Episodes
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Welcome to my seventh logbook, an in between seasons update on Ecosystems for Change.
In each logbook, I give you a peek behind the scenes of what’s happening in my day job as an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder in the Shenandoah Valley, some updates from the field of ecosystem building, an introduction to Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building doing amazing work in their communities, and a behind the scenes update about the show itself.
It’s a fun way for me to let you in on my thought processes and an invitation for you to contribute your own thoughts and experiences that make this show what it is.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
The event we convened in September that brought together entrepreneurial champions and advocates in the Shenandoah ValleyA new advocacy organization with an online communityConference season is upon us! And the events you’ll find me atHow Alax Foreman is building a community of tech entrepreneurs in ChicagoWhat Nick Giraldo wants to change about how we think about economic developmentWhy I’ve made the tough decision to put Ecosystems for Change on hiatusLearn More About Alax Foreman:
Chi Tech CollectiveLearn More About Nicholas Giraldo:
Wyoming Community NavigatorLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Common Wealth Crushshenandoahvalleyliving.com/entrepreneurshipField NotesRight to StartSOCAP GlobalStartup Champions Network Fall SummitShenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship SummitInBIA e.Builder’s ForumZebras UniteTech Link Up ChicagoThe Sanctuary ChicagoBlack Tech Saturdays DetroitAfrotech ConferenceNicholas Giraldo on the Wyoming SBDC Network PodcastUnsung Hero Spotlight: Nida AnsariUnsung Hero Spotlight: Sameer PopatUnsung Hero Spotlight: Alax ForemanUnsung Hero Spoltight: Nicholas Giraldo -
On today’s bonus episode, I’m speaking with Chris Heivly.
Chris has over 40 years of experience working as, for, and with entrepreneurs and I was delighted to talk with him about why he wants to see more ecosystem and community builders come together and build a fort.
Chris Heivly is a life-long entrepreneur and multifaceted investor who spent forty years working as, for, and with entrepreneurs. Prior to becoming a successful startup community builder and consultant, Chris co-founded MapQuest—which sold to AOL for $1.2 billion. He currently serves as a managing director of The Startup Factory and is a highly sought-after public speaker. His first book, Build the Fort: Why 5 Simple Lessons You Learned As a 10 Year-Old Can Set You Up for Startup Success, was inspired by his widely acclaimed TEDx talk in 2014.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Why Chris uses the metaphor of building the fort when addressing ecosystem builders and entrepreneursHow the fluidity of complex adaptive systems benefits entrepreneurs and ecosystem buildersWhy you have to identify and speak with as many of the actors in your ecosystem as possibleWhy collaboration and partnerships are vital to creating a whole that is greater than the sum of its partsHow to identify the gaps in your ecosystem and bring the right people together to fill themHow adopting a short term mindset can help ecosystem builders dive in, get stuff done, and build momentumWhy you can’t wait for a permission slip to get involvedHow leaders and influencers set the tone for the culture of an ecosystemLearn More About Chris Heivly:
WebsiteThe Startup FactoryConnect with Chris on LinkedInBuild the Fort: The Startup Community Builder's Field GuideBuilding the fort -- a metaphor for starting anythingLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, Victor Hwang and Greg HorowittStartup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City, Brad FeldThe Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian HathawayEcosystems for Change Season Two: The Slow and Complex Nature of Ecosystem ChangeS05E05: Start. Hand over. Repeat. The Cycles of Ecosystem Building with Larkin GarbeeS04E06: Investing in the Lives of Founders with Todd NuckolsS04E08: Succession Planning: Transferring Social Capital To The Next Generation with Rick TuroczyEcoMap Technologies -
Missing episodes?
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We started this season by asking how we can tell better stories about what is happening in our ecosystems.
As I reflect on the lessons learned throughout the season, the key piece is that storytelling is not just some fun marketing campaign; it’s a tool to show the community what is possible and what the future might look like.
But most of us–entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners alike–are so bogged down in the day-to-day that we rarely have the chance to envision the bigger picture of where the ecosystem is headed. Storytelling allows us to gather and curate all these different stories of doers, makers, and dreamers into a mosaic that creates a beautiful picture as it comes together.
