Tomáš Sedláček, economist and university lecturer, is known for the bestseller Economics of Good and Evil, published by the Oxford University Press (2011). He provides insight to why people voted for Trump, our changing civilization, and why work will be leisure.
Michael Towbes, engineer, developer, and bank chairman, speaks to impactmania on why he doesn’t give anonymously, shares his advice for entrepreneurs, and talks about one of the people who left an imprint on his professional DNA.
NK Chaudhary (NKC) started Jaipur Rugs almost 40 years ago with 9 weavers working on two looms from his home. Today, it is an international company working with 40,000 artisans across 700 villages in India.
Originally competitors, Mikael (Micke) Bergström (founder of an advertising agency) and Jesper Johansson (startup advisor for the last 14 years), decided to collaborate to build Great Sp^ce of Sweden, a space to seed fertile grounds for startups.
Earlier this year, the fourth floor of 99 Bowery in Chinatown was taken over by B99. In a mere few months, the art space has hosted art shows, photo shoots, parties, and staged the short-play “An Upset”. Founder Ryan Foss-Skiftesvik believes investing in art is investing in humanity.
Trumpet maker Van Laar has no desire in scaling up his business; he’s perfectly content making some of the most sought after trumpets in the world and continually working to improve what he has.
Chris Schembra, Broadway producer, member of the Philanthropic Board of Trustees, Easterseals Foundation, and founder of the 747 Club speaks to impactmania about keeping your day job and realizing your passions while being philanthropic. How finding yourself can happen in your own kitchen.
Nand Kishore Chaudhary started Jaipur Rugs Company with two looms and nine weavers. In less than four decades, Jaipur Rugs has grown the floor covering business to approx. $18 million annual revenue working with 40,000 artisans in 600 villages. The social enterprise has been featured in the book The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid by C.K. Prahalad. It is cited as an example of a social enterprise breaking the cycle of poverty.
Sameer Walia is the co-founder and Managing Director of The Smart Cube, a for-profit research and analytics firm serving clients ranging from skin care brand Elizabeth Arden to turnaround consulting firm Conway MacKenzie. The Smart Cube was founded to bridge the gap between data-rich, insight-poor research firms and valuable, but expensive, advisory firms.
Paula Verhoeven is the Director of City Development of the municipality of Rotterdam. She shares her insights on fostering successful private-public-nonprofit partnerships and how the City is advancing as a Smart City.
Bobby’s Grandsons Find Gin Recipe and Export it to 25 Countries BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG The half-brothers, Sebastian and David Blom, found a bottle of jenever […]
Gilbert Curtessi on Crisis Driven Innovation BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG SUGU develops and manufactures products and services for new markets to accelerate the transition to the […]
GRNDPA has also produced the commercial for Hello Fresh that is currently airing on Dutch television. Read on to see how three talented friends who share a love for tattoos and tacos built a successful business in two and half years.
Marcel Wanders spoke with impactmania about what design can do in a political and social context. His whimsical design seeks to serve as a new connection between people beyond borders and across cultures.
Philip Van Traa, founder of GrownDownTown, has been transforming the rooftops of a number of commercial buildings in Amsterdam.
He collaborated with Master Chef Chris Naylor, of the Michelin-starred restaurant Vermeer in Amsterdam, to develop Rooffood, a year-round, higher-yielding roof garden for the restaurant.
Marcello Palazzi: Civic & Economic Development BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG Marcello Palazzi, Stanford University Fellow; Co-Founder of B-Corp Europe; and Co-Founder of Progressio Foundation, spoke about his longstanding […]
Marcel Jansen, the retail advisor for Dutch entities such as Albert Cuyp Market, shopping area in De Pijp Amsterdam, and a collective of flower growers with more than 2,500 members, is now also a shop owner — something that was in his DNA all along.
San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros and the Laboratory of Innovation BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG When was the last time you heard a government entity referred to […]
Topher Wilkins: Un-conference Yourself BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG Opportunity Collaboration (OC) connects and supports global leaders building sustainable solutions to poverty. Each year, 400-plus leaders attend […]
UCSB’s Materials Research Laboratory Science Symposium BY CHELSEA CATANIA On February 2-3 at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) […]
Prediction Technology: Helping to Prevent or Solve Problems
BY PAKSY PLACKIS-CHENG Attorney Laurie Ashton who spoke with impactmania in October 2015, is the Lead Counsel of Nuclear Zero and part of the International […]
The Materials Research Laboratory (MRL) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) promotes research of its affiliated faculty, students, and alumni in part through its annual research symposium, which took place on Feb. 2-3 2016.
92-year old international entrepreneur continues to revolutionize the meaning of innovation and success in his latest book: Jack Nadel
“Without even reading the proposals, she whipped a paper shredder from nowhere, and proceeded to slowly and deliberately decimate our beautiful ideas.”
Thomas Kenny, former executive at Goldman Sachs, and his wife Susan McMillan moved across the country into a new home. While many would need time to settle into their new environment, the couple instantly became active in the community.
impactmania speaks with co-founder and CEO of Mission Wealth, Seth Streeter, who recently delivered a TED talk about The Untethered Life. Streeter presents vulnerability as a strength, redefines financial health, and shares the nine dimensions of wealth.
Chelsea Catania interviewed one of her favorite impact makers, Kevin Reimer, the world champion downhill skateboarder. Reimer built and sold a successful company in his 20s and impacted his and the next generation of skateboarders.
The debut event, “Our Material World,” hosted by the UCSB Materials Research Laboratory was held at Santa Barbara’s New Vic Theater on September 10. The event featured four speakers covering topics in materials science from entrepreneurship to science education.
This is another fitting sentiment, as Jenny is all about empowering people, supporting and enriching community, and inspiring whomever she encounters in-and-out of the gym.
Dr. Mellichamp’s and his wife Suzanne have endowed 13 faculty chairs. Three areas are targeted for growth through these chairs: systems biology, globalization, and sustainable chemistry. The couple also actively supports half a dozen local arts groups, including Opera Santa Barbara.
Duncan Mellichamp gave the 2016 UC Santa Barbara commencement keynote speech. Why Professor Emeritus Mellichamp and his wife, former teacher, Suzanne Mellichamp endowed 13 chairs.
In celebration of Paksy Plackis-Cheng’s book launch, Impact X, at the New Vic Theatre, Santa Barbara, California, we looked at some impact makers in our own backyard. […]
Nine-Time Grammy Award Winner Wynton Marsalis on Giving
BY ILSE WESTERIK impactmania’s Ilse Westerik interviews one of her favorite impact makers: Ka-Viti’s CEO, Paul Phillips. Paul Phillips from Ka-Viti Water is my favorite impact maker because he is very dedicated and passionate about his goal of improving the lives of the kids in Fiji.
