529: Ending the Cycle of Poverty with Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene with Shilpa Alva

02/25/25 • 30 min

What can we do to help end the cycle of poverty in the world?

In this compelling episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with Shilpa Alva, founder and executive director of Surge For Water. Committed to breaking the cycle of poverty, Shilpa shares how her organization delivers safe water, sanitation, hygiene, and menstrual health solutions to communities worldwide. Through her inspiring journey from management consulting to non-profit leadership, Shilpa demonstrates the significant impact of investing in fundamental human needs and championing women's voices.

Discover how prioritizing clean water and effective sanitation solutions can lift entire communities out of poverty. Shilpa's story of leaving a successful corporate career to pursue her passion offers valuable insights for anyone looking to make a meaningful difference in the world.

Key Takeaways

The crucial link between water, sanitation, and poverty reduction.
The impact of empowering women in community-centric projects.
The logistical and emotional aspects of transitioning to a purpose-driven career.
The importance of partnerships with local organizations for sustainable change.
Overcoming fear and taking courageous steps towards your passion.
Understanding the sacrifices and rewards involved in social entrepreneurship.
The power of daily rituals to maintain focus and drive.
Why team engagement and celebration are critical in sustaining growth and impact.
How to contribute to Surge For Water's mission or identify your own path for social impact.

Podcast Timestamps

0:00 - Safe Water and Sanitation Impact

4:19 - Global Water Crisis: A Worldwide Issue

7:50 - From Corporate Ladder to Social Purpose

13:23 - Embracing Minimalism: Leaving Corporate Life

15:41 - Crab Mentality and Breaking Through

18:55 - Excellence Even When Departing

22:16 - Togetherness, Inspiration, and Rituals

25:11 - Rediscovering Motivation and Purpose

28:55 - Inspire Action, Explore Possibilities

Favorite Quotes

Commitment & Courage: “The fear is just this little thing, and you can get over it... It's this ripple effect.”

Passion with Purpose: “Do something that you're really passionate about because it's going to be necessary to fuel you during those difficult years.”

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/health/529-ending-poverty-with-safe-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-with-shilpa-alva

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X/TWITTER

What can we do to help end the cycle of poverty in the world?

Key Takeaways

The crucial link between water, sanitation, and poverty reduction.
The impact of empowering women in community-centric projects.
The logistical and emotional aspects of transitioning to a purpose-driven career.
The importance of partnerships with local organizations for sustainable change.
Overcoming fear and taking courageous steps towards your passion.
Understanding the sacrifices and rewards involved in social entrepreneurship.
The power of daily rituals to maintain focus and drive.
Why team engagement and celebration are critical in sustaining growth and impact.
How to contribute to Surge For Water's mission or identify your own path for social impact.

Podcast Timestamps

0:00 - Safe Water and Sanitation Impact

4:19 - Global Water Crisis: A Worldwide Issue

7:50 - From Corporate Ladder to Social Purpose

13:23 - Embracing Minimalism: Leaving Corporate Life

15:41 - Crab Mentality and Breaking Through

18:55 - Excellence Even When Departing

22:16 - Togetherness, Inspiration, and Rituals

25:11 - Rediscovering Motivation and Purpose

28:55 - Inspire Action, Explore Possibilities

Favorite Quotes

Commitment & Courage: “The fear is just this little thing, and you can get over it... It's this ripple effect.”

Passion with Purpose: “Do something that you're really passionate about because it's going to be necessary to fuel you during those difficult years.”

Episode Resources: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/health/529-ending-poverty-with-safe-water-sanitation-and-hygiene-with-shilpa-alva

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X/TWITTER

Previous Episode

528: Reshaping Financial Crime Detection with AI, with Peter Reynolds

How is AI revolutionizing financial crime detection? In this informative episode, host Nicole Jansen engages in a deep conversation with Peter Reynolds, the visionary CEO of ThetaRay. As an industry leader in AI-powered anti-money laundering, Peter and his team are on a mission to reshape financial crime detection. Dive into this episode to understand how AI is transforming the banking sector by accurately detecting illicit activities while ensuring financial inclusion in developing nations.

Peter provides a captivating exploration of Theta Ray’s cutting-edge solutions as he demystifies the complexities of AI technology for listeners who may not be tech-savvy. Discover how AI is utilized to streamline processes, reduce false positives in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance, and enhance the way institutions handle financial transactions on a global scale. This episode will equip business leaders and entrepreneurs with the knowledge they need to embrace technology ethically and effectively.

Learn about real-world implications from TD Bank’s case and the inefficiencies of legacy systems and gain insights from Peter’s journey at the helm of an innovative tech company.