Once we understand that every story, whether on a blog, in a newsletter, or in a YouTube video, contributes to this greater picture and narrative, we can start chipping away at it. You don’t need a degree in journalism or media production to contribute. You just need a genuine sense of excitement about the entrepreneurs you encounter and the willingness to look for solutions.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How solutions-based storytelling, supported by clear and objective facts, moves the needleHow the accessibility of technology creates opportunities for more diverse stories and storytellersDifferent strategies for leaning on your networks to spread your storiesChoosing your format and making the money workHow storytelling not only shines light on the doers and makers in your community, but allows the community to shift how they see themselvesLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Season 6: All EpisodesTea After TwelveSolutions Journalism NetworkHometown HustleThe Rural EdgeEntrepreneurship IndianaConnect INDThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph, Ryan HolidayEcoMap Technologies -
Today, we’re headed to Vermont to hear stories about extraordinary rural communities throughout the US.
Austin Danforth is the chief storyteller in charge at the Center on Rural Innovation (CORI), not that he would call himself that. But I definitely do.
Austin is putting his prior career as a sports reporter and photographer to use to reshape the narrative around tech ecosystems, innovation, and entrepreneurship in rural America.
Austin and the team at CORI have produced the incredible video series The Rural Edge, as well as community case studies, reports, and tools that I, personally, have found super useful in my own work developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Shenandoah Valley.
Naturally, I wanted to get Austin on the show to share with us how CORI does what they do, and how they do it so well. He’s spilling the beans on the process of developing stories, how it differs from his life as a journalist, and how and why CORI has committed funding and resources to telling these vital stories.
Austin Danforth is a native Vermonter who spent more than a decade as a sportswriter and photographer before jumping into nonprofit communications with the Center on Rural Innovation. He's an avid storyteller and connection-maker who loves to experience new places and figure out what makes them tick.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Austin thinks about shaping narratives and making CORI’s work meaningful and accessible Why it’s been vital for CORI to partner with funders who believe in their mission to change the narrative about rural entrepreneurshipThe tightrope walk between audience and engagement in storytellingHow Austin and CORI think about metrics and return on investment for storytelling workLearn More About Austin Danforth:
Center on Rural InnovationTwitter: @eadanforthConnect with Austin on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Wright ThompsonTim LaydenThe Rural EdgeEcoMap Technologies -
In this episode, I’m continuing my conversation about Yearbook Indiana with Polina Osherov of Pattern, Morgan Allen of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, and Julie Heath, formerly of IEDC.
We’re jumping right back in from the break, so if you haven’t listened to part one, go do that!
In part two, we’re digging into the nitty-gritty of getting the yearbook into the right hands, how they made the budget work for the project and the state’s strategic goals, and getting community buy-in.Listen to the full episode to hear:
How thoughtful graphic design choices made it easy for founders to participate in sharing the yearbook on socialHow the team distributed over 3000 copies of the yearbook in just four monthsCalculating the ROI on getting entrepreneurship stories out into the worldThe impact of positive storytelling for ecosystem buildersLearn More About Polina Osherov:
PatternInstagram: @posherovConnect with Polina on LinkedInLearn More About Morgan Allen:
Indiana Economic Development CorporationConnect with Morgan on LinkedInLearn More About Julie Heath:
Connect with Julie on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
S04E07: The Know-How via Know-Who of Social Capital with Julie HeathLogbook #6: Nida AnsariHardtech IndianaAgBioscience PodcastDenisha Ferguson, Indiana Fashion Week (PATTERN article)People I (Mostly) Admire, Steven Levitt (podcast)Dear Data, Georgia Lupi & Stefanie PosavecEntrepreneurial Ecosystem Building with Dell Gines (free online course with Project DEEP)How To Take Over the World by Ben WilsonEntrepreneurship IndianaConnect INDEcoMap Technologies -
In today’s episode, I get to introduce you to a storytelling powerhouse trio.
