Ecosystems For Change

For our last interview of the season, we’re headed to Portland, Oregon, to chat with Rick Turoczy.

As Silicon Florist and co-founder and general manager of the Portland Incubator Experiment, or PIE, Rick has been supporting founders in the Portland startup community for fifteen years.

We talked about how you might plan for succession as a keystone in your community, how you transfer social capital, and how you might leverage your social capital to put the next generation of ecosystem builders in place.

Even though he will never say so himself, Rick is an institution in the Portland startup community and I couldn’t think of a better guest to close out this season.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why Rick believes in being place-motivated and focusing on a community
The unique challenges of building community in a city with a small-town feel
Why ecosystem builders need to be wary of nostalgia for what used to work
Why ecosystem builders need to think more like entrepreneurs when it comes to scarcity and abundance
Why Rick says the first step to building trust is showing up

Learn More About Rick Turoczy:

Portland Incubator Experiment
Silicon Florist
Twitter: @turoczy

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Rick’s written interview on Social Venturers (2020)
Stephen Green
Mitch Daugherty
Startup Champions Network
The Startup Community Way

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For today’s episode, we make our way to Indianapolis, Indiana, to talk to Julie Heath, Vice President of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

Julie was the first employee at a startup, then executive director at Indiana’s first collaborative workspace, the Speak Easy, and now serves as a statewide ecosystem builder under the Secretary of Commerce of Indiana.

Julie shares how she and her team spread the ecosystem gospel among economic developers and gives us a new way to think about social capital that the Indianapolis ecosystem has embraced: Know How via Know Who.

Let’s go to Indianapolis.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why Julie says “know-how via know-who” is the secret sauce of building healthy ecosystems
How a personal conflict with her husband challenged Julie’s vision
The challenges of scale in distributing game-changing smaller sums to founders
How distilling problem sets helps resolve conflict
How Julie has leveraged old trust networks to build new trust in her various roles

Learn More About Julie Heath:

Connect with Julie on LinkedIn
Entrepreneurship Indiana Yearbook

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Developer Town
the Speak Easy
1Million Cups Indy
Hidden Brain: Relationships 2.0: How To Keep Conflict From Spiraling.
ESHIP Summit
Startup Champions Network
Entrepreneurship Building Leadership Project
Kauffman Foundation: EPOP: Understanding Entrepreneurship in the U.S.
The Rainforest Blueprint
The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, Victor Hwang and Greg Horowitt
Amandula Anderson
Strategic Doing, Ed Morrison
The Power of Giving Away Power: How the Best Leaders Learn to Let Go, Matthew Barzun
Social Physics: How Social Networks Can Make Us Smarter, Alex Pentland

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If you listened to the very first episode of this show, the name Todd Nuckols and part of the following story might sound familiar.

When I first moved to the US eight years ago, Todd was one of the very first people I met. We met up at a coworking space called 804 RVA and I asked him how to get involved in Richmond’s entrepreneurship scene. Without hesitation, he pulled out his metaphorical Rolodex and generously opened up his network. To top it all off, he invited me to attend a conference in New York City with him that got me in the same room for two days with some of the world’s most renowned startup accelerators.

Todd’s rich social capital and the generosity with which he meets people are only two of the reasons I knew I couldn’t produce this season without him on the show. Todd, like me, is not keen on confrontation and conflict, yet he has managed it masterfully as a keystone in RVA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

A career technologist and committed dad, Todd Nuckols is passionate about advancing access to capital to fuel founders and community growth. Driven by faith and seeking to be part of the conversation wherever he finds himself, he wants to be known for leaving an impact on those around him for the better!

Let’s talk to Todd and find out how he invests in the lives of founders.

Disclaimer: We had audio issues with this episode but trust me that the content is worth suffering through some of the distortions.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How clarity and simplicity of mission turned one of Lighthouse’s initial opponents into a supporter
Why Todd says it’s so important to focus on common ground when there’s conflict
How to compromise while maintaining the integrity of your mission and purpose
How Todd says establishing a framework where everyone gets a win builds trust
Why owning your failures is also key to earning trust

Learn More About Todd Nuckols:

Lighthouse Labs
Connect with Lighthouse Labs on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

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For today’s episode, we’re headed to Anchorage, Alaska to sit down with Margo Fliss.

Margo is a lifelong and proud Alaskan; when she’s not building the entrepreneurial ecosystem for the state of Alaska, you can find her fishing salmon in the Kenai river during the summer and raising her newborn daughter.

In this conversation, Margo talks about an ecosystem convening that went terribly sideways and talks about how she moved through this experience with a lot of grace and professionalism if you ask me. But I’ll let you judge for yourself.

Tallyho to Anchorage, Alaska!

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How a lack of consensus among stakeholders derailed an event Margo facilitated
What Margo would do differently to establish common ground, communication, and expectations prior to getting everyone in the room
How to approach “soreheads” who have lost hope in the project
How showing up with support – even when the project isn’t yours – builds trust and rapport in the community
Why building trust and social capital is like putting money in a piggy bank

Learn More About Margo Fliss:

Connect with Margo on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Anchorage First Friday
Cal Newport
The Medici Effect: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us about Innovation, Frans Johansson

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Today, I want you to meet Cecilia Wessinger, who I’ve known for several years through her work as a community activator with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and her role at Startup Champions Network.

Cecilia shares what types of conflict she has encountered in helping convene an ecosystem of ecosystem builders. Cecilia also talks about how she approaches trust building among diverse parties.

Find out why we shouldn’t quiet but encourage dissent and what places you need to check out if you ever make it to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Cecilia Wessinger is an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder and founder of Mass Collaboration. She is also the Director for Global Community with the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). Prior to joining GEN, Cecilia was a consultant with the Kauffman Foundation, Future Agro Challenge and has led small group mastermind workshops and cohorts around the world. She has extensive experience mentoring and advising startup founders, ecosystem builders and organizations.

Cecilia has served as a speaker, facilitator and panelist at innovation- and entrepreneurship-focused events such as Shift, Tom-Tom Festival and ESHIP Summit. She has judged and supported pitch competitions for SXSW, U.S. Small Business Administration and the U.S. Department of State's Global Innovation through Science and Technology program. She currently serves on the executive board(s) of the Institute for Work and the Economy and Startup Champions Network, and has served on over a dozen non-profit boards in her local community ranging from the arts to education and entrepreneurship.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How Cecilia’s role as an ecosystem builder of ecosystem builders brought her close to being “collateral damage” when navigating conflict
Why Cecilia says that cooperation can actually get in the way of real progress, and why dissent is necessary to problem-solving and innovation
The lessons Cecilia has learned about transparency and relationships
Why Cecilia defines trust in terms of hope, consistency, and honesty

Learn More About Cecilia Wessinger:

CeciliaWessinger.me
Twitter: @Liminal_Nexus
Connect with Cecilia on LinkedIn
Read Cecilia's Blog Post on Phenomenology

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Kauffman Foundation
Global Entrepreneurship Network
Startup Champions Network
Who Do We Choose To Be? Facing Reality | Claiming Leadership | Restoring Sanity, Margaret Wheatley

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Today’s conversation did not take me far from home because my guest, Jess Edwards, is in the midst of wrapping up a project in Danville, VA.

