Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show

What does it take for philanthropy to support solutions that work locally?  

In this episode of the Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show, host Dr Faiz spoke with Anna Nasirova, founder of Philanthropy Central Asia, about bringing funding decisions closer to the communities they serve.  

Drawing on her experience managing international donor-funded programmes and her return to Uzbekistan, Anna explains why local organisations are essential to understanding community needs, and the challenges they face when managing larger funds.  

Together, they explore how relationships open doors to funding, why government support matters for women’s economic oppor...

You’re already doing PR every time you post, network, or speak about your work. But is it helping people trust you?

In episode 68, Dr Faiz sits down with Dr Brandi Sims to explore how social entrepreneurs and purpose-driven organisations can build visibility and credibility, even with a limited budget.

From partnering with like-minded organisations to building media relationships before you need coverage, Dr Brandi shares practical ways to get your mission noticed.

We also discuss AI in communications and why showing the results of your work matters more than simply having a loud vo...

What if the biggest challenges facing society are not separate problems, but symptoms of the same underlying system?

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Fons Burger, investigative journalist, author, social entrepreneur and systems thinker, about the connections between climate change, inequality, biodiversity loss, food and water insecurity, declining health and eroding trust.

Fons explains why solving these issues in isolation can sometimes create new problems elsewhere, why institutions struggle with long-term thinking, and what a more integrated approach to sustainability and systems change could look like.

They also explore the role of technology...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Julie Gawle, Senior Change Advisor and Change Communications Advisor at Meaningful Change Consulting, about why good strategies still fail when people aren't brought along in the change.

The conversation explores the human side of transformation, from communication and stakeholder engagement to organisational readiness, trust, and the gap between simply announcing change and achieving real adoption.

Julie also reflects on what leaders often get wrong during major transformation, how organisations can create greater ownership, and why successful change depends on more than technology, process, or strategy alone.

For...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with David B. Horne, founder of Add then Multiply and Funding Focus, about why access to capital remains so uneven for female and underrepresented founders.

David draws on decades of experience as a CFO, advisor, author, and entrepreneur to explore the structural barriers that shape funding decisions, from investor bias and limited access to networks to the way founders are questioned, assessed, and introduced to capital.

The conversation also explores what makes a founder genuinely fundable, why warm introductions matter, how entrepreneurs should think about bootstrapping and growth, and what...

Welcome to Season 4 of the Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Show.

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Stephen Minix, Vice President of Community at UpMetrics, about why collaboration moves at the speed of trust.

The conversation explores how nonprofits can build stronger relationships with funders, why data should serve the mission rather than drive it, and how simple acts of communication can turn transactional relationships into genuine partnerships.

Stephen also reflects on the role of AI in social impact, the importance of listening to the people being served, and why trust can never be...

Every breakthrough begins with an idea, but turning that idea into real-world impact is rarely straightforward.

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with Jason West, Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of NextGen Scientific. Jason shares his unusual journey from biology to law, executive leadership, pharmaceuticals, and scientific commercialization.

The conversation explores why promising ideas fail, how poor execution can undermine good intentions, what it takes to raise significant investment, and why courage, clarity, relationships, and persistence matter just as much as the original idea.

Jason also reflects on building a family business from humble...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with lifelong cooperative innovator, author and founder of Global Village Co-op, D. G. Safeer Hopton.

Drawing on more than five decades of experience, Safeer explains how cooperatives can help communities build and retain wealth rather than allowing outside corporations to continuously extract value. He shares the story of Co-op Village in Pasadena, where residents collectively owned not only their homes, but also the surrounding shopping centre and recreation facilities. Revenue generated by the commercial development was then reinvested to reduce housing costs and strengthen the wider community.

The conversation explores...

In this episode, Dr Faiz speaks with nonprofit strategist Sharmon Lebby, Founder of Blessed Designs Consulting and creator of the Nonprofit Launch Academy. 

With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, movement building, and ethical entrepreneurship, Sharmon shares powerful insights on why many mission-driven organizations struggle, how leaders can avoid mission drift, and why sustainable impact requires more than passion alone.

The conversation explores community-led organizations, funding challenges, organizational strategy, and one powerful reminder that stayed with us throughout the episode: money is just a tool.

For more content, do visit:
Email S...

In this episode, Faiz speaks with Gillian Delaunay, founder of NEON ID, about the future of personalized AI and why the next evolution of artificial intelligence may not be smarter AI, but AI that communicates in your voice. A conversation on identity, communication, and building more human-centered technology.

For more content, do visit:
Gillian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillianbrett
Neon ID: https://neonid.ai
Neon’s Website: https://neonid.com
Email Gillian: [email protected]
Catalyst Now: https://catalystnow.net
AstroX: https://www.angkasawan.org.my
Email Dr Faiz: m...

In this episode, Faiz sits down with David Homan, founder of Orchestrating Connecting and author of Orchestrating Connection, to explore why authentic relationships are becoming one of the most valuable forms of capital in social entrepreneurship and sustainability.
 
David has built a global network of more than 2,500 superconnectors spanning investors, entrepreneurs, family offices, creatives, and changemakers. Together, they discuss the difference between transactional networking and meaningful connection, how trust shapes resilient ecosystems, and why the future of social impact depends on relationships that are intentionally built and nurtured.
 