At every stage of the process, from vision to execution to the final product, I have rarely seen such a well-produced, coherent, and meaningful storytelling campaign as Yearbook Indiana.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation–IEDC–collaborated with Indiana-based magazine Pattern, to produce a yearbook highlighting the stories of entrepreneurs throughout the state and to highlight the positive impacts of young companies on the state’s economy.
To steer this ambitious undertaking, IEDC and Pattern brought together the three women you’ll hear from today: Polina Osherov, co-founder and executive director of Pattern, Morgan Allen, entrepreneurial ecosystem manager at IEDC, and Julie Heath, who has since moved on from IEDC.
Because there is just so much to absorb in this rich conversation, we’re splitting it into two parts.
In part one, you’ll hear about how this kind of storytelling became a priority, how the project got underway between IEDC and Pattern, and what makes a physical storytelling product like a yearbook so special and powerful.Listen to the full episode to hear:
Five key milestones to putting the project togetherHow they crafted the narrative arc for the yearbookHow they’re fine-tuning the process for the 2023 yearbookLearn More About Polina Osherov:
PatternInstagram: @posherovConnect with Polina on LinkedInLearn More About Morgan Allen:
Indiana Economic Development CorporationConnect with Morgan on LinkedInLearn More About Julie Heath:
Connect with Julie on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
S04E07: The Know-How via Know-Who of Social Capital with Julie HeathDell GinesEntrepreneurship IndianaConnect INDEcoMap Technologies -
I’ve been in awe of today’s guest, Natalie Hodge, since I first learned about her show Hometown Hustle.
As of summer 2023, the show is in its second season telling the stories of entrepreneurs building their big business ideas in the small towns of rural America and changing the narrative about rural entrepreneurship.
Today, Natalie shares why she believes it’s so vital to share the stories of rural entrepreneurs, the joys and challenges of producing a web series from scratch on a tight budget, and how we can build buy-in on these stories from community and corporate partners.
Natalie Hodge is the founder and owner of Rudy’s Girl Media, a Martinsville, Virginia-based multimedia content creation company specializing in developing a diverse array of engaging projects ranging from film to literary works. Natalie is a writer, producer, and transformation coach with a background in higher education and workforce development with degrees from Guilford College and Cornell University. She is an authentic and inspiring speaker who focuses her messaging on fearlessness and the power of positive being.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Natalie went about building her slate of entrepreneur storiesWhy it’s so important for her to share the positive impact of rural entrepreneurship on local economiesHow Natalie builds buy-in with partners from community economic development teams to corporate sponsorsHow telling stories of rural entrepreneurs has the ability to impact local economiesLearn More About Natalie Hodge:
Rudy's Girl MediaNatalieHodge.comHometown HustleInstagram: @NatalieKHodge, @RudysGirlMediaLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Entrepreneurship on the RISE Podcast, RISE CollaborativeBrowntown FarmsThe Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials Into Triumph, Ryan HolidayEcoMap Technologies -
Welcome to my first interview of season 6.
I sat down with none other than Eva-Maria Verfürth, Publisher and Editor in Chief of Tea After Twelve.
While based in Frankfurt, Germany, Eva’s storytelling spans around the globe to talk about new solutions to old problems to create a better world.
As you’ll see in this conversation, Eva is driven by a deep desire to transform journalism in a way that moves beyond mere disaster reporting and emphasizes inspiration and progress, which is why I’m so excited to kick off season 6 with her.
Let’s go to Frankfurt!
Eva-Maria Verfürth is a journalist and entrepreneur with a keen interest in international perspectives and social change. Her career has been driven by the wish to transform journalism in a way that moves beyond mere disaster reporting and emphasizes inspiration and progress. In 2014, Eva and her teammate Sarah Klein founded Tea After Twelve, an international online magazine on impact innovation, technological inventions, and social change. The idea in a nutshell: reporting about what is working instead of only telling what’s going wrong. Tea after Twelve wants to connect creative minds around the world, the entrepreneurs, inventors, thinkers, and makers who have convincing ideas for social change and ecological transformation. It features projects and actions that have had an impact in their communities and have the potential to make a difference elsewhere as well.
