small business BIG IMPACT

We lift up those who are lifting up the world.

Questio is profoundly committed to supporting small Impact/purpose-driven businesses. We believe that...

  • the survival of upcoming generations of humans and all other species depends on what we do now.
  • small business is an immensely powerful tool to effect change, and possibly our greatest hope for a positive future.

 

In this time of unprecedented intersecting challenges (ranging from local to global), our world needs everyone to take responsibility to help co-create "the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible" (Charles Eisenstein).

 

These are stories of challenge and success from small businesses that are a force for good.

There is a growing community of entrepreneurs that find inspiration, meaning and success by using business as a force for good. Many of them identify as impact, social ventures, or mission-driven business owners and they are out to build a better future for us all... and make a healthy living doing it. This podcast is a collection of interviews with small business owners sharing their stories of hard-won lessons, relatable inspiration and actionable insights.

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome
Shivani and Jessica are the dynamic duo behind Pathfinder. They are currently eight years into their work on innovative approaches to global development and they continue to choose to see themselves as a startup. In this episode they were willing to talk about the thorny but all too familiar topic of "imposter syndrome." While they insist that the path to self-realization and confidence is a arduous one that is paved mostly through hard work and diligence, it became clear to me that the major ingredients in their secrete sauce has been their resolute determination and the strong chemistry of their partnership. Together we explore the experience of imposter syndrome.

Busting 6-Figure Myths

Busting 6-Figure Myths
Jacinthe is the founder of Koddo & Co., a business financial literacy and fractional CFO service provider. She’s also a serial business owner, was trained as an interior designer and learned business finance the hard way over the last decade. Seeing the same pattern of money stress and shame in dozens of her clients has fueled her passion for financial literacy for small business owners, especially for women and creatives. Jacinthe is also a long-time yogi and meditator. This, along with her personal and professional development efforts, has been part of her toolkit to stay present, minimize the emotional dips, and lean into the lessons on the entrepreneurial roller coaster as they inevitably come up. Listen in on what she's learned as she busts some 6-figure myths.

Getting back in the Game

Getting back in the Game
Kristy O'Leary is a co-founder of Decade Impact, which is a boutique consulting firm that helps businesses measure and improve their social and environmental impact. Her expertise lies in designing impact business models, and defining purpose and future actions for businesses that drive positive change. Before co-founding Decade Impact, she worked in various fields related to sustainability and social impact, ranging from impact measurement in the cacao supply chain to campaigning for community investments for wind farms. Kristy has been a B Corp power user since 2013 and continues to deepen her dedication to the B Corp movement. Guided by a sobering recognition that we live in times where our choices are shaping whether future generations will have a livable future, Kristy has drawn upon allies she found when she moved to Vancouver BC from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. That and her own “pig-headed stubbornness” has helped to claim her calling… to play a significant role in supporting the sustainability revolution. Listen to Kristy’s story and discover how your epic failures can be super valuable, and can transform into your greatest strengths especially when you’re committed to getting back into the game.

In for the Long Game

In for the Long Game
This is a special International Women’s Day episode, so get comfortable because we cover a lot of ground in this episode with my guest Madeleine Shaw. I think of Madeleine as a titan in the social impact world. She has launched and led multiple impact ventures for over 30 years. She and her business partner Suzanne Siemens founded Lunapads in 2000, and rebranded as Aisle in 2020. Their company was one of the first in the world to champion natural menstrual care products and sustainable menstrual equity, and has proudly been a B Corp since 2012. Madeleine is also a speaker, mentor and the author of The Greater Good, Social Entrepreneurship for Everyday People Who Want to Change the World. This book, and Madeleine herself, is an invitation and support to “everyday people” to find their own way to empowerment and change-making through social entrepreneurship. It becomes quickly apparent that Madeleine is profoundly committed to an expansive vision. She’s not just focused on creating social benefit through business, she’s working to redefine what success as a social entrepreneur means in a 21st-century world. So, settle in and listen to what can happen when you commit to playing the long game.

Crushed by my Vision

Crushed by my Vision
Ivelisse Morales is our guest today. Her company is “Bombilla” which means lightbulb in Puerto Rican Spanish, and this company shines bright with its all women-of-color staff and is fueled by a national network of diverse co-conspiring creatives on their mission to make the world brighter. In less than five years, this small & mighty team has served over 60 clients in the Bay Area and across the US with brand strategy, visual identity and graphic design. Ivi is a recognized speaker, poet and writer and an award-winning entrepreneur who brings a decade of experience in using marketing as a force for good—for brands of all sizes. From inside major creative agencies like IDEO and Ogilvy and beyond, Ivi has sharpened her creative skillset in public relations, media, design, marketing and communications all in the service of positive change. When you listen to her, she comes across super chill, bright, and thoughtful, but don’t let her seemingly casual demeanor fool you, she’s a high-achieving dynamo that has recently learned the hard way that even a beautiful vision can crush you.

Episodes also found on:

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Join me on this inspiring journey

Join me on this inspiring journey

Rolling with the Punches

Rolling with the Punches

Root to Grow

Root to Grow

People Want to Help

People Want to Help

Dancing with Timing

Dancing with Timing

Getting Traction

Getting Traction

On the Bleeding Edge of Culture

On the Bleeding Edge of Culture

Giving from a full cup

Giving from a full cup

Crushed by my Vision

Crushed by my Vision

In for the Long Game

In for the Long Game

Getting back in the Game

Getting back in the Game

Busting 6-Figure Myths

Busting 6-Figure Myths

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome

The Critical Value of Equanimity

The Critical Value of Equanimity

Building from the Inside Out

Building from the Inside Out

Painful Blessings

Painful Blessings

Cutting Through the Noise

Cutting Through the Noise

Upleveling Whiplash

Upleveling Whiplash

Learning in Relationship

Learning in Relationship

Like a boss

Like a boss

Finding Fertile Ground

Finding Fertile Ground

Pushing Back on Shame

Pushing Back on Shame