Jess is a project-based ecosystem builder who has done this work in her hometown of Buffalo, NY, in Dubai as well as in Alaska and - most recently - in the South of Virginia.

Jess spilled the beans on how she builds and leverages her social capital when she parachutes into a community and explains why ecosystem projects are very much like going on a roadtrip to Florida.

Jess Edwards is a systems leader that can quickly identify talent and resources from various industries and mobilize them. She has an exceptional ability to maintain a bigger picture mission while developing a comprehensive implementation plan. Jess has a vast ability to help people, organizations and communities reach their greatest potential.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why some measure of conflict is inherent in the work of ecosystem building
How Jess defines social capital and why it’s not just about how big your network is
The three groups ecosystem builders need to have positive social capital with
The number one conflict Jess sees across ecosystems, and three key ways to manage it
How ecosystem builders can use their social capital to navigate interpersonal conflicts among stakeholders
Three ways that proving your credibility in a new environment builds trust

Learn More About Jess Edwards:

JessEdwards.com
Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Kauffman Foundation
Social Capital Research

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My first guest this season is Fay Horwitt who joined me from the Forward Cities headquarters in Durham, NC.

Since 2014, Forward Cities has worked in more than 50 communities around the US and has a deep organizational well of knowledge that they share generously.

I invited Fay on the show to share some of her hardest-won lessons when it comes to managing conflict in ecosystems and to tell us more about how she builds trust every time Forward Cities shows up in a new community.

Fay Horwitt serves as the President & CEO of Forward Cities, where she oversees organizational and programmatic strategy and design. She specializes in the development of equitable entrepreneurial ecosystems as a catalyst for systems change. Fay is a sought after presenter, trainer, and thought leader on the topic of ecosystem building and inclusive entrepreneurship.

Her current thought leadership efforts prioritizes the reimagining of Black Wall Street in a post-pandemic economy. Fay has a passion for entrepreneurial program development and adult education and curriculum design. She has a passion to empower and uplift innovators from all walks of life and believes that entrepreneurial mindsets have the power to transform our society for good.

Let’s go on a tour of the U.S. through the lens of Forward Cities!

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How fear – of not getting funding, recognition, being heard – can drive conflicts in ecosystems
How addressing fears with honest communication bursts the conflict bubble
Why emails are the worst way to communicate about a conflict, and what to do instead
How bringing in a third party facilitator can actually help build trust and social capital between local organizations
Why stakeholders need to acknowledge and address the power dynamics at play as soon as possible

Learn More About Fay Horwitt:

Forward Cities
Connect with Fay on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, Victor W. Hwang
Black Wall Street Forward
ABIDE framework
Fay’s feature on Social Venturers
Book Fay to speak

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Earlier this year, I was chatting with a fellow ecosystem builder who had just been hired to convene an entrepreneurial ecosystem. From the outside, it looked pretty mature. They had the right institutions, programs, a digital map, co-working spaces, an active angel network, and an active entrepreneurial community.

But when he got there, it quickly became clear that while the stakeholders wanted to see the ecosystem thrive, they all had vastly different ideas of what that journey should look like.

When I facilitated a session with that group, the tension in the room made my hands sweat. It felt like everyone was trying to defend their territory, even though, in principle, they all wanted the same thing.

Is this uncommon when diverse stakeholders come together? No.

Does this type of tension or conflict have the potential to break apart an ecosystem and stall all progress? Hell yes.

So, how do we build a culture of trust and collaboration within our ecosystems so that we might look beyond individual agendas and focus on what is best for entrepreneurs?

In short, how do we build social capital?

That’s what we’re digging into this season.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why trust and collaboration are essential to navigating complex adaptive systems
Why we (myself included!) need to learn conflict management skills
How the kinds of networks we’re naturally inclined to build influence our work as ecosystem builders

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Robert D. Putnam
Kauffman Foundation
Social Chemistry: Decoding the Patterns of Human Connection, Marissa King
The Strength of Weak Ties, Mark S. Granovetter
Dunbar’s Number

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Welcome to my fourth logbook, an in-between season update on all things ecosystem building.

I share with you what is going on in the field of ecosystem building here in the US, give you an insight into what I’m working on in my day job as Director of Ecosystem Building at the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, and share some behind the scenes details of the show.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

A recap of our listening tours and inaugural Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit
Why I probably need to relisten to season 3 as I’m entering into a very busy season of my personal and professional life
Details from the organizers of two exciting upcoming conferences
What’s coming up in season 4

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Startup Champions Network Summit Fall 2022
Sparkyard
Ms. Opal Lee
Ebuilders Forum 2022
INBIA.org

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Welcome to the last Summer Skill Session of 2022.

I hope that you’ve gotten a fair amount of vitamin D and you were able to take some time off this summer to relax. And, of course, I hope that you found this series helpful.

Summer is winding down and we’re getting in those last ice creams, popsicles, and cold drinks, squeezing out the last of the sunscreen from the bottle, and starting to put away bathing suits and beach towels. But we’ve still got fall and winter ahead.

I don’t know about you, but the start of fall usually leaves me feeling super recharged and ready to tackle the rest of the year with a lot of enthusiasm and really, really big plans.

If you feel that way too, this episode might be super relevant for you and hopefully just what you need to get back into the swing of things.

Today, we’re talking about productivity.

But first, a confession. I may not be the best person to talk about productivity.

I do think I am very productive! But I haven’t quite figured out how to be productive without also working myself into the ground. And admittedly, I’m not always the best at taking my own advice when it comes to how to be productive.

Which is to say, I need this episode as much as you do.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why I always put the personal stuff first when I’m building my calendar
How to use each quarter to get more detailed with your plans and reflect on what you can realistically accomplish in 30, 60, and 90 days
How to cluster your week to avoid bouncing between tasks and projects all day
Why you should leave your emails for later in the day
My best advice for taking breaks, creating rituals, and making your to-do list work for you

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Racheal Cook
The 5am Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life, Robin Sharma
Bullet Journal
Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear
What Works: A Comprehensive Framework to Change the Way We Approach Goal Setting, Tara McMullin

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I came to storytelling from a love of local business and their owners in Richmond, Virginia.

First, I loved their products, from biscuits to T-shirts to local moonshine. And once I got to know these businesses and their owners, I wanted to shout their stories from the rooftops. I wanted the whole world, or at least the people in my city, to know about them and spend their dollars there.

