuable advice I’ve received is to get started before I’m fully ready. Thanks to this I enact (and share) the “80% Rule.” Rather than waiting until something is ‘perfect’ (which is a mirage), I get going when I feel like I’m 80% ready and then iterate along the way.
The past few years have brought many new and unprecedented challenges. What keeps you motivated or inspires you to stay optimistic?
I’m continually motivated by the important work that needs to be done to close the gender equity gap. Far too many people mistakenly believe that “we’ve achieved gender equity” because they have 50/50 gender composition in their company. Meanwhile, women are suffering from burnout and anxiety at levels higher than ever, leaving the workforce and the vast majority of power, influence and equity is still held by men (acc. to latest research shared by UN Women).
Pledge 1% helps companies of all sizes and stages leverage their assets for social good. Why do you think it’s important that companies prioritize social impact? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
We pledge our commitment to the amazing non-profit Working for Women, which helps the socioeconomic advancement of women by building capability for other nonprofits.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Purpose-Driven
Do you have any unique or useful life hacks to help get through your day?
Multitasking: Laptop while getting my hair colored, using my dog walking time to think creatively about my work.
Do you have any go-to apps or tools use love to use?
Rent the Runway is a lifesaver for professional women!
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
I’m most excited about impacting the lives of thousands of people during March for International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month!
The 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer has been released.
“A lack of faith in societal institutions triggered by economic anxiety, disinformation, mass-class divide and a failure of leadership has brought us to where we are today – deeply and dangerously polarized.
- Business is the only institution seen as competent and ethical.
- Fifty-three percent of respondents globally say that their countries are more divided today than in the past.
- CEOs are obligated to improve economic optimism and hold divisive forces accountable.”
Download the report here.
CTA Architects P.C.
New York, New York, United States
Number of employees: #58
https://www.ctaarchitects.com/
CTA Architects P.C. (CTA) is composed of talented, hands-on architects well-versed in traditional urban building types and new technologies. The firm has garnered respect from a myriad of clients from both the private and public sectors and specializes in new design, historic preservation, adaptive reuse, building restoration and rehabilitation. They have committed to pledging their profit and time towards helping the community.
While CTA Architects P.C. (CTA) has been dedicating a portion of its time and profit to valuable causes and nonprofit organizations since its founding, we only recently signed on to Pledge 1% in 2022. We have been uplifted and inspired by the community stories shared and have continued to take on new ways in which we can give our time and profit to causes in need of support.
One of the newer causes that we supported beginning this year was the New York Architect’s Regatta Foundation. CTA sponsored a boat for the 2022 New York Architect’s Regatta hosted in September 2022, and had five of its very own sailors aboard a J-24 sailboat in the Hudson River, racing to support providing waterfront access and educational experience to a wide audience of various socioeconomic backgrounds.
Over the past few years, the Regatta helped to realize some amazing feats such as:
• Successfully lobbied Congress and the NYS Legislature to enact laws that protect our drinking water supply
• Modified a fleet of sailboats so that people with spinal cord injuries, many of them combat veterans, can sail
• Taken classes of elementary and middle school students out for a day of sailing mixed with science lessons, on the Long Island Sound
• Provided leadership training, social services, college application support, STEM classes, and scholarships to students all over the NYC area
• Supported the US Olympic Sailing team, and especially, the US sailing team representative to the Paralympic Games
One of CTA’s very own employees came across this opportunity about a month before the event, and asked the Partners if we would be able to support the cause with a short timeframe. Without hesitation, an office-wide message was sent out asking for interest and participants for the regatta. Five members of CTA staff (also known as the “sailors”) volunteered and committed to raise a minimum of $2,500 to participate in the regatta. The sailors reached out to contractors, consultants, friends, family, and employees of the company, to gain financial support necessary to secure a sailboat on race day, with CTA itself making a generous donation to our team’s cause. At the end of the fundraising period, CTA was proud to have raised a total of $3,445 in just two and a half weeks, an achievement that we are very proud of.
The team was a group of all first-time sailors, and welcomed the challenge of sailing on a rainy day in the Hudson River with a great attitude and determination for success. The sailors, Nadja, Christian, Saša, Ben and Isabel, along with their trusty skipper Thomas, took to the waters and utilized their communication skills and strong sense of teamwork to excel during the races. CTA’s sailboat placed 6th in race one, 4th in race two, and 7th in race three. For a boat of first-time sailors, our skipper assured us that our listening skills, teamwork and above all else, our goal to have fun, helped us excel.
It was very encouraging to be able to support a new cause and get involved in something we had no exposure to, all while making a difference. We hope to continue supporting this cause on an annual basis and host a boat in the competition in future years!
Their #1 tip or advice for companies?