If you are building communities, leading change, or tr...

In this episode, Faiz sits down with Helen Neal, founder of HN Communications and creator of Zena, an AI platform designed to help organisations avoid greenwashing before sustainability claims go public.  

With a career spanning the UK Parliament, Virgin Atlantic, and Nissan, Helen brings a rare insider perspective on how policy, business, and public trust intersect. Today, through HN Communications, she works with global brands including Bosch, Heineken, Nissan, and Aston Martin to strengthen sustainability communication and accountability.  

This conversation explores why greenwashing is often less about bad intent and more about broken systems, unclear processes, an...

In this conversation, Christopher Carter breaks down why most organizations overcomplicate their modernization efforts and how leaders can think about AI, cloud, and new technologies without losing their minds.
What makes this episode different? Chris doesn't just talk theory. As a serial founder in the enterprise space, he shares the real challenges of leading through constant technological change and gives practical insights on creating long-term value rather than just adopting the latest tools. 
Whether you're a CEO facing pressure to modernize legacy systems or a leader trying to navigate the S/4 transition, this conversation will help you reframe t...

What if AI understood not just what you do, but who you are? This episode explores the intersection of identity, technology, and leadership with two founders building something different in the AI space.
 
Gillian Delaunay (CEO & Founder of NEON ID) and Erika Hanafin Austria (Co-Founder of NEON ID) discuss their personality-powered AI platform that helps people understand themselves, communicate better, and own their digital identity. From leadership transformation to real-world applications, they explore how identity shapes how we show up and why the next wave of AI might be more human than we think.
 
Fresh from th...

What if the real impact of funding isn’t just in what it supports, but in the cost of how it’s deployed?
Dr Nadait Gebremedhan rejoins the show to share the thinking behind Toll the Funder Footprint Initiative, a movement examining whether funding processes create a net positive or negative impact on society. 
Rather than focusing only on outcomes, this approach looks at the footprint of capital itself, from the conditions it imposes to the hidden costs placed on the very organisations it aims to support.
In this conversation, we explore how funding structures can unintentionally limit...

What if philanthropy could operate through a for-profit model designed to help people at scale? 
Dr Janelle Thompson, founding partner and board member of The 144k Collective, joins the show to discuss a new approach to collective giving built on socially responsible capitalism. The 144k Collective operates as a for-profit philanthropic social enterprise where members contribute small daily amounts to support people in need and fund community-driven initiatives. Drawing on her experience as a nurse anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate, Dr Thompson shares how service, leadership, and shared responsibility can reshape the way communities help one another.

F...

What if the clean energy breakthrough isn’t new infrastructure, but old oil wells?

Kemp Gregory, Co-Founder and CEO of Renewell Energy, is converting idle oil wells into gravity-powered energy storage systems to support renewable power at scale. 

In this episode, we explore an important truth about the energy transition: it isn’t about starting everything anew. Instead, it’s about thoughtfully building on what’s already in place. 

We dive into the founder’s journey behind the technology, from introducing a bold idea into a deeply entrenched industry to navigating regulatory friction and investor sce...

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Sharon Elefant, founder and CEO of The Nonprofit Plug. Dr Sharon helps nonprofit leaders and social impact entrepreneurs become truly funder-ready by strengthening their financial systems, compliance practices, and strategic foundations. We unpack what it really means to build financial credibility, the common mistakes organisations make before applying for grants, and how to develop trust-based relationships with funders. If you want to move from scrambling for funding to building sustainable, confident growth, this episode is for you.  

For more content, do visit:
Dr Sharon’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/i...

In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Kennedy III, a leadership communication expert who helps entrepreneurs and organisations turn clarity into confidence and purpose into performance. We explore why great ideas often fall flat without strong communication, how storytelling builds trust and influence, and what leaders can do to show up with confidence and authenticity. Drawing on his experience training over 10,000 leaders, Robert shares practical tools for communicating clearly, inspiring action, and leading with purpose. If you’re a founder, social entrepreneur, or leader looking to strengthen your voice and expand your impact, this episode is for you.

The electrification of vehicles is advancing rapidly, but scaling it responsibly requires more than new technology. It demands systems thinking, collaboration, and long-term vision.

In this episode, Mats Larsson, Founder of the Global Energy Transformation Institute, shares insights from over three decades at the intersection of energy transformation, vehicle electrification, and sustainability. The conversation explores what it really takes to accelerate electric mobility, from grid readiness and charging infrastructure to policy alignment and equitable access. A practical, forward-looking discussion on why vehicle electrification is one of the most important transitions shaping our climate and economic future. 

F...

In this episode, Ushma Pandya, co-founder of Think Zero, reveals how companies can meaningfully reduce waste and emissions without sacrificing profitability. Drawing from her experience advising global firms, serving on NYC’s Solid Waste Advisory Board, and working across corporate, nonprofit, and policy spaces, Ushma breaks down what actually drives long-term sustainability change. We explore why measurement matters, how circular design can reshape products and packaging, and why waste reduction only sticks when changes in consumers’ behaviour occur. This conversation is a practical guide for entrepreneurs, leaders, and organisations looking to build climate-conscious models that work in the real world.<...