311 | The Top 5 Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs with Cory Ames

Our guest this week on the pod is Cory Ames.  Cory is the host of the Social Entrepreneurship & Innovation Podcast and the Co-Founder of Grow Ensemble, a company that explores the who, what, why and how of building a better world.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

 

Successful Social Entrepreneurs - The Top 5 Characteristics with Cory Ames

 

NOTE: While it’s not perfect, we offer a transcript and the below summaries by Castmagic for those who are hearing impaired or who don’t find listening to a podcast enjoyable or possible.

Full transcript of the interview is available here.

Key Topics & Bullet Points

I. Setting the Stage for Social Entrepreneurship

  • Introduction to the episode and the guest, Cory Ames

  • Brief overview of New Mexico's indigenous population and racial diversity

II. Cory Ames' Journey in Nonprofits and Activism

  • Cory's work in nonprofits and activism focusing on engaging young men as fathers and addressing violent behavior in families

  • The burnout experience and transition into the world of business

  • The natural skill transfer to coaching and the influence of community-based work on coaching businesses

III. The Challenges and Lessons Learned as a CEO

  • Struggles with managing professionals with more experience and different contexts

  • Realizing the limits of power in making significant decisions and creating change

  • Resignation and uncertainty about the decision

IV. Discovering and Exploring Social Entrepreneurship

  • Introduction to the concept of social entrepreneurship

  • Starting the GrowEnsemble podcast to learn more and build a community

V. Paul Zelizer's Background and Values in Social Entrepreneurship

  • Paul Zelizer shares his background and values of justice and equity in influencing his journey

  • The importance of product market fit and financial struggles for social entrepreneurs

VI. Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs

  • A. The importance of transparency and addressing challenges in sustainability

  • B. Avoiding distractions and political grandstanding in social entrepreneurship

  • C. The demand for sustainable products and services and the entry of big players in the market

  • D. The value of mentorship and learning from others' experiences

  • E. Developing courage to challenge the status quo and pursue goals

VII. Resources and Platforms mentioned in the episode

  • Websites and newsletters of the guest, Cory Ames

  • The GrowEnsemble podcast and where to find it

  • Cast Magic, an AI tool for generating podcast assets

  • Ethical concerns surrounding the use of AI tools

VIII. Cory Ames' Experience in Building a Social Enterprise in the Coffee Industry

  • Noticing the unfair prices paid to coffee-growing communities and starting a fair trade coffee company

  • Retiring and selling the company while remaining profitable

IX. Importance of Well-being and Resiliency for Social Entrepreneurs

  • Practicing appreciative inquiry and mindfulness meditation

  • Finding restorative activities and reflecting on individual needs

X. Challenges and Complexity in Defining Social Impact and Sustainability

  • The complications of defining social impact and sustainability in business

  • The lack of clear definitions and priorities in the social entrepreneurship space

XI. Key Characteristics of Successful Social Entrepreneurs

  • Listening to the community and building trust before offering solutions

  • Generosity and prioritizing the collective goal over individual success

  • Collaboration over competition in the social entrepreneur space

  • Storytelling skills and the importance of being able to share the work effectively

  • Patience and long-term commitment in achieving social impact

XII. Importance of Getting Outside Perspective and Personal Growth

  • Avoiding reliance solely on external metrics for growth

  • The value of seeking outside perspective and investing in personal development

XIII. Ethical Implications of Using Tools like Social Media and AI in Business

  • Cory Ames' discussion on ethical implications of using social media and AI

  • Paul Zelizer's emphasis on considering ethical concerns surrounding AI and robotics

XIV. Gratitude and Conclusion

  • Appreciation to the listeners

  • Mention of future discussions and plans for the podcast

Paul Zelizer