Linh Thuy

Reusable Cups and the Circular Economy in Vietnam | Linh Le Thuy, AYA Cup

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Linh Le Thuy, founder of AYA Cup, about her mission to build a platform that removes disposable cups in Vietnam

Her journey is a great story of how an individual can start with a small concept, pivot quickly, and build on early successes, and I hope her story will help inspire & equip you to take the next step in developing/ scaling your own idea to bring a sustainable solution to the market!



About the Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Linh:
Le Thuy Linh, AYA Cup CEO, wants to change the image of Vietnam from being one of the top five ocean-polluting countries to an innovative country in tackling single-use plastic in food and beverage.

To meet her goal to cut 20 per cent of plastic waste in Vietnam by 2025, she is expanding her cup-lending system in HCM City where she lives and in Hanoi where she was born and raised.

Follow Linh:

Website:  https://ayacup.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Linh.Bu14
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/my-linh-nguyen-milie/

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]

#RichBrubaker #Sustainability #MissionDriven


Tom Stader

Measuring & Reporting Social Impact | Tom Stader, The Library Project

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, my third with Tom Stader, Founder of The Library Project, we speak about measuring impact.

Something every mission driven entrepreneur, and organization needs to do as part of the development of programs, organizations, and proposals.

For Tom, it is a topic that he has years of strong practice, and stronger opinions of, and I think this conversation will help a lot of organizations and entrepreneurs better understand how they should approach measuring, and reporting, impact.



About the Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Tom Stader:
Tom Stader is the Founder and Board Chair of The Library Project, an organization that donates libraries to under financed schools and orphanages in Cambodia, China and Vietnam.

He believes that education is the key motivator to breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the developing world. In 2006 at the age of 32, Tom had a simple idea to donate libraries to two orphanages in Dalian, China. Soon after those libraries were complete, Tom founded The Library Project.

Since then, Tom and his dedicated team have completed 2000 library donations, impacting over 1,000,000 eager young readers. Tom is passionate about International Social Entrepreneurship and improving rural literacy.

Follow Tom:

Website: https://www.library-project.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomstader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomstader/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomstader/

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich:
[email protected]


COVID Q$

Crushing COVID Q4 | Behind The Grind, Episode 028

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I speak about how we are approaching the 4th quarter of COVID.  COVID Q4.

A year that everyone cannot wait to end, but for us, is the opportunity to set up a HUGE 2021 through the development of new products, focusing on what has sold through the COVID period, and making transitions in business models.



About the Behind The Grind Series
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #Grit


Leading a Charity

Leading a Charity Through COVID | Behind the Grind, Episode 030

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I speak with Tom Stader leading a charity, The Library Project, through the challenges that COVID has presented the organization, and how a truly empowered team is key to success.



About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

About Tom:
Tom Stader is the Founder and Board Chair of The Library Project, an organization that donates libraries to under financed schools and orphanages in Cambodia, China and Vietnam.

He believes that education is the key motivator to breaking the cycle of poverty that exists in the developing world. In 2006 at the age of 32, Tom had a simple idea to donate libraries to two orphanages in Dalian, China. Soon after those libraries were complete, Tom founded The Library Project.

Since then, Tom and his dedicated team have completed 2000 library donations, impacting over 1,000,000 eager young readers. Tom is passionate about International Social Entrepreneurship and improving rural literacy.

Follow Tom Stader and The Library Project
Website: https://www.library-project.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tomstader
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tomstader/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tomstader/

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #COVID-19


Maintaining Momentum

Maintaining Momentum Through Chaotic Times | Behind the Grind, Episode 029

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I pick up from our previous conversations to speak about maintaining momentum in times of chaos.

Be it through COVID, the US election, or anything that has the potential to knock us off our game.



About the Behind The Grind Series
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #Chaos


Nila Tanzil

Eradicating Poverty in Indonesia | Nila Tanzil, Rainbow Reading Gardens

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with Rainbow Reading Gardens founder Nila Tanzil.

Based in Jakarta Indonesia, Nila's mission to bring eradicate poverty through books was forged early through the lens of her family's own history, and formalized later as part of a career break when she built her first library.

Now, with more than 100 libraries, across 18 islands, tens of thousands of students have access to fun engaging books to open their imaginations and support a future passion for learning, and through this interview we speak about her passion for education, the process of building out libraries, and how she has built a cohort of mentors that support her.

About the Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Nila
Nila Tanzil is the founder of Taman Bacaan Pelangi, a non-profit organization focused on promoting literacy in remote areas of eastern Indonesia.

As of April 2018, Pelangi had 82 libraries across 15 islands in eastern Indonesia, including libraries on East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Papua providing more than 105,300 children's books to some of the most remote villages in Indonesia.

Follow Nila:
Website: https://www.tamanbacaanpelangi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nilatanzil
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nilatanzil/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pelangibook/

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step.

Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich
[email protected]


Rebuilding

Rebuilding Takes Time | Behind the Grind, Episode 027

In this episode of Behind the Grind, Brian and I talk about the rebuilding process that each of us have been going through as we have traversed running our businesses through the last 10 months of COVID.