These startups and small businesses made me proud of my community. So I told their stories in every way I could. I posted about them on social media. I told my friends about them. I wrote blog posts and articles.

I was celebrating these small businesses in every possible way, but I never called it storytelling. It was just something I did.

So let this be the first rule of storytelling and ecosystem building: It doesn’t have to be hard.

If you tell your friends about your favorite local businesses or you post about them on social media, you are already telling their stories; you’re just not thinking about it that way.

In today’s Summer Skill Session, I want to introduce you to my five-step approach to telling meaningful stories about your ecosystem.

If you tell your friends about your favorite local businesses or you post about them on social media, you are already telling their stories. You're just not thinking about it that way.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Five key aspects to consider when building your storytelling strategy
Why keeping it simple will help you keep it consistent
How to set the tone for your stories so that they acknowledge what’s hard, while staying hopeful
Five tips for successful storytelling

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

@FindLocalRVA on Instagram
Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World, Jacqueline Novogratz
Isaac Jeffries on consistent content creation
How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from the Moth
Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building (campaign)

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Welcome to our second Summer Skill Session.

I hope you’re kicking it by the pool, popsicle in hand, your headphones on, eager to add another skill to your toolbox as an ecosystem builder.

Today, we’re talking about entrepreneurial outreach.

Tell me if this sounds familiar:

We're launching a support program for entrepreneurs, but how do we make them aware of it?

Hey, I'm hosting this workshop conference event for entrepreneurs. Can you help me get the word out?

Or one of my favorites, there just are no entrepreneurs in our community.

If you've heard one or several of these statements in your ecosystem, today's episode is for you.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why listening deeply is the first step of outreach, especially if you want to connect to entrepreneurs from backgrounds different than yours
Why an open door isn’t enough, you have to go out into the community you want to serve
How to shift your language to make your outreach more specifically and intentionally inclusive
The difference between short-term tactics that build awareness and long-term tactics that build relationships and trust

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Enoch Elwell
Ecosystems for Change, S02E02: Humanity-Focused Systems Design with Madelynn Martiniere
Ecosystems for Change, S01E03: How to Build Trust Within an Ecosystem with Charlton Cunningham
CO.STARTERS webinar: Unconventional Ways to Find New Entrepreneurs

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I don’t know about you, but every time I go on social media, I see people vacationing in the Greek isles or somewhere on Bermuda, and while I’m stuck here in my lovely home office in my new hometown of Stanton, Virginia, I feel like summer as well.

So instead of a fully produced season that is a chapter in our playbook of ecosystem building, I am bringing you the Summer Skill Sessions.

I imagine you lying on a beach somewhere, kicking it with a cocktail or mocktail in hand, trying to keep cool and wondering how to become a better ecosystem building. Isn’t that what we all think about all the time?

The idea behind these Summer Skill Sessions is to bring you short snippets of episodes that introduce you to a very practical skill for ecosystem builders and walk you through some of the steps that you need to take to master that skill, and leave you with a lot of resources to dive a little bit deeper and become an expert on this skill.

In our first Summer Skills Session, we are going to talk about ecosystem mapping.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Four key reasons why we map ecosystems
Why you need to engage collaborators as soon as possible
How defining the ecosystem, target audience, scope, and the question you’re answering shape the map you’re making
How making sure you collect qualitative data makes your map more than just a directory
How your research question will guide your data analysis and the way you present your findings

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Ecosystems for Change S01E01: What is Ecosystem Building?
Ecosystems for Change S02E04: Servant Leadership, Co-writing New Narratives and Burnout in Ecosystem Building with Jeff Bennett
Definition of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

DIY Resources

E3 Scorecard, Forward Cities
Guide for Mapping the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, GIZ
Building a community entrepreneurial ecosystem: A self-guided training for communities, Main Street America

Selected Service Providers

Sourcelink Resource Navigator
EcoMap
Economic Impact Catalyst

Articles

Chad Renando: Mapping Innovation Ecosystems
Jeff Bennett: How to Get Started Mapping Your Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
Jeff Bennett: The Benefits of Mapping Your Startup & Innovation Ecosystem
Startup Junkies: Venture Ecosystem Building Canvas

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Welcome, friends, to my third logbook, the in-between seasons update where I share what’s going on behind the scenes of the show in my day job as an ecosystem builder in the Shenandoah Valley, in the field of ecosystem building in general, and in my personal life.

I will also give you a little sneak peek of what lies ahead and how you can get involved.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

We bought a house!
Embarking on a listening tour and hosting the inaugural Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit with SCCF
Fall conference season is almost here
Coming up in season four: social capital, conflict management, and collaboration

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Ecosystem Building Leadership Project
EBLP Online Community

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I set out on this season assuming that we all want to lead happier and healthier lives in which we don’t fall victim to burnout, stress and overwhelm.

And this, by the way, does not just concern ecosystem builders and do-gooders.

Most of us look for purpose in our lives, for work that fulfills us, for time and resources to spend on things we enjoy. Don’t we all dream of having meaningful, trusting relationships with our friends and families?

Am I the only one who fantasizes about an ideal version of myself as a healthy, strong, resilient, equanimous and happy person?

Some days, I still fantasize about the Anika who has her manageable workload under control, who breezes through her to-do list, resolves conflict and wakes up bursting with energy each day ready to make a difference in her community.

And then I remember that she is a product of my imagination.

This season confirmed that there is no magic formula, no secret ingredient. It all comes down to priorities, to looking at the big picture and deciding what kind of life we want to live, and making changes to our lifestyle accordingly.

None of my guests revealed a secret that will magically prevent us from burnout. But each of them brought several pieces of advice that work for THEM and that hopefully can work for us, too.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why we have to learn to listen to our bodies and run slower
How holding on to your boundaries and your ethics can help prevent you from burning the candle at both ends
Why we need to learn how to press pause on the to-do list
The benefits of reaching out for help when we’re stuck
Why entrepreneurship is always personal

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

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In today’s episode, you’ll meet Shelly Rose, a natural foods chef and one of my favorite people on this Earth!

In my humble opinion, Shelly is a gift to humanity because she is deeply invested in helping others–irrespective of age, background and current lifestyle–lead a healthy life.

In this conversation, we talk about sleep, nutrition, staying hydrated, taking good care of your nervous system - which I think we could all use some advice on. Shelly also shares how she is moving your body regularly, what she does to prepare her body for aging, and how we can integrate healthier habits into our day-to-day life.

But rest assured, we don’t talk about raw kale or celery juice - Shelly enjoys pastries and the occasional treat like we all do. She is human after all!

Shelly Rose founded Pure Roots Nutrition in 2011, a company dedicated to helping people implement a more joyful and peace-filled life through real food, movement, stress relief, meaningful connection, purpose, time spent in nature, and a good night’s sleep.