It is most important to base and build an impact program upon values and causes that your company cares about, and to give employees the ability to bring their own foundations and causes close to their hearts to the table for discussion of support. More progress is made when employees are passionate about the causes we support.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving th e way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Julie-Anne Mizzi
Managing Partner and CEO, Plenary Funds Management
Sydney, NSW, Australia
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
As the inaugural Managing Partner and CEO of Plenary Funds Management, I am responsible for creating an investment management business that invests in sustainable social infrastructure assets.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
Starting with a blank sheet of paper means we have this incredible opportunity to create the fund management of the future. We have unleashed the innovation potential within the team that has revolutionised a fund manager’s typical interaction with investors, sustainability approach and even our corporate philanthropy program.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges, especially during these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
Creating a business that will permanently change the industry for the better.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
We all have to do boring things in our job but we don’t have to do it all the time. So take joy in the things you love doing, but even as a CEO I have to do the boring bits too!
What does generosity mean to you?
Recognising that I have been lucky and helping others who aren’t in the same position.
How do you feel businesses can play a larger role in solving today’s biggest challenges? Do you have any specific stories or examples from your work or colleagues you can share?
Join Pledge 1%! It’s a great way to leverage your giving as you grow. At Plenary Funds Management we are giving away 1% of our product which means up to 1% of our fund is available for charities to invest fee-free. We don’t want charities’ hard earned dollars in fees, we want to support them in using their funds for good.
We also have strict ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria for every investment with a strong focus on reducing the carbon footprint in all our assets. We believe that we should act with purpose and meaning in everything we do.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
Interested – I find people and ideas fascinating and always looking for new things to learn
If you could pick a song to guide you through 2022, which song would it be?
What are you looking forward to this year? Are there any goals (personal or professional), activities, or experiences you are excited about?
Launching our flagship fund which is no mean feat!
Originally posted on Olo For Good.
In an effort to integrate social responsibility and impact into our business, Olo joined the Pledge 1% movement and created Olo For Good in March 2021. Since then we’ve committed one percent of Olo’s time, product, and equity to foster sustainable contributions to the communities in which we live, work, and serve.
Olo For Good supports organizations that are aligned with our mission and values, including those focused on:
- Advancing all aspects of racial, ethnic, and gender diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Providing relief for the restaurant industry and its front-line workers
- Ending childhood hunger and increasing access to food
- Protecting natural resources and reducing waste and emissions
As part of that commitment, we intend to donate one percent of Olo shares over 10 years to an independent donor-advised fund sponsor, Tides Foundation, in conjunction with our Olo For Good initiative. So far, a total of $7 million in grants has been donated to the following organizations:
- American Forests
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy
- Black Girls Code
- Clean Air Task Force
- Emma’s Torch
- Feeding America
- FoodCorps
- Girls Who Code
- Giving Kitchen
- Heart of Dinner
- The LEE Initiative
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
- Okra Project
- Partnership with Native Americans
- World Central Kitchen
These nonprofits are focused on diversity, supporting restaurant workers, environmental initiatives, and the fight against hunger. We are committed to working closely with each organization to ensure continued success.
Here are a few examples:
Emma’s Torch
Emma’s Torch is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides paid culinary training to refugees, asylees, and survivors of human trafficking and helps them find meaningful careers in the food industry.
When the pandemic forced Emma’s Torch to halt in-person dining, the organization needed a way to scale its business, including adding pick-up options for guests. And so, in addition to a grant, we donated our time and resources to get them set up with Online Ordering and Dispatch for restaurant delivery, and waived the usage fees.
Since then, Olo has helped Emma’s Torch streamline operations by eliminating manual work, improve order accuracy, and increase its reach throughout New York.
We remain committed to increasing online ordering capabilities for Emma’s Torch, assisting the organization as it expands to new locations, and leveraging each team’s strengths within the culinary industry to build a stronger community.
Giving Kitchen
Giving Kitchen supplies emergency assistance to food service workers through financial aid and a network of low or no-cost community resources.
When a food service worker experiences an injury, illness, housing disaster, or other trauma, they can apply for financial assistance to cover living expenses. Additionally, Giving Kitchen’s Stability Network connects people to resources related to mental health and substance misuse, employment, housing, social services, and more.
Formed out of an overwhelming community response to the terminal cancer diagnosis of Chef Ryan Hidinger, the nonprofit has provided over 6.7 million dollars to food service workers in crisis since 2013.
The pandemic underscored the value of Giving Kitchen, with 2,500 individuals served in 2020 alone, and set its intentions for the future. We’re proud to help the organization in its efforts to increase awareness within the restaurant industry and expand beyond Georgia and Tennessee to serve food service workers in need throughout the United States.
Partnership with Native Americans
Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) provides consistent material aid, educational support, and community-based services to Native Americans living on remote, isolated, and impoverished reservations.
After an Olo employee nominated the nonprofit, PWNA received a grant to support its first-ever ancestral foods distribution to Tribal communities in the Northern Plains and Southwest regions of the U.S. Alongside PWNA’s Native-led, peer-to-peer ancestral foods training that teaches individuals how to prepare traditional Indigenous meals, this distribution will complement the organization’s food sovereignty efforts.