Eva is also co-founder and managing director of Bunny Island, a German communications agency offering content production and design services, and a coach and trainer for (solutions) storytelling and communications strategy. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she worked as an editor and writer for several magazines with international audiences and in public relations for German development cooperation organizations.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Why Eva and her co-founder developed Tea After Twelve to be an solutions-based antidote to negative news coverage of social and environmental impact issuesHow Tea After Twelve translates impactful stories from around the world for a global audienceHow Tea After Twelve has developed a global network of storytellers outside the journalistic mainstreamWhy Eva says it’s important to acknowledge the limitations of the solution in a storyLearn More About Eva-Maria Verfürth:
Tea After TwelveBunny IslandConnect on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Solutions Journalism NetworkAn Introduction to Hans RoslingHans Rosling’s TED TalkEcoMap Technologies -
In season 6 of Ecosystems for Change, we are going to explore the art, craft, and science of telling meaningful stories that have the power to affect change in our communities.
I’ve always enjoyed hearing other people’s stories, reading about them, and eventually telling these stories. As I started out helping to develop the ecosystem in Richmond, VA, I also began to understand that storytelling is a powerful tool in any ecosystem builder’s toolbox.
But once I picked up Peter Block’s book, “Community: The Structure of Belonging,” I understood that storytelling could be much more and that it’s actually a tool that helps a community create a vision for itself, to dream of a future that might be possible.
To me, this following quote sums up his work beautifully:
“Stories can give us a narrative to guide and instruct us. They are crucial to our knowing who we are; they provide a sense of identity. […] We need to distinguish between the stories that give meaning to our lives and help us find our voice, and those that limit our possibility.”
This season, I’m speaking with other storytellers to learn their tips and tricks of the trade. I hope to uncover how others go about finding and telling meaningful stories that give hope and propel their communities forward.
I want to find out exactly what intentions these storytellers have, how they approach storytelling, what their process looks like from beginning to end, and how they make the finances work.
As always on this show, my hope is that we can learn from each other, avoid the obvious pitfalls, and as a result become better at what we do: Transform our communities by supporting the changemakers within them.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Two examples of the impact of storytelling from my own lifeWhy we need to focus on telling stories of possibility instead of railing against problemsHow negative narratives keep us stuckThe power of positive storytelling to propel change in our communitiesLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter BlockThe Space Beyond Scarce: Collaboration and Ecosystem Building for Entrepreneurs and Change Makers with Anika HornManifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, Jacqueline NovogratzShenandoah Community Capital Fund BlogEcoMap TechnologiesSummer Skill Sessions: Ecosystem Mapping -
Welcome to my 6th logbook where I give a little insight into what’s happening behind and beyond the scenes of this show.
And I’m switching up the format a little bit! I’ve been meeting so many incredible ecosystem builders, and while I can’t have them all on the show, that’s not going to stop me from trying!I’m super excited to introduce a new quarterly segment called the Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building.
I ran this campaign back in 2020 alongside two fellow ecosystem builders, Jeff Bennet and Jess Edwards, both of whom you’ve met on this show.
I often meet really brilliant ecosystem builders–online and in-person–and I want to be able to share their awesomeness with all of you!
But before we go deep into meeting two Unsung Heroes, I’ll share what’s been going on in the Shenandoah Valley and behind the scenes of the show.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Two ways we’re engaging with the entrepreneur communities in the Shenandoah ValleyWhat’s coming up on Season Six of Ecosystems for ChangeUnsung Hero Why Nida Ansari goes all-in on making Indianapolis her new hometown, and how she went about integrating herself into the ecosystemHow Unsung Hero Sammy Popat builds bridges within the university and out into the wider ecosystem in MarylandLearn More About Nida Ansari:
Connect with Nida on LinkedInTwitter: @theVCnidaTwitter: @hardtechindianaConnect with Hard Tech Indiana on LinkedInLearn More About Sammy Popat:
Sammy Popat’s University of Maryland BioUMD Innovation GatewayLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Shenandoah Community Capital Fund BlogEcoMap TechnologiesEcosystem Builder Hub: Unsung Hero Spotlight: Sameer PopatEcosystem Builder Hub: Unsung Hero Spotlight: Nida Ansari -
Over the course of this season, quitting became a constant topic in my life.