She has worked in medical practices alongside Naturopathic Doctors (NDs) specializing in food sensitivities, chronic conditions, and incorporating meal plans, culinary skills, and lifestyle changes into patient care plans. While working independently as an educator and consultant today, Shelly still actively partners in client/patient care with like-minded integrative, functional and naturopathic medicine healthcare providers.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How Shelly learned to connect how her body felt with what she was eating
Why sleep is the foundation for a healthier lifestyle
How to recognize when your nervous system is dysregulated
How to evaluate and set priorities when it comes to making sustainable changes for your health

Learn more about Shelly Rose:

Pure Roots Nutrition
Instagram: @purerootsnutrition

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message

Resources:

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, James Clear

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In today’s episode, you’ll meet my friend David Hirsch.

David is one of those rare people who–within two minutes of talking to you–makes you feel completely seen, heard, understood, and valued. I hope you get some of that in this conversation.

From his office in Chattanooga, TN, he shares with us his experience with burnout as a community builder. David talks about not only the mental and emotional toll, but the physical manifestations of his work-related post-traumatic stress disorder. Grounded in his experience as a youth worker, David has developed a unique approach to taking care of himself and others by deeply engaging our own support networks as an active selfcare practice.

A full stack community builder who can't help but see the best in people, David Hirsch has sought to improve the lives of others by creating sustainability in their lives. This work spans personal, professional, spiritual, and familial considerations. Drawing from a varied background, and many wise friends/mentors/books, he is occasionally able to bring the right resource to the right person at the right time for the right reason... when he is paying attention, listens, and is not being a narcissist.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How ecosystem builders unconsciously push each other toward burnout
Why ecosystem builders and the people in their lives need community support, not self care
How asking for help builds stronger communities
Why ecosystem builders need to work toward transfers of trust in their projects

Learn more about David Hirsch:

Facebook: @hirschey8
Connect with David on LinkedIn

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

BetterHelp
Sustainable Youth Ministry: Why Most Youth Ministry Doesn't Last and What Your Church Can Do about It, Mark DeVries
The Body Keeps The Score, Bessel van der Kolk
Your Brain is Always Listening, David G. Amen

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Today’s conversation takes place in Dayton, Ohio, where I caught up with Candace Dalmagne-Rouge, social entrepreneur, Zebra and mother of twin girls.

I wanted you all to meet Candace because she has lived the startup life of acceleration, ecosystem building, and Silicon Valley and has come out the other end intact to start a business that is deeply aligned with her personal experience and purpose.

I so enjoyed talking to her about spirituality, trusting your intuition and acknowledging the important transitions in life.

Candace Dalmagne-Rouge is the Founder of Ceremony - helping people honor, heal and celebrate life. Through DIY ceremony kits, events and eventually retreats, her intention is to cultivate sacred, inspired space and bring people into power, presence and reverence for life.

With nearly a decade of experience supporting entrepreneurs, small businesses, and startup ecosystems both locally and internationally, Candace combines her knowledge in entrepreneurship with her passion for holistic wellbeing in this latest venture.

Content note: This episode discusses miscarriage and child loss.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How Candace realized she needed a change from the hustle of working for Silicon Valley
The practices that Candace uses to keep herself balanced and grounded
How creating space for ceremony has played an important role in Candace’s life and why she wants to bring that to others
Why Candace says it’s critical to develop a relationship with your intuition for when things get tough

Learn more about Candace Dalmagne-Rouge:

Ceremony
Instagram: @holdceremony
Facebook: @holdceremony
Connect with Candace on LinkedIn

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

Dr. Joe Dispenza

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Today, I want you to meet Alex Boross-Harmer.

Alex used to be my Crossfit Coach and has since taken a completely new, holistic and empathetic approach to helping others move their body. Think sweating and panting, but fun.

From the 15th floor of their condo in Toronto, Canada, Alex talks about their transition from Barbie to Ken with an ink sleeve, making the fitness industry more human and honoring their own needs.

Alex Boross-Harmer is an activist, coach, teacher, social-worker-in-training, and communication-obsessed human. Equal parts rebel, academic, and want-to-be Ted Lasso, Alex uses mental-health-focused fitness as a vehicle to heal our collective oppression in a capitalist, patriarchal society. Alex's mission is to create spaces for others who, like them, felt like they "never quite fit in" in the world around them and want to feel not only safe but powerful expressing their full, unapologetically unique selves.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How pivoting to online classes as the pandemic started gave Alex the freedom to re-envision how they approach fitness
How to find movement that brings you joy
Why fitness professionals need to approach their clients as whole humans who don’t have to leave their feelings at the door
How Alex prioritizes self care and rest, while working to let go of the shame or productivity culture

Learn more about Alex Boross-Harmer:

ABH Movement
Instagram: @abh_movement
TikTok: @abh_movement
Beneath the Armour

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

Brené Brown: Dare to Lead podcast

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Today, we’re headed to Melbourne, Australia, to talk to my good friend Isaac Jeffries.

He was kind enough to sit down after a late-night game of Aussie rules to talk to me about his experience working in the Australian and South Pacific social enterprise space.

We chatted about setting and upholding boundaries to ensure we don’t disappoint ourselves or the people around us who matter. We also talked about having the guts to share your work, managing your energy, and staying true to your ethical compass.

Isaac Jeffries works with people who want to do good and make money at the same time. He runs accelerator programs and coaching sessions with social entrepreneurs to help them grow their businesses and stay financially sustainable.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How feeling responsible for something greater than ourselves can fuel action and burning the candle at both ends
How Isaac now balances work that is energizing and work that is draining
Why setting and keeping boundaries means getting comfortable with disappointing people
Why your ethical reputation is far more important than your output reputation
How making progress in secret can create longevity in your creativity

Learn more about Isaac Jeffries:

IsaacJeffries.com
Instagram: @evander.strategy

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

Show Your Work!: 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered, Austin Kleon

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If you listened to the first two seasons of this show, you may have noticed that I ask each guest how they’re handling the demands of the work as systemic thinkers and doers.

Having worked in this space for years, I know that many of us idealists and hopeless optimists come dangerously close to burning the candle on both ends on a regular basis.

And this is why we need to talk about burnout friends.

We cannot afford for any of us to break down, to quit. Who is going to change the world if all the changemakers are depleted and exhausted?

And what’s more, we’re not interchangeable. One ecosystem builder or social impact enthusiast lost is a huge cost. I firmly believe that we all have a unique gift that we bring into this world and when we lose someone to burnout, that gift will forever be lost to our community.

In season 3, I talk to practitioners who can help us build a solid foundation of physical, mental and emotional health so that we can stay in this game of ecosystem building for a long time to come!

