The Social Impact Startup

Jovana Mullins is the founder of Alivia, a contemporary women’s brand with a unique social impact model. They work directly with artists with developmental disabilities to design collections, showcasing their work while giving back to the community - 10% of the proceeds go directly back to the Center of All Abilities in NYC where the creator receives art therapy. Their mission is to give purpose and voice to the previously unheard while showcasing their talents. They also hope to encourage a larger social movement of inclusivity and acceptance within the fashion industry.

Originally from Kansas, Jovana’s love for art, fashion and social impact started at a young age. She was taught by her grandmother how to sew in 3rd grade, started her own non-profit dedicated to at risk youth in 8th grade, and used her yearly fashion shows in high school as a way to raise even more money for that cause. She went to the Parsons School of Design and her career launched after working for some of the biggest names in fashion, like Diane Von Furstenberg and Matthew Williamson. After working in fashion for over 10 years between London and NYC, Jovana felt that there was a bigger calling for her - she wanted to give back to the community. She started volunteering with Gifted Hands, a place where they conducted art therapy programs for underserved groups. When that non-profit shut down, Jovana took her fashion focused art therapy program to the Center of All Abilities in NYC and the rest is history. From there, Alivia was created. Jovana is truly making waves in the social impact space, from sustainable fabrics and environmentally friendly printing processes to supporting conscious consumers who invest in fashion for more than just a statement piece, but to be a part of a social movement. Jovana’s business model is truly emblematic of what an impact business should look like and any entrepreneur will be inspired by what she is building.

For 10% off use the code TYPACO10

https://www.shopalivia.com/discount/TYPACO10

https://www.instagram.com/alivia__brand/?hl=en

https://www.allabilities.org

Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Laura Winberry has been a trailblazer in male dominated spaces for her entire life. She is the founder of Gold Snow, a centralized gear review site for women, by women, and a published author of her book of poetry, Bell Lap. Growing up in a household that supported creativity and freedom, Laura was never told she couldn’t do something because she was a girl - and so she did it all. With no concept of gender constructs to hold her back, Laura was empowered at a young age to take up space in typically male-dominated spaces: snowboarding, cycling, skateboarding and even writing. Laura is ambitious, athletic and emblematic of the kind of leader this world needs: humble, grateful, and overall a badass. Her mission with Gold Snow is to diversify and amplify voices by creating content that speaks to a more inclusive audience. In regards to monetization, profit without purpose doesn't fit into her vision in the slightest. She is inspired by impact and hopes to authentically make a difference without compromising integrity in all of her endeavors moving forward. A true impact entrepreneur, she is paving the way for others while simultaneously having gratitude for all of those who came before her. Laura is the inspiration we all need to help us awaken our inner goddess and to show us that we are ALL meant take up space - in every industry.

https://www.eatgoldsnow.com/

https://www.indolentbooks.com/bell-lap-by-laura-winberry/

https://www.instagram.com/eatgoldsnow/

Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Kala Maxyn is the perfect example of both an artist & entrepreneur. She is the founder of Five Senses Tastings, an events company that brings the five senses into harmony with one another. Growing up in a classical household that valued music and travel, Kala always had an inherent sense of freedom which allowed her to easily accept the concept of change. A trained opera singer, she actually went to school to study political science which lead to a job with the US Department of Justice in which she assisted with the modernization of legal systems in Latin America. Consistently walking the line between the intellectual and artistic worlds, her experiences eventually culminated into curating the ultimate experiences for people through her company. In our conversation we discuss the importance of being present, how to convince others that what you are doing has value - especially when it hasn’t been done before, and why as an entrepreneur it’s important to take risks, say yes and it figure it out along the way. We also discuss what wellness looks like for an artistic entrepreneur, how she’s had to pivot during this pandemic and why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. This conversation is filled with helpful tidbits for artists and entrepreneurs alike who aspire to create better experiences for people and who want to be innovative within their industry. Her advice to founders? Be willing to embrace change, get comfortable with pivoting and most importantly, stay humble even when pursuing big ventures.

https://www.fivesensestastings.com/

https://www.instagram.com/fivesensestastings/

Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Amy Powell wants to empower individuals to make better choices today so that our planet can have a healthy tomorrow. Raised in Santa Cruz, CA and having grown up in a mindful household, the roots of sustainability were planted early but came to fruition later in her career. Working in the events world for over a decade, she was all too familiar with the cost efficiency of having “disposable events” and the waste they produced. Like the straw that broke the camel’s back, Amy’s inertia for the planet came unexpectedly one day when seeing a trash can that had been knocked over on a walk. Seeing trash everywhere, she vowed then and there to take action. Amy created Attainable in order to empower everyone to take action and recognize that we are all in this together. In order to understand how to move forward, she had to learn how we became a “disposable society” in the first place and how that has perpetuated a lack of value for the things that we have. We discuss sustainability as a three-tiered system, how we can create a new normal post COVID-19, and how we can reconnect with nature and our communities. We also discuss the logistics of being a founder, why taking space can be the most helpful thing when you’re building something bigger than yourself, and why we should approach the world, and ourselves, with more empathy.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, Attainable or Earth Day, Amy wrote a great article highlighting our current environmental predicament and how we can initiate change.

https://medium.com/the-quilt-thread/the-planets-sigh-unexpected-lessons-of-social-distancing-2ba78d910399

https://www.attainable-af.com/

https://www.instagram.com/attainable_af/

Earth Day Resources

https://www.earthday.org

https://www.wedonthavetime.org/event/

Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/

Ayarpi Reganyan is the founder of BodyBar Protein, a wellness company simplifying nutrition to offer healthier and convenient options for people living life on the go. Born in Armenia, her family immigrated to the US in 1988. Their work ethic demonstrated for Ayarpi the importance of hard work, solidifying her own mentality towards her goals. Her original goal was to become a registered nurse, one of which she is still working towards while building a company, working full-time and being a mother. Her health journey began in 2007 when she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. Learning what allowed her body to be successful boiled down to a simple formula: exercise, limiting stress, and eating well. She realized that most protein bars are filled with additives, chemicals and sugars - ingredients that can slow you down rather than sustain you. She started doing her own research on how to create a protein bar that gave people a better option at a similar price point. A feat that proved to be more difficult than she initially thought, rather than conforming to the mediocre standards that currently exist in the food industry, she decided to set a new standard by providing an organic, health-conscious and affordable option for people living busy lives. In our conversation we discuss the process of creating a healthier alternative for people, her personal wellness routine and how COVID-19 has had a positive impact on her company. We also discuss why it’s important, especially as an impact entrepreneur, to constantly re-position yourself to evaluate if you are truly in alignment with your goals. In Ayarpi’s words, “you really have to find your purpose - and stick to it”, a mantra she applies to not only her company, but to the way she approaches life in general.

https://www.instagram.com/bodybar_protein/

https://bodybarprotein.com/about-us

Our podcast theme song is "Pico & Westwood" by Esbie Fonte. For more info, visit https://www.esbiefonte.com/