One of my team members quit to take on a new role closer to home. A new friend talked to me about quitting her job to spend more time enjoying her family and less time worrying about making it all fit in her schedule. A partner quit because he had done what he came to do and was ready to move on to something else.
With the perspective I’ve gained through the Quitter conversations in season 5, I was able to view these Quits within my sphere as something rich and endlessly fascinating.
When I started out with this season, I referred to The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek. InThe Infinite Game, players stop playing for two reasons:
They lack the external resources to keep playing, such as the remuneration or the job to build an ecosystem, orTheir internal resources - such as will and motivation - are depleted causing them to step out.With each conversation in this season, I was trying to sort my guest into one of these two boxes only to be reminded that people can’t be sorted into boxes. I found instead that quitting a purpose-driven role is much more complex than that.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How a lack of internal and external resources leads changemakers to quitHow this season’s quitters found new ways to build ecosystemsThe importance of how you leave - for yourself and your ecosystemThe relationship of the long-term work of ecosystem building and the modern realities of shifting careers and rolesLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
The Infinite Game, Simon SinekS04E06: Investing in the Lives of Founders with Todd NuckolsS02E05 – Thriving In a World of Ambiguity, Uncertainty, and Constant Change with April Rinne -
In our last conversation of this season, we’re traveling to Berlin, Germany. I’m sitting down with Naomi Ryland, systemic change maker, social entrepreneur, bestselling author and overall insightful person.
We talked about the last ten years in the German social impact space, how to turn your organization from a hierarchical to a self-organized one, and how to shift and share power as a person with privilege. We also talk about burnout from the Unicorn-startup culture and raising anti-racist, feminist children.
Naomi is an entrepreneur, author, and activist with a keen interest in feminist economics, diversity and belonging, power and privilege, and post-capitalist utopias. She founded tbd*, the go-to platform for jobs with purpose, and SEND e.V., the political representative body for social entrepreneurship in Germany. She co-authored Starting a Revolution and co-edited and co-authored Unlearn Patriarchy.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Naomi’s realization that she was following a playbook that wasn’t written by or for people like her led her to Starting a RevolutionHow principles of self-organizing and competency-based hierarchy at tbd* impacted Naomi’s slow transition out of her role as founderWhy Naomi says it’s important for people with privilege to take risks towards systemic changeWhy Naomi’s next big project is about unlearning businessLearn more about Naomi Ryland:
NaomiRyland.comInstagram: @naomi_rylandLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Lisa JaspersAll About Love: New Visions, bell hooksStarting a revolution, Naomi Ryland & Lisa JaspersUnlearn Patriarchy, Lisa Jaspers & Naomi Rylandtbd*Unlearn Business Lab -
In today's episode, we're traveling to Phoenix, Arizona to chat with Lucas Lindsey.
Lucas is an ecosystem builder turned real estate developer. We talked about planning for succession and the importance of the built environment for entrepreneurial ecosystem building.
Lucas Lindsey is a Michigan kid on a long hiatus to the American Southwest. He is a big fan of new ideas and old buildings who has always worked in a combination of ecosystem building, real estate development, and construction. He believes in empowering change from the bottom up and working hard to improve whatever community you call home.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
The road trip that prompted Lucas’s shift away from ecosystem buildingThe challenges Lucas faced in leaving an identity-defining careerHow Lucas’s organization handled the delicate work of succession planningLearn more about Lucas Lindsey:
UrbnistTwitter: @urbnistLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Startup Champions NetworkThe Cathedral and the BazaarJenny Poon & Co+Hoots Coworking -
In today's episode, I want to introduce you to my longtime friend and OG ecosystem builder, Larkin Garbee.
Larkin has put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into jumpstarting entrepreneurial support initiatives, both in Richmond, Virginia, as well as nationally.
In this conversation, we talk about handing initiatives over to people who can carry them forward, and the upside of spending over a decade in an ecosystem.