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How I grappled with exhaustion and burning the candle at both ends
Why just working harder isn’t the answer
The systemic issues that leave so many ecosystem builders feeling spent and exhausted

Learn more about the contributors to the episode:

Cara Meyer
Jane Finnette
Lisa Millette
Tracey Greene
Tara McMullin

Learn more about Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

Martyr in Recovery
What Works with Tara McMullin Ep 379: Why do we choose squeezing more in over taking time off?
Joe Maruschak’s Farewell Letter

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Welcome to my second logbook, an in-between-seasons update on what’s been going on behind the scenes of this show and in my work in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, paired with a few observations from the field of ecosystem building here in the US.

In between seasons, I love giving you a little sneak peek into what I have planned over the coming weeks and how YOU can get involved! Let’s do it!

Thank you to my special guests Dr. Amy Beaird, TJ Wright and Lauren Mathena

Listen to the full episode to hear:

What I’ve been working on at the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF)
Conversations from the 2022 Startup Champions Network Summit
What I’m working on for the fall at SCCF
What’s coming in Season 3 of Ecosystems for Change and a way for you to get involved

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Leave a voice message!

Resources:

Ecosystem Evolution: What's next for the doers, dreamers and makers in the Valley? - Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
Startup Champions Network
Ecosystems for Change S02E05: Thriving In a World of Ambiguity, Uncertainty, and Constant Change with April Rinne
Ecosystems for Change S01E05: How to Manage Copycats and Grow Ecosystems Together with Darlisa Diltz

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When we set out on this season, it was all about the great unknown of complex, adaptive systems. Scary, right?

I’ll admit, I was a little unsure myself whether we would be able to make systems thinking a little less intimidating and ultimately helpful to how we foster, build, and nourish ecosystems for change in our communities.

After hearing from our seven guests, I hope that things are a little less unknown.

Let’s break it down and see what we can take away from this season.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How thinking and acting in complex, adaptive systems actually come naturally to humans, if we let it
Why we need to let go of the illusion of control and linear thinking in order to take on the challenges we face
How interconnectivity and mutualism are essential to social change
Why we need to slow down in order to build meaningful solutions in community
What kind of mindset shifts are required for leaders in complex, adaptive systems

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change, April Rinne
Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter Block
The Dawn of System Leadership, Peter Senge, Hal Hamilton, and John Kania

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In today’s episode, join me on a trip to the unceded territory of the Sandia Pueblos in New Mexico. I’m sitting down with Vanessa Roanhorse to talk about the Indigenous worldview, how it might inform our approach to thinking in systems, and what exhausts her about being asked to show up as an Indigenous female entrepreneur and educator.

Vanessa Roanhorse (Diné) is the CEO of Roanhorse Consulting, an Indigenous woman-owned company that co-designs wealth and power-building efforts that invests in thoughtful community-led efforts that put people back in the center.

Vanessa is a co-founder of Native Women Lead, a national organization that lifts Indigenous women in business. She sits on the boards of Groundworks NM, Delta Institute, Zebras Unite and is an advisor to Angels of Impact Fund. She is a 2021 Paypal Maggie Lena Walker’s Emerging Leader Awardee and a 2020 Conscious Company Media’s World Changing Women in Sustainable Business Awardee. She is a 2021 Purpose Fund Building Fellow and a 2020 Boston Impact Initiative Fund-Building fellow.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why systems work needs to reimagine capitalism and resource management entirely
How a worldview that includes a plurality of truths and experiences informs Vanessa’s approach to systems change
Why individuals need to decenter themselves and work towards community impact
The basic groundwork and education non-Indigenous people in America need to do
What morning practice keeps Vanessa grounded

Learn More About Vanessa Roanhorse:

Roanhorse Consulting
Twitter: @VRRoanhorse
Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn
Instagram: @RoanhorseConsultingLLC

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Leanne Simpson
Indigenomics, Carol Anne Hilton
UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Native Women Lead
Common Future
Braiding Sweetgrass, Robin Wall Kimmerer

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Today, we’re taking a trip to Berkeley, California, to talk to my favorite kind of trouble: Kate Sassoon, or as we call her: Sassy.

Sassy has spent most of her life living in or working with co-ops. We talked about the role of stakeholder capitalism and global cooperativism and how both models help us rethink the current system. Sassy also shares what she learned from going undercover in Silicon Valley and what’s going on under the hood of cooperatives.

Kate “Sassy" Sassoon has spent over 20 years turning her passion for efficiency, effectiveness, and equity into a thriving consultancy offering facilitation, training, and organizational design to social enterprise organizations. She develops inclusive collaboration frameworks, energetic dialogue spaces, and authentic connections. Her work is known for being joyous, empowering, and deeply caring. She brings all that energy and a lifetime of experience with co-ops to the role of Director of Cooperative Membership at Zebras Unite Co-op. She holds 2 degrees from UC Berkeley - one in art and one in science, and approaches the world (and the work) with one foot firmly in each. She delights in deep questions, unexpected connections, and doing well by doing good.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why our capitalist norms of extraction and power concentration hinder our ability to imagine new mutualistic systems
How stakeholder capitalism helps us bring more people to the table and recenter those who are most impacted
What Silicon Valley can teach us about the power of narrative
How the challenges in building cooperative companies that can make them more sustainable in the long-term
Steps to take to actively engage with cooperatives in your sphere

Learn More About Kate "Sassy" Sassoon:

Sassy Facilitation
Facebook: @KSassoon

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

"Zebras Fix What Unicorns Break"
Rochdale Pioneers
Mondragon corporation
International Cooperative Alliance
California center for cooperative development
Zebras Unite
N.K. Jemisin
The Sharing Solution
The Culture Map: Breaking Through the Invisible Boundaries of Global Business, Erin Meyer
For All the People: Uncovering the Hidden History of Cooperation, Cooperative Movements, and Communalism in America, John Curl and Ishmael Reed

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Today’s conversation takes place in a small town north of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

I sat down with Lana Jelenjev, community alchemist, hospice worker for dying systems and midwife for new emerging systems. Lana introduces the two-loop model that explains her work and shares how she sets and upholds boundaries when helping others cross over from old to new.

Lana is an avid fire starter, systems thinker and lifelong learner. She is an advocate of “self-full centric living” - a set of practices that you can use to help you live a legacy of connection, presence and fullness.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why systems stay stagnant and mechanistic
How the two loops model illustrates compassionate, sustainable systems change
How to help people move from old to new systems
How Lana’s practice of checking in with herself helps her set and maintain boundaries

Learn More About Lana Jelenjev:

LanaJelenjev.com
Connect with Lana on LinkedIn
Community Rituals

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

Community Builder: Designing Communities for Change
Zebras Unite
Two loops model from Berkana Institute
Michelle Holliday, The Age of Thrivability
Crowdcast with Michelle Holliday: THRIVABILITY: A framework for regenerative leadership
Morning Pages, Julia Cameron
6 Lenses Strategy

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Today I’m catching up with April Rinne in Portland, OR.

