Business

How McDonald’s empowered black America (but it’s complicated) with Dr. Marcia Chatelain

May 13, 2020 — Leave a comment
“It’s a lot easier to give someone the opportunity to run a business… than to say we’re going to invest in this idea of justice.” – Dr. Marcia Chatelain, Author of Franchise: The Golden Arches In Black America

Overview:

In the season 3 premiere of Innovation for All, Dr. Marcia Chatelain, author of Franchise: The Golden Arches In Black America and professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University, explains the complex history of McDonald’s in black America. She explains how the civil rights movement impacted black business ownership and how franchises, like McDonald’s, can be both an economic win and financially limiting for low-income communities.

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher
Listen in-browser

In this episode you will learn:

  • How the civil rights movement impacted the growth of McDonald’s in black America
  • How McDonald’s utilized black-centered marketing strategies to fuel advertisements
  • The pros and cons to working in a franchise
  • How the fast food industry was seen as a win for low-income communities initially
  • How black-run McDonald’s franchises pooled resources to benefit the community
  • The differences of how white and black America viewed McDonald’s and its impact on advertising
  • How racist systems use black entrepreneurship as a way to avoid addressing racism
  • COVID-19: Challenges to the food justice movement and what environmental racism is
  • What are the limits of the private sector in COVID-19?
  • Experience and complexities of black franchise owners
  • How to reframe historical storytelling to highlight the community rather than the business

Links and mentions:

Connect with Marcia:

Starting a business at age 66 with Paul Tasner

November 20, 2019 — Leave a comment
“Recycling is an answer but not the answer.” – Paul Tasner founder of PulpWorks

Paul Tasner, Co-founder and CEO of PulpWorks and more recently, Co-founder of Sort, has more than 40 years of operations experience. He has held leadership positions in ventures ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. For the past decade, his focus has been on sustainability. Paul’s corporate affiliations include The Clorox Company, Clif Bar, Method Products, and Hepagen Vaccines. He has authored numerous papers and presentations on supply chain sustainability and currently lectures on this subject in the MBA Programs at San Francisco State University and Golden Gate University as well as the Packaging Engineering Department at San Jose State University. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Boston University.

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher
Listen in-browser

In this episode you will learn:

  • How PulpWorks manufactures packaging for consumer goods using fiber waste
  • The story of Paul Tasner starting his first business at age 66
  • The perks of being your own boss as an entrepreneur
  • The specific challenges PulpWorks faces in securing new customers
  • How to pursue investors in the competitive city of San Francisco
  • Critical questions to consider for people nearing retirement that want to start a business
  • How recycling is an answer but not the answer
  • Why Paul is envious of the millennial mindset
  • How rejecting plastic can make a difference
  • What Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is and how EPR regulations could impact society
  • Paul’s new tech-based recycling business

Links and mentions:

Connect with Paul:

Allen Smart – Investing in Rural America

October 23, 2019 — Leave a comment
“Booming immigrant communities in rural America look very different than what you might expect. This sense of rural and what it means needs further discussion elaboration on how it fits into the larger American profile.” – Allen Smart, Founder of PhilanthropywoRx

Allen Smart is a national spokesperson and advocate for improving rural philanthropic practices under his group – PhilanthropywoRx. He is also the Project Director for a national rural philanthropic project based at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Allen regularly consults with regional and national foundations on rural and philanthropic strategies.

In this episode of Innovation for All, Allen discusses the complexities of rural America and how a lack of acknowledgement of its diversity is holding back the work being done there. 

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher
Listen in-browser

In this episode you will learn:

  • What diversity looks like in rural America
  • How the misunderstanding of rural communities is a barrier to development
  • How philanthropic, government and businesses can improve their work in rural communities 
  • Why there is a sense of frustration within rural America
  • Whether the sudden interest in investing in rural America is being done right
  • How diversity, specifically immigrants and communities of color, is both an old and new issue that must be addressed in rural America 
  • How to invest in the talent and skills of rural entrepreneurs
  • What the future of rural innovation looks like

Links and mentions:

Connect with Allen

Alex Wolf – Millennials, Media, and Social Interactions

October 16, 2019 — Leave a comment
“When we were first introduced to the internet, it was branded as a place to go. And it is no longer a place. It is just with us everywhere. And so it is time to start building technology that can work within that field.”
– Alex Wolf, Founder and former CEO of BossBabe Inc.

A self-made entrepreneurship coach, Alex Wolf is the founder and former CEO of BossBabe INC., an online community that helps millennial women start their own businesses. Members receive a host of advice from the successful social media coach. She is also the author of the book Resonate, a book for entrepreneurs who want authenticity with their audience: for those who want to really connect. 

In this episode of Innovation for All Podcast, Sheana speaks with Alex on how social media is changing human interactions, how companies contribute to the problem, and what needs to change. 

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher
Listen in-browser

In this episode you will learn:

  • Alex’s background in technology
  • How technology changes interactions among millennials
  • Why texting has become so prolific and what else is changing our interactions
  • Should social media platforms go away from the advertisement business model and why
  • Do consumers need to change the relationship with social media platforms
  • Why millennials feel misaligned with their age

Links and mentions:

Connect with Alex

alexwolf.co


Placing the Displaced: Running a Refugee Staffing Company with Amplio Recruiting

September 11, 2019 — Leave a comment
“The burden of proof was to say that there are refugee entrepreneurs out there who are doing some incredible things and are legitimately investable businesses.” – Founder of Amplio Recruiting

Amplio Recruiting is a company that helps companies hire people from the refugee community. How do they refute and calm the fears potential employers? How does they ensure that vulnerable people aren’t being taken advantage of? And what has made the business so successful? Find out with Sheana in this episode of Innovation for All Podcast. 

Listen on iTunes

Listen on Stitcher
Listen in-browser

In this episode you will learn:

  • How their founder started Amplio Recruiting and why?
  • What were some of the challenges in starting the business?
  • How are companies vetted to ensure that the refugees are protected?
  • Which assumptions about the refugee community are misguided?
  • What are the challenges with finding opportunities for women refugees in particular?
  • What is Amplio Ventures?
  • What are some of the success stories?
  • How has this work influenced his personal views?

Links 

  • RefugeeWorkforce.com