The other event aimed at the “Social impact” businesses can have. This was a more direct confrontation with the misconception of sustainability. At this event, the club brought in the US director of a green technology start-up, OffGridBox, and a social entrepreneur that tackles the US criminal justice system.
Troy Billett had a talk about how their product (a medium scale water filtration system and power station powered by 100% solar energy) is causing changes in the community it is installed in. Villagers are employed, and now have access to clean water – causing better health, and electricity which in turn helps them with their everyday life.
Sethu Odayappan from Second Chance USA provides training for the previously incarcerated and establishes partnerships with companies that are willing to hire these people after their release. Doing so, he helps these people become a societal asset rather than a debt/burden on taxpayers’ money. This is incredibly necessary because most ex-felons want to get their life back by getting a job, however they suffer from social isolation – which in turn brings them back into a criminal spiral.
Takeaways are that sustainability can take place in technology, social innovation, and much more. It is just a matter of the individual’s mindset. If you are creating value without causing negative ripple effects, you are being sustainable. Furthermore, it seems that now, in 2018, investors, business leaders and society as a whole are growing more familiar and have developed a taste for “sustainability”. Put in other words, one might even say it is a trend growing stronger every day.
The club is always trying to find relevant speakers, so stay tuned for more interesting events!
For more information, visit:
secondchanceusa.com | offgridbox.com
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