Join me on a trip back home to Richmond.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Larkin has shifted gears between local and national ecosystem building workWhy Larkin chose to step away from formal ecosystem building as COVID took holdHow real estate and ecosystem building scratch a similar itch for LarkinHow Larkin approaches being a serial “starter” of organizations and initiativesLearn more about Larkin Garbee:
Email LarkinLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Ep 4.7 Investing in the Lives of Founders with Todd NuckolsStartup Champions Network -
In today’s episode, we’re making our way to Fargo, North Dakota to talk to Annie Wood.
I first met Annie through Startup Champions Network and was fortunate enough to visit her community during our Fall Summit in 2018.
Shortly thereafter, Annie left the host organization and started a new chapter of her life.
Today, she shares what was going on behind the scenes at the time, how she regrouped after leaving the profession as an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder, and what this next chapter looks like.
We talked about the grief of letting go of what could have been, and how to find your way back to yourself when you’re letting go of a part of your professional identity.Annie Wood thinks of herself as a combination of life experiences - she’s a learning facilitator, an experiential educator, and a community builder. Her day-to-day work in student life on a college campus is really the perfect mash-up to use the skills she’s developed. In her role, she helps folks explore who they are and where they want to go - through formal programs, mentorship, and encouraging them to follow their curiosities.
Annie is a believer in lifelong learning and aims to live with a growth mindset. She is passionate about providing opportunities for folks at any stage of life to explore who they are and how to live a life that matches their values. She believes that each day, we make choices about how we’ll contribute to our communities - and that is a reflection of our values. So Annie chooses to have a positive outlook and to validate people for who they are. Outside of her daily work and facilitating trainings, Annie especially loves creating or attending community events with a hint of whimsy and being part of groups that are just a little bit quirky, because the people with the wildest ideas are usually the most fun to be around.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Annie used counseling to help her come to terms with needing to quit and how to let go and process griefWhy she took a month for Annie-tober, and why she still does it to this dayWhy Annie believes in having a personal manifesto of her valuesHow Annie used her network to remind her of what kind of work brings her joy as she looked for the next thingHow Annie’s current role allows her to empower students to create communityLearn more about Annie Wood:
Instagram: @annie_likethemusicalConnect with Annie on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
The Inventurers: Excursions in Life and Career Renewal, Janet Hagberg, Richard J. LeiderThe Feeling WheelThe Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, Priya Parker -
Today, I want you to meet Julia Firestone.
Julia is a transformational leadership and career coach who serves experienced social impact professionals to help them unleash their biggest positive impact in the world while living their most fulfilling life.
Julia has worked in corporate innovation and strategy, global NGOs, scrappy startups, and corporate social impact. Bringing all of these experiences together, Julia loves applying innovative methodologies to solve the biggest social impact challenges of our time.
In today’s conversation, you’ll hear about Julia’s first Big Quit and how she built a network of impact professionals like no other that not only helped her land her next gig, but has become a rich community of changemakers who show up for each other.
If you think networking is so early 2000s, I bet you’ll think differently after this conversation.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Julia structures her monthly online meetups for changemakers to get beyond “what do you do” to building real relationshipsHow Julia’s experience at a small nonprofit highlights many of the systemic issues in impact and nonprofit workThe strategies Julia used to build a large network of impact professionals before she quit her nonprofit jobHow Julia learned to trust her gut and listen to her body when it comes to big decisionsLearn more about Julia Firestone:
Julia Firestone CoachingCommunity Open HouseConnect with Julia on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Business Relationships, Susan McPhersonThe BloomLove Letter to the Movement, Sarah Jawaid and Damon Azali-RojasCoaching for Healing, Justice, and Liberation -
When Joe Maruschak left his home ecosystem of Eugene, Oregon, it sent ripples through our community of ecosystem builders.
In the public farewell letter that he wrote in July 2021, he voiced what so many of us had been struggling with and discussing behind closed doors.
A year and a half after this letter, I invited Joe onto the show to share his journey and talk to us about what life is like after the big Quit.
We talked about self-financing your work as an ecosystem builder, managing different stakeholders with very different expectations, and about the importance of doing over talking.
