Advice For Early Stage Entrepreneurs From Successful Leaders In Social Impact
On the 23rd of November, some of the best and brightest of Brisbane’s social enterprise scene gathered for networking at Impact Boom’s home at the Brisbane Business Hub on Queen Street, in an event co-hosted by Queensland Social Enterprise Council.
With 100 people in attendance, insightful conversations were taking place and impact-led individuals were connecting across a variety of sectors to hear about the latest developments. Collectively, this crowd holds decades of invaluable experience and key learnings within the social enterprise space, which have often been acquired through adversity.
With the entrepreneurs at this event holding so many crucial insights, the Impact Boom team became determined to share this knowledge effectively with aspiring changemakers so they can grow their knowledge and build their confidence. To achieve this, Impact Boom Marketing Coordinator, Isabel Croker, spoke to twelve of the key players present at the networking event, and asked them if they could give one piece of advice to an up-and-coming social entrepreneur, what would it be? The following interviews are the responses Isabel received.
Find advice from successful impact-led entrepreneurs who spoke to us at our most recent Brisbane Social Enterprise Networking event.
Highlights from the interview (listen to the podcast for full details)
Geoffrey Smith, Founder, Australia Spatial Analytics
I run Australian Spatial Analytics, we’re a data solutions social enterprise who employ young adults with autism to process and analyse big data for value clients.
My biggest piece of advice to an up-and-coming social entrepreneur is to not get lost in the detail.
People will tell you it is very difficult to start a business, and there is a lot of operational details you need to work through before you will get there. But stick to your vision, have your long-term goals, and spread it like crazy. You never know, someone will pick it up.
Fiona Mehmet, Founder, AllthingsFI
I’m from Allthingsfi, and we’re an equitable marketplace and sustainable brand.
My biggest piece of advice for upcoming social entrepreneurs is to be 100% committed to your mission, brand, message, vision, what you want to create, the impact you want to make and what your values are.
Make sure your day-to-day activities align with your values and make sure you are consistent with your vision and smash your goals!
Santiago Mejia Acosta, Co-Founder, Yaku Latin Goods
I am the founder of Yaku Latin Goods, a social enterprise that brings these beautiful dark organic chocolates from my home country Ecuador, and then we retail these chocolates here in Australia. Our social enterprise is giving beautiful support to kids with chronic malnutrition in Peru and orphans from the war in Myanmar, and this is our best way to give back to community with that passion.
My best piece of advice to a new entrepreneur coming into the social enterprise arena will be that, just follow your passion, be sure that whatever you doing either in social, cultural or environmental terms is being done with passion.
Do it with a whole heart and knowing that every piece of effort that you're putting into your social enterprise has a meaningful impact for someone, whether that is one person, a hundred people or even a thousand people. It has to be meaningful. Get a lot of contacts as well, because getting partnerships is key.
Leanne Butterworth, Founder, Empathy First
I'm with Empathy First, the Queensland Social Enterprise Council and QUT.
My one piece of advice for anybody who's thinking of getting into entrepreneurship and social entrepreneurship is get out there and meet the people.
Get into the businesses, buy from them, go to networking events, meet the people and talk to people and see what makes their face light up. Then figure out what makes your face light up and see if you can make the two match up. Get out there and meet as many people as you possibly can and have as many interesting conversations as you possibly can.
Marion Glover, Founder, Vessel Nundah
My advice for upcoming social entrepreneurs would absolutely be to surround yourself with a positive community and talk to as many people as you can about your idea and your business.
This is because you never know when the next opportunity is going to come. Just talk with the people that are there to support you and connect with you, they literally can make all the difference.
Elise Parups, Chief Executive Officer, Queensland Social Enterprise Council
My piece of advice is that you are not alone and that there are plenty of fish in the sea. You need to swim with your school, so join your local network, join QSEC, come along and have fun.
Mick Hase, FOunder, SeventeenX
My biggest piece of advice for social entrepreneurs starting out is that you need to start. Find your purpose and just start small.
Find your tribe and people that believe the same thing as you, you don't have to do it on your own. Get around people that can inspire you to do the same, just start and make it happen.
Angela Young, Founder Coach And Community Coordinator QUT Entrepreneurship
I'm from the QUT Entrepreneurship team.
My biggest piece of advice for those looking at entering into a social enterprise is just do it. Don't wait. Step in, ask for help along the way and be curious.
Look for those connections and what's already out there, go do it guys.
Justin MacDonald, Managing Director, Just Advisory Services
If I was going to give anyone advice over starting up a social enterprise, it'd be about helping others and paying it forward.
By helping someone else, they'll be able to help you and just create that ripple [effect].
Luke Faccini, Chief Do-Gooder, Sponge
My piece of advice for budding social entrepreneurs is to nail your story. What you do needs to be simple, it needs to be clear, and it needs to come from the heart.
It's not really about how well you tell it, but it's about how others are going to tell that story for you, so be clear, simple and authentic.
Rachel Whitworth, Founder, Hello Good World
My biggest piece of advice for a social entrepreneur is to communicate your impact. Nothing is too small to start communicating.
Kelly Willmott, Founder, Green Fox Studio
I’m a co-founder of Green Fox Studio, and I think…
the best bit of advice I could give to somebody starting a business in the social enterprise space would be to prepare yourself for the roller coaster ride.
It is insane! There are highs, lows, intense friendships, and if anything, it's about the bonds you make with all the other businesses that are out there doing good. It's so heartfelt and deep.