PWNA will also use a small portion of the grant to purchase and distribute portable solar lights from Watts of Love to Tribal communities that lack sufficient electricity and lighting infrastructure to be safe and productive.
We’re grateful to partner with an organization that is working to eliminate food insecurity and increase safety among the Native American population.
How to Get Involved
Individuals or nonprofit organizations that want to get involved with Olo For Good or explore potential partnership opportunities are encouraged to reach out to oloforgood@olo.com.
Stay tuned for the announcement of our next batch of Olo For Good grant recipients in April 2023.
For more information about how Olo supports nonprofits via Olo For Good, and our ESG work, visit www.olo.com/esg.
John’s Crazy Socks
Farmingdale, NY U.S.A.
Number of employees: #34
John’s Crazy Socks is a social enterprise spreading happiness by showing what people with differing abilities can do and giving back. They have committed to pledging their profit and product towards helping the community.
Giving Back is an essential part of our mission at John’s Crazy Socks. Giving Back is baked into everything we do. The idea is simple: we do not believe it is enough to just sell things, we have to give back. Giving back is a way of saying thank you and expressing our gratitude. Giving back is a way to serve our community. Giving Back is an essential part of our social enterprise.
We Give Back in many ways:
- We pledge 5% of our earnings to the Special Olympics.
- We donate 5% from our Sock of the Month Club to the Special Olympics.
- We donate 10% from our awareness socks to our charity partners.
- We donate boxes of socks to non-profits to use in fundraising efforts such as auctions and raffles.
- We support local and selected charities with donations.
- We operate a Charity Fundraising Program to help non-profits raise money.
Giving Back to the Special Olympics
John and many of our colleagues are Special Olympic athletes and we see first-hand the many benefits of that organization. Without the Special Olympics, there would be no John’s Crazy Socks. John has learned many valuable skills and values through competing in the Special Olympics.
From the day we opened, we have pledged to donate 5% of our earnings to the Special Olympics. When we added our Sock of the Month offering, we committed 5% from the subscriptions to the Special Olympics. Thus, every time you purchase a subscription to the Sock of the Month, you are making a donation to the Special Olympics.
We have created special socks that both celebrate the Special Olympics and raise money for them.
- Polar Plunge Socks: John does a Polar Plunge every year to support the Special Olympics and we created Polar Plunge Socks both to celebrate the Polar Plunges, but also to raise money. We donate 10% from the sale of those socks to the Special Olympics.
- Shark Socks: John plays basketball and competes in track and field with the Commack Sharks. He loves that team so much that John designed Shark Socks and we donate 10% from the sale of those shark socks to the Special Olympics.
Beyond these donations, John and John’s Crazy Socks does all we can to support the Special Olympics:
- Polar Plunge: Each year, we enter a team in the Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics and have raised thousands of dollars through those efforts.
- Giving Tuesday: On Giving Tuesday, we donate $1 for every order placed with John’s Crazy Socks to the Special Olympics.
- Donations of Gift Boxes: We donate boxes of socks for auctions and raffles that the Special Olympics uses to raise money.
- Custom Products: We have made custom socks and masks for the Special Olympics that they have re-sold as fundraisers or used as incentives for donors.
- Supporting Fundraisers: John has assisted at many special Olympic fundraisers and gotten onstage to help raise money. At John’s Crazy Socks, we use our social media and email list to promote special Olympic fundraiser events.
All of these efforts with the Special Olympics are a crucial part of our Giving Back program.
Their #1 tip or advice for companies?
The more we do for others, the better off we are.
Pledge 1%’s #WomenWhoLead series celebrates female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation. While our featured leaders come from a variety of backgrounds and industries, they are united in their efforts to promote equality for all women in the workplace. We’ve asked them to share a bit about their journey to success, as well as lessons they’ve learned along the way.
Eugenia Maria Messeri
HR Manager, Xcc-eXpericence
Roma, Lazio, Italy
What is your current role? Briefly describe in 1-2 sentences.
HR Manager – I manage all HR process such as Talent Acquisition, Talent Development, Employer Branding and Company Branding.
What’s the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
The best part of my job is people, I love to work for them and with them in order to create best enviroment and support employee in their professional growth.
We’ve all faced personal and professional challenges, especially during these past two years – what motivates you to keep going?
The first motivation, in this challenging moment, were my family and the people I worked with. From a professional perspective I asked myself “How this situation is impacting me? How I feel and how can I give my support to my team?
Is what I want for me and my needs the same for my team?”
I found a different way of communicating, tried to understand different feelings and a different point of view to support and spend more time with my team.
What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?
During my life I received lots of good advices – but the one that I use in this moment of my life is “You are human too” and it is true – I am human.
What does generosity mean to you?
In my opinion generosity is any gesture, even the smallest one done for the purpose of making someone else feel good
without having something in return.
If you could describe yourself in one word what would that be and why?
I’m a positive person because I always try to see the best in each situation, accepting some mistake and improving myself always.