I wanted to have a conversation with April because her book, Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change is exactly the kind of thinking that changemakers and systems thinkers need to not only keep their heads above water, but to actually thrive in our constantly changing circumstances.

A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and ranked one of the “50 Leading Female Futurists” in the world by Forbes, April Rinne is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationship with change, uncertainty, and a world in flux.

She is a trusted advisor to well-known startups, companies, financial institutions, nonprofits, and think tanks worldwide, including Airbnb, Nike, Intuit, theWorld Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, NESTA, Trōv, AnyRoad, and Unsettled, as well as governments ranging from Singapore to South Africa, Canada to Colombia, Italy to India. April is the author of Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

The challenges and opportunities of having outdated scripts why our new scripts have to account for a world in flux
How technology can actually make us less adaptable to change
How scripts for a world in flux layer up from the individual to the systemic
Two different aspects of trust and why they are critical for navigating change

Learn More About April Rinne:

AprilRinne.com
Flux Mindset
Instagram: @AprilRinne
Connect with April on LinkedIn
Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

Resources:

The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety, Alan Watts
Design from Trust
Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, Carol S. Dweck

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In today's episode, we make our way to Sacramento, California to hear from Jeff Bennett.

Jeff talks about servant leadership, the importance of co-writing a new narrative with our communities and the frustrations that come with shifting a system.

I don't know many people who have worked so tirelessly to move our field of ecosystem building forward and Jeff talks openly about the toll that this work has taken on him.

Jeff Bennett has been working to build ecosystems at both the local level and the field level. He is the co-founder and president of StartupSac, a small, scrappy nonprofit in Sacramento, California that informs, educates, and connects founders and innovators. He also works to connect and inform ecosystem builders and advance the field across the nation as the co-founder of Ecosystem Builder Hub, an online resource for ecosystem building news and stories. He has written extensively on the topic of ecosystem building and has worked with the Kauffman Foundation, helping to advance the work of ecosystem builders.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why short-term solutions are like playing Whack-A-Mole with the news cycle and why we need education and awareness of systems thinking
The kind of leadership required in a systems-focused world
The power of storytelling and narrative to help catalyze systemic change in our communities
How we got stuck in a reductionist paradigm and how we can begin to think in complex adaptive systems
Why cultivating patience, equanimity, and realistic expectations is necessary for ecosystem builders

Learn More About Jeff Bennett:

Ecosystem Builder Hub
StartupSac
Twitter: @DigitalSplash
Medium

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

Resources:

The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
The Dawn of System Leadership
Frederick Taylor
How the Ecosystem Metaphor Influences Entrepreneurship, ESHIP talk by David McConville, 2017
Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide to Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results, David Peter Stroh
The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization, Peter M. Senge

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In today’s episode, we’re headed to Kansas City, Missouri, to talk to Lauren Higgins.

Lauren has been working with systems thinking for more than half her life and today she shares her journey to becoming a systems thinker and talks about how she remains anchored and sane in the wild dance with systems.

Lauren Higgins, co-director of Democracy Together, is active in civic conflict resolution and restorative justice efforts in her current home of Kansas City, Missouri. For 10+ years she has facilitated multi-stakeholder projects and produced large scale events focused on social innovation, public imagination, and the new economy. As senior staff at the Impact Hub Network, she developed democratic governance convenings to help 100 communities align their collective impact. Currently, at the Kauffman Foundation, she designs innovation and capacity building programs to advance systemic approaches to inclusive prosperity.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

The relationship between linear thinking, urgency, and reactivity
Why systems change requires a foundation of genuine relationships based on curiosity, mutual, respect and trust
How the concept of emergence helps us think about complex adaptive systems and nurtures change
How systems thinking can get tangled with mechanistic models, and why it won’t actually help you predict and control outcomes
How de-centering herself helps Lauren balance awareness of pressing global issues with what she is capable of contributing

Learn More About Lauren Higgins:

Democracy Together
Twitter: @LoHiggs
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

Resources:

Margaret Wheatley, A Simpler Way
Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds, adrienne maree brown
Octavia Butler
Colectivo 1050°
Dave Snowden
Donella Meadows - Dancing with Systems

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Today, we are headed to a small village in the south of France to talk to Madelynn Martiniere about her work in designing, activating, and scaling open innovation ecosystems for a more equitable and sustainable future.

In our conversation Madelynn and I talk about the importance of finding community and belonging, what role technology can play in driving systemic change and what it means to design an ideal world.

Madelynn Martiniere is a global strategist and facilitator working with innovators, entrepreneurs and executives to design, activate, and scale open innovation ecosystems for a more equitable and sustainable future. She is currently Managing Partner at Armillaria, an ecosystems design lab working to co-create critical digital infrastructure for a more thriving world. An avid permaculturist, when not working on systems change, she can be found working in the garden.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How technology’s desire to simplify concepts impacts our ability to see interconnection and complexity
Why we can’t enter a community looking to validate a hypothesis
The tension in recognizing our locus of control
The challenges in wanting it done and wanting to be the one to do it

Learn More About Madelynn Martiniere:

Armillaria
Twitter: @mmartiniere
Connect with Madelynn on LinkedIn
Design Principles for Systems Change: Cooperative
Design Principles for Systems Change: Humanity-Centered

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

Resources:

Community: The Structure of Belonging, Peter Block
The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, Priya Parker
Sphaera
Roxann Stafford
Designs for the Pluriverse: Radical Interdependence, Autonomy, and the Making of Worlds, Arturo Escobar

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In season two of Ecosystems for Change, we’re talking about the slow and complex nature of our work.

For the longest time, I didn’t understand this concept.

I just knew I was banging my head against the wall. It felt like nothing ever changed and like I was constantly running uphill, trying support entrepreneurs in my community and nobody would see it the way I saw it.

Today, I know that’s because I had no idea how complex adaptive systems really work.

I know “complex adaptive systems” sounds highly conceptual, theoretical or hard to access. That’s probably why I didn’t dive into it until years into being an ecosystem builder.

But that’s exactly why I’m dedicating season two to this topic.

My goal is to break open “complex adaptive systems,” and to talk to practitioners who can help us all understand how we can think and act more in these systems in order to support entrepreneurs and build thriving ecosystems in our communities.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Defining complex adaptive systems
The 4 early lessons about thinking and acting in systems
Why entrepreneurial ecosystems resist orderly hierarchies
The elements of culture, temperament, and personality that impact how systems interconnect

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

Resources:

The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
National Center for Economic Gardening
Dancing with Systems, Donella Meadows
Thinking in Systems. A Primer. Donella Meadows.
My conversation with Sharon Chang, Guild of Future Architects
Center for Social Innovation
Mars Discovery District

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I have been writing monthly Logbooks ever since I started Social Venturers.