Key Takeaways

Theta Ray’s mission in AI-powered anti-money laundering.
How legacy systems are failing in detecting financial crimes.
The benefits and future potential of AI in money laundering detection.
Impacts and lessons learned from TD Bank’s recent financial sector fines.
Simple explanations of how AI differentiates between normal and abnormal transactions.
How small-to-medium businesses can benefit from AI technologies.
Peter’s transition from law to fintech and leadership strategies.
Regulatory considerations and AI’s integration in various markets.
The evolution of AI blending cognitive understanding with machine learning.
Country-specific challenges in implementing AI-driven solutions.

Podcast Highlights

0:00 - AI Revolution in Financial Crime Detection

6:17 - AI Enhances Financial Crime Detection

9:55 - Legacy Systems in Banking

12:36 - Bank Inaction Despite Resources

15:06 - Streamlining Remittances with AI Technology

20:38 - Navigating Regulatory Compliance in AI

23:08 - AI Reduces AML False Positives

24:30 - Human-AI Collaboration for Decision-Making

30:53 - African Business Expansion & Compliance

33:40 - Understanding Fraud Prevention Insights

36:00 - Expand Your Perspective

Favorite Quotes

Mission and Vision: "Our mission is to reshape the future of financial crime detection and AML." - Peter Reynolds

Legacy System Issues: "Banks have to assume something's bad all the time because they don't know it's good." - Peter Reynolds

AI's Potential: "AI is really good now at being able, in a very cost-effective way with great cloud computing software, to actually identify things like financial crimes." - Peter Reynolds

Episode Show Notes: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/business/528-reshaping-financial-crime-detection-with-ai-with-peter-reynolds/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X/TWITTER

Next Episode

530: How to Land Your Next Perfect Job with Stephanie Brown

What if losing your job is the key to unlocking your next perfect role?

In this encouraging episode, Nicole Jansen sits down with Stephanie Brown, the dynamic founder of Creative Career Level Up. As a former senior marketing executive at Nike and Apple, Stephanie’s journey is a testament to resilience, transformation, and finding purpose. She provides invaluable insights on how getting fired became the catalyst for discovering her true calling and empowering others to secure their next perfect role with increased confidence, promotion, and salary.

Join us as Stephanie unfolds her personal story of going from a layoff to landing her ideal job, and how she transitioned to helping others in marketing, creative, and tech industries achieve the same success. We further explore the importance of self-awareness, aligning with changing seasons of one's career, and the practical strategies that can lead you from uncertainty to opportunity.

Learn how to harness your unique strengths, navigate career changes effectively, and rise above challenges to thrive in today’s competitive job market!

What We Discuss in this Episode

Stephanie's career journey: How pivotal moments shaped her path.
The shift from “dream job” to “next perfect role.”
The importance of self-awareness in career transitions.
Overcoming the challenges of losing a job.
Effective strategies for finding your next perfect role.
How changing life stages can influence career choices.
Differentiating between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship.
The impact of building intentional relationships in professional networks.
Utilizing LinkedIn and other platforms for job hunting.
Importance of a strategic career plan and execution.

Podcast Highlights

0:00 - Overcoming a Layoff

3:27 - Finding the Right Job Fit

7:34 - Identifying Energizing Career Activities

12:10 - Starting a Business: Networking Essentials

13:59 - Finding Motivation

19:33 - Interview Readiness Through Self-Reflection

20:52 - Leaving Nike: A Shiny New Opportunity

28:20 – The Creative Career Level Up Program

31:12 - Recruitment Strategies Across Industries

35:31 - Risk, Referrals, and Feedback Dynamics

36:50 - Transformative Career Action Steps

Favorite Quotes

Self-Reflection: "You have to know when to keep moving forward because things might change in your life."

Intentional Networking: “Go into these conversations just thinking ‘I'm here to build a relationship with someone.’ Because people really do want to help others if they can.”

Episode Show Notes: https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/business/530-how-to-land-your-next-perfect-job-with-stephanie-brown/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X/TWITTER

Leaders Of Transformation - 529: Ending the Cycle of Poverty with Safe Water, Sanitation and Hygiene with Shilpa Alva

Transcript

00:00:00.799

Welcome to the leaders of transformation podcast. The number one show for business leaders and entrepreneurs passionate about uplifting others and making a greater impact in the world. Now here's your host, transformational coach, speaker, and business advisor, Nicole Jansen.

00:00:21.675

How can we help end the cycle of poverty around the world? Our guest today is Shilpa Alva. She is the founder and executive director of Surge For Water, which inve