Joe Maruschak is a twice-exited startup founder, Startup Accelerator Managing Director, and Fund GP, who spent the better part of a decade building the startup community in Eugene, Oregon.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Why Joe believes in connecting with newcomers to a community about more than just their startupsThe slow process of realizing that he had done all that he could in EugeneThe psychological toll of being a recognizable leader in an ecosystem grappling with serious issues beyond fundingWhy Joe wouldn’t change much about how he approached his time in Eugene, but he would trust his gut and take action moreLearn more about Joe Maruschak:
MediumTwitter: @JoeMaruschakLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
Last Call! Sadly saying goodbye to a community, by Joe MaruschakThe New Geography of Jobs, Enrico MorettiThe Power Law: Venture Capital and the Making of the New Future, Sebastian Mallaby -
In this season of Ecosystems for Change, I’m talking to my guests about their experience with quitting.
As much as I dislike quitting–I really do–I understand it is part of life. We evolve and so do the circumstances, organizations and people around us.
As we uncovered in season two, ecosystems are complex, adaptive systems; they are constantly shifting and changing and as a result, people move in and out of them at different times.
As builders who like to start new things, it’s only logical that everytime we start one thing we technically have to quit something else to create the space for this new thing to flourish and thrive. In season three, we heard first-hand accounts of what happens when we keep piling on, trying to squeeze one more ounce of productivity out of ourselves because we somehow feel like we want to do it all.
I have come to believe that quitting is normal, healthy, and simply part of the natural cycle of progress. And yet, it is still somehow taboo. The idea that quitting somehow is a sign of failure, of suddenly not caring about the cause anymore, means that many of us passionate change makers hang in there longer than we should or want to.
That’s what I want to talk about in Season 5. I’m sitting down with ecosystem builders who stopped playing–either temporarily or for good. I want to find out what led to the depletion of their resources–either internal or external–and if there’s anything we can do to change course and stop that depletion.
What happens when you decide or you’re forced to step away from your life’s work? We’ll get a little closer to an answer in this season.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
What complex adaptive systems can teach us about quittingWhy ecosystem building is like an infinite game with shifting rules, tactics, players, and timelinesThree perspectives on stepping away from the game of ecosystem buildingLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
The Infinite Game, Simon SinekThe Infinite Game of Ecosystem Building, Social VenturersBonus Episode: The Ecosystem Builders: Where Are They Now? Ep 4.8: Succession Planning: Transferring Social Capital To The Next Generation with Rick TuroczyEp 2.4 – Servant Leadership, Co-writing New Narratives and Burnout in Ecosystem Building with Jeff Bennett -
As I was wrapping up the first year of the show, I found myself wondering what had come of all those great plans and even greater unknowns that many of my guests had shared with me when they were on the show. And selfishly I wanted to catch up with some of my previous guests to hear what they are working on these days.
So I invited a handful of them to come back and let us know how their world has evolved since we last heard from them.
You will hear stories about leaving corporate, entering corporate, hosting large events, and leading teams. We talked about the Lord of the Rings and weeding out hegemonic systems. We also talked about grief and fear and becoming parents.