It’s been my way of keeping myself accountable and sharing with other people what I’ve been working on the month before, what I was planning, and how people could get involved.

So I’m continuing that tradition here on the podcast.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Three big projects that are wrapping up
Professional shifts and my role at the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
What’s coming up in Season Two of Ecosystems for Change
An invitation for a community conversation and to be co-creators of the podcast

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator

Resources:

My last written logbook
The Keystone Program
Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
Ecosystems for Change S01E02: How to Build Up Community Capital to Nurture Your Ecosystem with Debbie Irwin
Zebras Unite and my storytelling campaign Zebras in the Wild
Zebras in the Wild: Anika Horn
April 14: Burn both ends, register here and tell your friends!

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If there is one takeaway running through each episode of season one it’s this: Ecosystem building is a mindset.

Almost all of the six ecosystem builders I spoke with this season professed to be introverts or having been shy as children, yet they are out there every day building relationships and communities.

But, as Charlton Cunningham noted in Episode 3, the introvert-extrovert continuum is really about where you get your energy and how you recharge, and many ecosystem builders I know are excellent at building and nurturing genuine, meaningful relationships, regardless of whether they get energy from working a room full of people or prefer to converse one on one.

All six interviews showcased what it means to put the needs of entrepreneurs at the forefront of their work and what we’re up against when building for the greater good.

But there were three main themes that really stood out to me and today, I’m revisiting my conversations from season one to illustrate those essential points.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why customer discovery is as essential for ecosystem builders as it is for business owners
How an abundance mindset opens the door to building with and not for your community but has its drawbacks and heartbreaks
Why building trust in your community is the best place to start
How to define entrepreneurial ecosystems

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
Startup Junkie
The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley, Victor W. Hwang and Greg Horowitt
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strategy as a New Paradigm for Economic Policy: Principles for Cultivating Entrepreneurship, Daniel Isenberg (2011)

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In today’s episode, we’re headed to Quito, Ecuador, to sit down with Michelle Arévalo-Carpenter.

When season 1 took shape I knew I had to have Michelle on the show so it’s only suitable that she is closing out the conversation series of this pilot season!

Michelle talks about how she left her career and professional identity as a human rights lawyer in Geneva, Switzerland, to return to Latin America. About 8 years ago, Michelle set out to fight loneliness for changemakers in Ecuador and ended up building Ecuador's first coworking space for Impact entrepreneurs with her co-founder Daniela Peralvo. Since then, Impaqto has become Ecuador’s first B Corp, expanded to five locations, and has grown into much more than a coworking space.

Today, Impaqto works regionally in 17 countries through their consulting services; Michelle and her team also provide entrepreneurial education and are building their first impact investing fund.

I’m so excited for you all to meet Michelle and learn about her holistic approach to building an entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why being an introvert is an asset to Michelle as an ecosystem builder
How the loneliness among changemakers led Michelle to a systems approach and the creation of Impaqto
How the business has evolved from a co-working space into a full-fledged support system for impact-entrepreneurs in Ecuador
Why ecosystem builders need multilingual resources
How becoming a parent has taught Michelle to say no as a founder

Learn more about Michelle Arévalo-Carpenter:

Impaqto
MichelleAC.com
Instagram: @MichelleAtImpaqto
Twitter: @MichelleAC1
Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

Global Good Fund Fellowship
The Overstory, Richard Powers

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In today’s episode, I’m taking you to Lincoln, Nebraska, to meet Christina Oldfather.

Christina is a seasoned ecosystem builder and economic developer.

We talk about the shared objectives and differences between economic development and ecosystem building as approaches to fostering entrepreneurship. And Christina spills the beans on how her ecosystem convenes and how they support founders post-acceleration.

We also discuss the power of small communities and taking a mindset of giving before you get. And hey, if you’re looking for a new exercise regimen this year, we got that covered too!

Christina Oldfather is the Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship for the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development. In her time at LPED, Christina has created and built a wide variety of entrepreneurial support programs, including the LaunchLNK program, a grant program for early- stage startups, and StartupLNK, a digital platform to help people navigate the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lincoln.

She also is the lead organizer for 1 Million Cups Lincoln and Techstars Startup Week Lincoln. Christina also serves on the NMotion Board of Directors and has helped bring the NMotion Accelerator to its current status as an investment-based studio accelerator. In addition to NMotion, Christina serves on the Board of Directors of Startup Champions Network, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial ecosystem builders, the Child Advocacy Center, and Rabble Mill.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How economic development, ecosystem building, and legislative action have influenced Lincoln’s entrepreneurial culture
Why Christina developed the LaunchLNK program specifically to support early-stage entrepreneurs
Why building trust and listening to the community’s needs have been key for building Lincoln’s ecosystem
How Christina uses her Jazzercise classes to carve out time for herself

Learn more about Christina Oldfather:

StartupLNK
LaunchLNK
Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development
Facebook: @cjoldfather
Twitter: @CBinLincoln
Connect with Christina on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

Startup Champions Network Summit
Echo Collective
The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway

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Today, we’re going on a trip to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in Texas.

I want you to meet Darlisa Diltz who runs the North Texas Entrepreneur Education and Training Center.

Darlisa shares what happens when the work you’ve been doing for years suddenly becomes all the rage, but powerful players don’t take the time to truly understand their communities’ needs.

Darlisa also talks openly about bad actors in the ecosystem who–instead of partnering with her–outright copied her programs. And she shares with us how she unwinds after just one of those days.

Hear what advice Darlisa has about nurturing community and becoming a truly inclusive ecosystem builder.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why Darlisa and NEETC focus efforts on “wannapreneurs” and early stage entrepreneurs by building connections and community
How Darlisa copes with having her work replicated by other organizations
Why ecosystems builders need to focus on inclusivity over influence
What major players get wrong about building truly inclusive ecosystems

Learn more about Darlisa Diltz:

North Texas Entrepreneur Education and Training Center
Facebook: @NTEETC
Instagram: @NTEETC
Connect with NTEETC on LinkedIn

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
Sparkyard

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In today’s episode, we’re headed to Puerto Rico to talk with Denisse Rodríguez. Denisse left her high-flying career on Wall Street to return to her home country where she’s now dedicated to making entrepreneurship more accessible for founders all across the island.

Against the background of the bustling streets of San Juan, Denisse shares which champions helped her launch an island-wide ecosystem and she talks about the opportunities that come with a population of three million, and a diaspora of 5 million Puerto Ricans around the world.

Denisse has a big vision for making this US territory not just a place from which top talent graduates, but a place where top talent stays to build and work at startups that have the potential to transform the island state.