It is an episode that takes on further depth as Brian speaks through the lessons he learned filming The Rebuild, a an amazing Youtube series, which follows five China-based entrepreneurs through the rebuilding process.

 



About the Behind The Grind Series
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

Videos will be available every Saturday, and audience participation is HIGHLY encouraged!

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #Grit


Sagar Tandon

Impact Investing in Asia | Sagar Tandon, Moonshot Ventures

In this episode, I speak with Sagar Tandon, Founding member of Moonshot Ventures, about impact investment in Asia.

Actively supporting early stage entrepreneurs looking to change the world, the opportunity he sees for impact investors is not just in how they support entrepreneurs... but in how they are able to prove the business case in a way that draws in traditional investors.

Something he is already seeing in healthcare and agriculture.

For those looking to become impact investors, make sure you stay until the end where he gives some quick tips for how to get started!

About Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Sagar:
Sagar is an intrapreneur, entrepreneur, impact investor, and founding member of early-stage ventures and VCs.

Sagar has been an operator of an education venture with Gray Matters Capital, consulted the venture capital firms, impact investors & foundations, written cheques to entrepreneurs, and set up an early-stage venture capital fund, housed inside Gray Matters Capital.

Currently, Sagar is a founding member of Moonshot Ventures in Indonesia and South East Asia. They have launched our first fund vehicle, Indonesia Women Empowerment Fund, backed by Investing in Women, DFAT, Australia Government. He is also a venture-affiliate to MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, USA) D-Lab.

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich:
[email protected]

#ImpactInvestment #SocialInnovation #RichBrubaker


Getting Back On Track | Behind The Grind, Episode 026

After a four, perhaps five, month break, Brian and I are back!

A lot has happened in that time, and now that we have each found a measure of stability, we are excited to be able to reconnect with each other and YOU!

Through the episode, we speak about how the last nine months of traversing COVID has forced us to rethink our business models, give up on ideas/ products we had been developing for years, finding new ways to connect with communities, and through it all... learning to appreciate the journey even more.

About the Behind The Grind Series:
Through this podcast series, Brian and I will speak about the realities (as we know them) of entrepreneurship.

About Rich
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, I've spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to understand their power to leverage innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership to solve "the big" challenges cities face.

Currently, as the Managing Director of Collective Responsibility, Executive Director of HandsOn China, and a Visiting Professor of Sustainability at the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS), I'm focused on building platforms that promote long term organizational capacity to address the economic, environmental, and social hurdles that China faces as the country’s economic growth accelerates.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

About Brian:
Brian Tam leads corporate teams through FIRST TIME EVER challenges. From new business models to fresh brands, as CEO of Let's Make Great! he guides multinational companies in China to systematically create the future and explore uncertainties.

He's the mind behind PROTO Innovation Cards and the author of Awrignawl Creativity.

Born in New York, and proudly raised in New Jersey - he has been in China since 2007, working to drive the fantastic change that is happening in China & the world. Let's Make Great!

Follow Brian:
Website: http://www.letsmakegreat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.tam.56211
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamonline/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/letsmakegreat/

#BehindtheGrind #Entrepreneurship #COVID-19


Vulcan Augmetics

3D Printing Prosthetics in Vietnam | Rafael Masters & Ha (Ella) Trinh, Vulcan Augmetics

In this episode of Entrepreneurs For Good, I speak with the founding team at Vulcan Augmetics about the work they are doing in Vietnam to bring affordable and highly functional 3D printed prosthetics to the market.

Besides their passion for the product, and the awesomeness of the product itself, I continue to reflect on the dynamic between the founders. Rafael's crazy visions operationalized by Ella's process and translation skills.

The energy between them in amazing, and should serve as a great example for any team of young founders.

About Entrepreneurs For Good Series:
Through this series, we speak with Asia based entrepreneurs whose mission it is to bring solutions to the environmental, social, and economic challenges that are faced within the region to learn more about their vision, the opportunities they see, and challenges that they have had to overcome.

It is a series that we hope will not only engage and inspire you, but catalyze you and your organizations into action. To identify a challenge that is tangible, and build a business model (profit or non) that brings a solution to the market

About Vulcan:
Using 3D printing technology and maker-based manufacturing technology, Vulcan Augmetics is developing and putting affordable, modular prosthetics in the market.

Follow Vulcan:
Website: https://www.wearevulcan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vulcanaugmetics/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vulcan-augmetics/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vulcan_augmetics/

About Rich:
Driven by the belief that change begins with a single step, Richard Brubaker has spent the last 15 years in Asia working to engage, inspire, and equip those around him to take their first step. Acting as a catalyst to driving sustainability, Brubaker works with government, corporate, academic and non-profit stakeholders to bring together knowledge, teams, and tools that develop and execute their business case for sustainability.

Follow Rich:
Website: http://www.richbrubaker.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rich.brubaker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richbrubaker
Instagram: https://instagram.com/richbrubaker
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/richbrubaker

Contact Rich:
[email protected]

#Sustainability #innovation #Entrepreneurship