Homeboy: Tom Vozzo - Creating Space for Everyone to Thrive

11/21/23 • 33 min

"Society throws up a lot of hurdles to people really trying to do it the right way, right? We, and the rest of society, should knock down those hurdles, but also give space so that people can thrive.” - Tom Vozzo

Success has everything to do with circumstance. Tom Vozzo believes that with the right support and opportunity, everyone has the ability to do good in them. His commitment to wanting to do good for others is what drove him to the nonprofit space after a nearly three-decade career in the for-profit world.

As the CEO of Homeboy Industries, Tom and his dedicated team focus on the rehabilitation and re-entry of gang members through transformative programs. Through firsthand experience, he has witnessed the profound effect of offering empathy and fresh opportunities to individuals facing challenges. This empathetic approach stands as a foundational pillar in Homeboy's remarkable success as an organization.

In this episode, Tom delves into the fusion of his corporate expertise with his unwavering commitment to investing in people. He shares insights on overcoming the scarcity mindset and imparts valuable advice for leaders in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors.

Contents

1 - Tom’s corporate experience

2 - Joining Homeboy

3 - Overcoming the scarcity mindset

4 - Building a supportive culture

5 - Balancing business and compassion

6 - Advice to leaders

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

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Contents

1 - Tom’s corporate experience

2 - Joining Homeboy

3 - Overcoming the scarcity mindset

4 - Building a supportive culture

5 - Balancing business and compassion

6 - Advice to leaders

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy

Previous Episode

New Story: Brett Hagler - Bold and Balanced New Solutions to Old Issues

"There is a decent chance that this works, and then if it works, and that if it can be what the vision and the promise is, then for our mission, which is to pioneer solutions to end global homelessness, it's actually irresponsible for us not to try it.” - Brett Hagler

When age-old problems aren’t being solved by current practices or aren’t keeping up with the rate at which they are growing, new solutions are needed. But new solutions require innovative ideas and a perfect balance between boldness and being calculated to pull them off.

Brett Hagler and his team at New Story think they have struck that balance. Their mission is to end global homelessness. To achieve this, they've conducted a rigorous analysis of what works and what doesn't within this space currently and developed a short list of things to be reimagined through New Story. Among the innovations to come from that approach has been their groundbreaking 100% funding model.

In this episode, we're joined by Brett Hagler, the CEO and Co-Founder of New Story, as he shares insights into his "just go do it" mindset, offers advice on embracing "unreasonable" endeavors, and unveils the model that New Story has built to usher innovation into a pressing and rapidly escalating world issue.

Contents

1 - Brett’s “just go do it” origin (1:47)

2 - How New Story started (7:52)

3 - Developing New Story’s key goals (12:53)

4 - The 100% model (15:14)

5 - Listening to feedback from his team (19:01)

Links

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Presented by Classy

Next Episode

WFP Innovation Accelerator: Bernhard Kowatsch - Foundations for Success

"I think this is when it hit me there must be a lot more ideas, innovation, and startups out there that could actually make a difference and could be transforming the way we're looking at the world, but they never have a chance.” - Bernhard Kowatsch

Great ideas are only the beginning. Without the right conditions and opportunities for success, many innovative and potentially game-changing ideas never may never come to fruition. That’s what Bernhard and his team at the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator work to avoid.

His time at the World Food Programme began as the Head of Business Innovation, and after stepping away to build his start-up Share The Meal, he returned to the WFP to build and serve as the Head of Innovation Accelerator, the world’s biggest social impact startup accelerator. With a background in business consulting at BCG and successful leadership of Share The Meal, Bernhard Kowatsch leverages his extensive experience to support innovative ideas across the globe with the focus of ending world hunger.

In this episode, Bernhard will impart valuable insights on establishing a robust startup foundation, seamlessly integrating innovation into established organizations, and crafting compelling messages to secure funding and support.

Contents

1 - BCG, WFP, and Share The Meal

2 - Building a foundation for success: Advice rapid fire

3 - How to market innovations and earn funding

4 - The WFP Innovation Accelerator’s impact

Links

Mentioned in this episode:

Presented by Classy