Denisse Rodríguez is an ecosystem builder and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of economic and community development. As Executive Director at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology & Research Trust, she founded and leads Colmena66, an award-winning program which makes entrepreneurship easier by connecting entrepreneurs with the vital, just-in-time, on-the-ground resources they need to accelerate their ideas and turn those into sustainable businesses that create jobs. Through entrepreneur-led economic development strategies, Denisse works to strengthen a cohesive and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in Puerto Rico.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

Why buy-in and support from individual players is key to building an ecosystem
How Denisse and Colemena66 are bridging the gap between entrepreneurs and support organizations in Puerto Rico
The challenges of tracking data on entrepreneurship in Puerto Rico and how that has a ripple effect on grants and lending
How a strong team helps Denisse stave off burnout

Learn more about Denisse Rodríguez:

Colmena66
Facebook: @Colmena66
Instagram: @Colmena66
Colmena66 Impact Report

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Kiva
Global Shapers Community
Startup Champions Network
Sofia Stolberg, Piloto 151
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Building Playbook 3.0

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In today's episode, I’m sharing a conversation I had with Charlton Cunningham during his recent visit to Mexico City. Charlton used to be based in Atlanta, GA, but has been living a nomad life since the pandemic began.

In our conversation, Charlton talks about how to build trust in an ecosystem. He also shares some insights into the role that Venture Capitalists can play in an ecosystem and why community can be so relevant within a VC firm when it’s built and nurtured the right way.

Find out how Charlton builds networks in different parts of the US and beyond and how–as a traveling nomad–he manages to stay grounded.

Charlton Cunningham is a failed architect who jumped into the startup space by creating an intentional community for aspiring entrepreneurs called, HiveATL. As a military brat growing up he learned to make friends quickly out of necessity and grew to appreciate how it helps in his work today, developing relationships with a variety of stakeholders. He is a community builder and connector at heart, with a strong passion for serving entrepreneurs at the earliest stages and founders growing their business. Charlton's experience includes roles across non-profit, venture capital, co-working spaces, and accelerator programs.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How the iterative process of developing physical architecture informs Charlton’s community building
How to build trust with organizations within your ecosystem through direct contact and volunteering resources
Why Venture Capitalists have to think become connectors in order to be good actors within ecosystems
How small rituals keep Charlton grounded as he travels

Learn more about Charlton Cunningham:

CharltonCunningham.com
Twitter: @Charlton_87
The Keystone Podcast

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

Startup Champions Summit
D:Hive
Venture Atlanta
QueensBridge Venture Partners
Get Together: How to build a community with your people, Bailey Richardson, Kevin Huynh, Kai Elmer Sotto
The Business of Belonging: How to Make Community Your Competitive Advantage, David Spinks
The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway
Allie Felix, Embarc Collective
People and Company

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In today’s episode, we’re headed to Staunton, VA, to talk with Debbie Irwin about how she became an entrepreneurial ecosystem builder.

With her background in digital marketing and a deep-seated passion for rural communities, Debbie became Executive Director of Shenandoah Community Capital Fund in 2019. As you’ll learn in this episode, the term “community capital” is about a lot more than investing money.

In our conversation, we talked about how important it is to fully see people when building an ecosystem. We talked about how to be a convener in an ecosystem without becoming a bottleneck and who took Debbie under their wings when she first started out as an ecosystem builder.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How we can amplify community capital and how we build on-ramps for other supporters, without being the ecosystem leader
Why collaboration and coalition-building among organizations requires a mindset shift out of scarcity thinking
Why it’s important to build WITH, not FOR our communities
Why Debbie and SCCF undertook listening tours around the region and how they implemented them to make communities feel seen and heard
Who you need in your corner to weather tough times

Learn more about Debbie Irwin:

Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
Connect with Debbie on LinkedIn
Facebook: @SCCFVA
Twitter: @debirwineship

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Resources:

Startup Champions Network
Center on Rural Innovation
Tom Tom Festival

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Over the last three years, I’ve talked to more than one hundred and fifty champions, cheerleaders and advocates for entrepreneurs in their communities.

Some of them work at startup accelerators and small business incubators. Others operate coworking spaces. Yet others are economic developers, investors, community builders, policymakers, academics, mentors, advisors, and service providers to emerging small business and startup founders.

While they work in different official capacities, they all have one thing in common: they want to see their communities thrive, and they believe that entrepreneurship is one viable vehicle to achieve that.

In those conversations, we talked about the mindsets and professional skills we need to be effective in our efforts. With many of them, I’ve talked at length about the personal and emotional toll that this work takes.

Many of them admitted that they had brushed shoulders with burnout and came close to quitting. Some of them did.

What is it about this kind of work that makes it so hard and yet so rewarding?

If ecosystem builders lose steam and burn out because they’re unsupported and exhausted, then who’s going to support the changemakers at the front line?

Who is going to help us tilt the playing field in favor of ALL entrepreneurs and who will continue to work behind the scenes to re-envision our future, and actively work towards it?

In this first episode, I want to share with you how I transformed from social enterprise enthusiast to ecosystem builder. Join me as we zoom out of your role as a lone wolf and together, take a systems view of supporting entrepreneurs of ALL backgrounds.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

How the nonprofit and social enterprise worlds silo information to the detriment of their stated missions
How the dominant scarcity mindset pits do-good organizations against each other
The trip that made me realize that scarcity thinking and lack of collaboration were a systemic issue
The power we unleash when breaking silos and focusing on the needs of entrepreneurs
What ecosystem building looks like in practice

Fellow Ecosystem Builders:

Debbie Irwin, Shenandoah Community Capital Fund
Grace Belangia, Make Startups
Jay Cooper, Freelance Media Producer
Rob Williams, SourceLink
Eric Parker, Make Startups
Cecilia Wessinger
Mark Lawrence, Inncuvate
Tom Chapman, Chapman & Co.
Michelle Parvinrouh
Steven Rodriguez, 1863 Ventures & Suego

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

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Changing the world is hard work. And if world-changing is in your job description, it’s easy to get burnt out. Ecosystem-building is all about gathering the support you need to make your job more sustainable and maybe even easier, too. Instead of exhausted and overworked, you’re supported and well-resourced. Ecosystems For Change is the podcast about caring for yourself as you care for others and your community. Together with Social Venturers founder Anika Horn, you’ll explore building supportive ecosystems, learn how to make your work more sustainable, and impact that world in powerful ways. Our first season is all about what ecosystem-building is and how it's used in the field.

Learn More About Anika Horn:

Website: www.socialventurers.com
Instagram: SocialVenturers
Newsletter: Sign up for Impact Curator
Ecosystem Building 101 Masterclass

Ecosystems For Change: Recent Episodes

Anika Horn, Social Venturers