And throughout all of it, there runs a beautiful thread of building and nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems and communities throughout the Americas.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
How Charlton Cunningham is bringing intentionality in his relationships to his new, more settled role in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Why Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter says it was important for her to model planning for transitions and stepping down as CEO of ImpaqtoHow Shelly Rose moved past her fears, left her corporate job, started grad school, and went all-in on her businessWhy Denisse Rodriguez and Colmena66 brought in a DEI expert to kickstart a conversation about diversity and inclusion in Puerto Rico and how that impacted their reporting and events in 2022How Sassy Sassoon’s journey to parenthood has expanded her understanding of systemic barriers and injustice and how that parallelled her experiences at Zebras Unite in 2022Learn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
S01E03 – How to Build Trust Within an Ecosystem with Charlton CunninghamShout-out to Cecilia WessingerLightship FoundationCharlton’s Tulsa startup guideBlack Tech WeekStartup Champions Network Spring Summit SXSWThe Power of Strangers. The benefits of connecting in a suspicious world. Joe Keohane
Charlton Cunningham:Michelle Arevalo-Carpenter:
S01E07 – How to Build a Full-Service Ecosystem Support Organization with Michelle Arévalo-CarpenterThe Wellbeing ProjectBMW Responsible Leaders ProgramFabian PfortmuellerLife is in the transitions. Mastering Change at any age, Bruce FeilerShelly Rose:
S03E06 - Slow Your Roll: Creating a Healthy Lifestyle with Shelly RosePure Roots NutritionDenisse Rodriguez:
S01E04 – How to build an island-wide ecosystem with Denisse RodríguezDell GinesBoricua Entrepreneur FestColmena66 2022 Impact ReportStartup Champions Network Spring Summit Ecosystem Building Leadership ProjectEcosystems Emerge, Dell GinesSassy Sassoon:
S02E07 - Good Trouble: Stakeholder Capitalism and Global Cooperatives with Kate "Sassy" SassoonCalifornia Center for Cooperatives’ multi-sector co-op conferenceZebras Unite newsletter Zebras Unite online communityHolding Change: The Way of Emergent Strategy Facilitation and Mediation, adrienne maree brownOld Man’s War, John Scalzi -
Before we kick off the next season, I have a very special episode for you today.
At the end of 2022, I found out that there are several federal funding opportunities for entrepreneurial ecosystem builders here in the US. The US government is starting to see the effectiveness of an ecosystem approach and has started recruiting some of their programs accordingly, which is a great opportunity for grassroots ecosystem builders to finally get their work funded.
The downside is, they’re not really called entrepreneurial ecosystem building, so I knew I had to find someone who could help us translate these opportunities.
In this episode, I am excited to introduce you to Melissa Roberts Chapman at the Federation of American Scientists who took the time to break down these funding opportunities for ecosystem builders here in the US. Meet Melissa Roberts Chapman.
Melissa Roberts Chapman has worked at the nexus of policy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic development throughout her career. She identifies as an ecosystem builder and entrepreneur, and is a proud native of Kansas City.
Prior to joining the Federation of American Scientists, Melissa was a Senior Program Officer at the Kauffman Foundation, where she led a grantmaking team focused on building more inclusive, collaborative, and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Heartland. Previously, she held leadership roles in entrepreneurship support organizations, started her own business, led coalition-building efforts, and managed political campaigns.
Melissa is deeply involved in her community, working both “in” and “on” Kansas City, where she is based. She is passionate about centering equity in her work, and building a future in which geography has no impact on the opportunities folks can access. In her free time, she and her husband Brad enjoy watching the Royals, perfecting brisket smoking techniques, and throwing dinner parties.
Melissa earned an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management with a certificate in Business Analytics, and a bachelor’s degree in History from Boston College.
Listen to the full episode to hear:
Why ecosystem builders should keep paying attention to and partnering with legacy sources of funding and supportHow to bridge the language gaps between ecosystem builders and potential investorsWhy there is a place for all kinds of entrepreneurs in innovation ecosystemsLearn More About Melissa Roberts Chapman:
Federation of American ScientistsConnect with Melissa on LinkedInLearn More About Anika Horn:
Website: www.socialventurers.com Instagram: SocialVenturersNewsletter: Sign up for Impact CuratorResources:
SBDC networkSBA lending programsEDAProvide input to the Federal RegisterBuild Back Better Regional ChallengeGood Jobs ChallengeNational Science Foundation (NSF) EnginesTech Hubs programBuild Back Better Regional Challenge WinnersGood Jobs Challenge WinnersNSF Engines ApplicantsSign up for the NSF Engines email listSign up for the EDA email listSign up for the SBA Ecosystem Building listEDA Build to Scale Grant CompetitionNatalie Self, Cortex, St LouisAshlei Spivey, I Be Black Girl, Omaha 24/7 Blac, Waterloo, IowaNia Richardson, KC BizCare, KC Simone Curls, Prospect Business Association, KCDan Smith, The Porter House, KCMIT's Stakeholder Framework for Building & Accelerating Innovation Ecosystems, Fiona Murray and Phil Budden - Show more
